How often do Roman Catholic's pray a day?

Answer 1

There are no hard and fast rules for the Catholic laity. Prayers are not seen as an obligation to be entered into at specific time of the day. Prayers are a conversation, a conversation between an individual and God. Therefore they are either, when we want to speak to God or, when he speaks to us.

Prayers during the Mass or other liturgical services are simply a collective recitation to God allowing us to speak with one voice, one heart and one spirit.

Catholic clergy on the other hand agree at their ordination to say prayers at specific periods during the day, mainly Morning Prayers, (Lauds), Evening Prayers (Vespers) and Night Prayer (Compline). Being the "Universal" Church, i.e. very much a worldwide Church this means that prayers are being offered every second of the day somewhere in the world and for the world.

For those who wish to see these prayers (they are the different for each individual day throughout the year but non the less common throughout the world) they can be found in the "Office Of Readings". They can also be found on various Catholic websites worldwide.

Answer 2

Each Catholic is different. Clergy and religious pray more frequently, as one would expect. Some Catholics dedicate their lives to prayer and service and become monks. For most laymen though, there really is no minimum requirement. A practicing Catholic layman who takes their faith seriously has a diet of prayer each day. Typically this would be pray one rosary a day, before meals (i.e., saying grace), upon waking up and before going to bed. They also pray upon occasion too (e.g. if you witness a sin being committed, or a horrible car accident, etc.) There are many forms of prayer. Catholic Mass is a prayer. Many Catholics go to daily mass in the morning which definitely draws one's soul closer to Jesus. St. Frances DeSales in his famous book, "Introduction to the Devout Life" explains prayer in great detail. He says that for laymen who have jobs, their jobs are essentially prayers too. Laymen shouldn't have to feel obligated to have to pray for everything since it can be overwhelming to have a job and find the time to pray. This doesn't make the layman any particularily less holy, its just that their manner of prayer is different.

Answer 3

Catholic AnswerCatholics are supposed to worship continuously, they are to pray without ceasing, their entire life is to be an offering to God, they are to deny themselves daily, take up their cross and follow Our Blessed Lord. This is worship in spirit and in truth. In order to accomplish this, they go to confession each week, and Mass as often as possible, but at least on Sunday and holy days.