While I was still in university, a Jesuit once asked me this question,
creation of the heavens michelangelo
‘Is it alright for someone to smoke while they pray?’
My immediate, indignant response was,
‘Of course not.’
So he challenged me,
‘Would it be alright for someone to pray while they smoke?’
forgiven not perfect
Don’t you love how the Jesuit mind works? One interesting comment on this post on another site was that the puritan way of thinking has tainted most of us and distorted Catholic spirituality.
On Catholic Forum someone submitted this photo saying,‘there’s always been one form of smoking and prayer that’s always been approved…’
Melanie Jean Juneau serves as the Editor in Chief of Catholic Stand. She is a mother of nine children who has edited her kid's university term papers for over a decade. She blogs at joy of nine9 and mother of nine9. Her writing is humorous and heart warming; thoughtful and thought-provoking. Part of her call and her witness is to write the truth about children, family, marriage and the sacredness of life. Melanie is the administrator of ACWB, a columnist at CatholicLane, CatholicStand, Catholic365 , CAPC, author of Echoes of the Divine and Oopsy Daisy, and coauthor of Love Rebel: Reclaiming Motherhood.
View all posts by melanie jean juneau
11 thoughts on “Should You Smoke While You Pray?”
This really hits home! Yesterday I quit smoking. I would very often pray a rosary while having a cigar in the back yard – relaxing – contemplative. Rather than offering my ashes up prematurely, I decided to quit the cigars (so I need all the rosaries I can get). Blessings
I’ve been giving this a little more thought Melanie. Here’s the issue. If the question were asked, should you pray while you smoke, no one would be taken aback with yes. I think when one asks should you smoke while you pray, the shock comes from the apparent lack of priority given to praying if you say yes. If the question refers to not giving full attention to praying when you’ve comitted yourself to it, I think one shouldn’t smoke. If one is smoking then by all means bring on the prayer.
Of course you are correct. but….This also occurs to me.. I think our original indignation at the question does uncover the fact that we often hold God at arms length , approaching Him with the proper reverence but at the same time while wearing our sunday best attitudes, masks and behaviour. He already knows everything about us and desires to touch and every sordid detail of our beings, saturating every shadow with light. Transformation only happens as we relax, trust and open every memory, habit, inclinaton to ourselves and to Him
Gosh I know exactly what you mean about the puritan way of thinking. I don’t smoke but why do we sometimes get so critical about it? I’ll take the incense for sure! It means I’m in church.
Very thought provoking! The incense at church always makes me feel wheezy. I find myself holding my breath, isn’t that silly? We all have our bad habits, that’s for sure, and it seems like that’s exactly when we need to be praying!
joy of nine9 
This really hits home! Yesterday I quit smoking. I would very often pray a rosary while having a cigar in the back yard – relaxing – contemplative. Rather than offering my ashes up prematurely, I decided to quit the cigars (so I need all the rosaries I can get). Blessings
LikeLike
you are in my heart, now,when I lift it up to the Lord
LikeLike
The holy smoke from the incense burners (or is it insects burners?) set off the fire alarms in our church a few Sundays ago.
God bless.
LikeLike
laughing
LikeLike
My initial idignant response was also no. But I guess why not. Interesting thought.
LikeLike
exactly
LikeLike
I’ve been giving this a little more thought Melanie. Here’s the issue. If the question were asked, should you pray while you smoke, no one would be taken aback with yes. I think when one asks should you smoke while you pray, the shock comes from the apparent lack of priority given to praying if you say yes. If the question refers to not giving full attention to praying when you’ve comitted yourself to it, I think one shouldn’t smoke. If one is smoking then by all means bring on the prayer.
LikeLike
Of course you are correct. but….This also occurs to me.. I think our original indignation at the question does uncover the fact that we often hold God at arms length , approaching Him with the proper reverence but at the same time while wearing our sunday best attitudes, masks and behaviour. He already knows everything about us and desires to touch and every sordid detail of our beings, saturating every shadow with light. Transformation only happens as we relax, trust and open every memory, habit, inclinaton to ourselves and to Him
LikeLike
Gosh I know exactly what you mean about the puritan way of thinking. I don’t smoke but why do we sometimes get so critical about it? I’ll take the incense for sure! It means I’m in church.
LikeLike
Very thought provoking! The incense at church always makes me feel wheezy. I find myself holding my breath, isn’t that silly? We all have our bad habits, that’s for sure, and it seems like that’s exactly when we need to be praying!
LikeLike
yes!
LikeLike