What's your ideal prayer "regimen" like? Your actual "regimen"?

[Archer]

That's it right now.  I think praying together with my husband would be a wonderful thing but we are not there yet except for the meal prayer.

Do you mind me asking why your husband won't pray with you? Feel free to answer with as much or as little as you want - I know it's personal. 

[Joromi]

Archer - I appreciate your question.  It really made me think.  I may have worded my post poorly.  I certainly don't want to give the impression that he refuses to pray with me.

I think it's about priorities and habits.  We have always made it a priority to pray before meals, aloud as a family.  We haven't made it a priority to pray together as a family at any other time besides Mass. 

I think the ideal would be night prayer, as a family, with my husband leading.  I don't think it would be too hard to make it part of our nightly routine with the children.  We just need to do it!

[Archer]

Archer - I appreciate your question.  It really made me think.  I may have worded my post poorly.  I certainly don't want to give the impression that he refuses to pray with me.

I think it's about priorities and habits.  We have always made it a priority to pray before meals, aloud as a family.  We haven't made it a priority to pray together as a family at any other time besides Mass. 

I think the ideal would be night prayer, as a family, with my husband leading.  I don't think it would be too hard to make it part of our nightly routine with the children.  We just need to do it!

No worries, thanks for clarifying.  I think it's really important that the husband be the leader of the family.  It's crucial for your children to see him as the authority figure in all things, not just the guy that brings home the bacon and plays catch with them on weekends. (Not implying that's where your family is just stating that that is the natural order of things) When the husband leads everything else falls into place. I'm sure he does a really good job providing and taking care of you all.  But in order for your family to thrive he needs to take the lead in your spiritual life as well.

When I first got married I was doing the bare bones minimum and only prayed when my wife pushed me to.  I hardly ever said the Rosary, and when I did it was usually rushed.  I remember complaining when my wife suggested it because praying was inconvenient and took time.  I had other things I'd rather be doing.   

I'm not sure where your husband is at in his spiritual life.  But it sounds like you're looking for more.  If you as a couple have just never made it a priority I encourage you to talk to him about it.  Let him know how important it is to you but take it slow.  Maybe lead by example? Start with saying a morning offering when you wake up and a prayer before bed.  If he gets curious ask him to join you. Make time for the Rosary with him at night.  If he's interested there are plenty of books about the husband's role or the father's responsibilities.  Jim Stenson has written a few books that have absolutely changed my life.  No kidding.  In any event, it sounds like you could just be having time management problems and simply need to make it a priority. Or maybe he just needs some encouragement and that's where you can help him.   

Don't forget to pray for him! Prayer has done more to change hearts and minds than any words or arguments ever could.

You can do it! I'll pray for you and your family as well.  God Bless.

[Bonaventure]

Joromi, prayer is very important. If we realized how great it is to commune with God, to thank Him, ask Him for what we need, grace, our requests, etc. we would surely do so. The same goes in praying to His Mother, our example and the mediatrix of all graces.

Little by little, try to pray more. Tell your husband that you would like to pray an evening rosary as a family, since this is very important for the supernatural and even temporal well being of everyone in your household. At first, it may seem difficult or evening annoying to pray this nightly rosary, but once it becomes a habit, and once everyone realizes its importance, you'll look forward to it.

[Archer]

I forgot to add that I also daily say 3 Hail Mary's in honor of the Blessed Mother and ask her to keep me from mortal sin and to be with me at the hour of my death.

http://www.fatima.org/essentials/requests/3hailmaryleaf.asp

[Joromi]

Just an update.  I did speak with my husband about praying together and he has agreed.  Thanks to everyone for encouraging me!

[OCLittleFlower]

Just an update.  I did speak with my husband about praying together and he has agreed.  Thanks to everyone for encouraging me!

That's fantastic!   

[Gleipnir104]

Just an update.  I did speak with my husband about praying together and he has agreed.  Thanks to everyone for encouraging me!

That's fantastic!   

A family that prays together, stays together.