Faith Resources

HOW WE PRAY

“Prayer is a surge of the heart, a simple look toward heaven,a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy” (St. Therese of Lisieux).

Prayer – Union with God
Our prayer, both personally and as a community,
has access to the Father only in the Name of Jesus (John 16:23).
The ultimate goal of prayer is to be one with God.Only by the Spirit can we say, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor 12:3).
Therefore, we should always call upon the Spirit who is our Advocate (John 14:26)
In prayer, we ask the Father, through Christ, to give us the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Master of Christian prayer.
In every path of prayer, the same Spirit acts.
All Christian prayer is ultimately directed to the Father,
through the Name of Jesus,
in the communion of the Holy Spirit.
The Communion of Saints
As one Body of Christ, we are united with those who already enjoy the fullness of life in God. As our brethren, they help us by their example and prayers.

Our Tainted Nature’s Solitary Boast
First among the redeemed is the Mary, Mother of Jesus, first to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:35)
With the Church entrusted to her by Jesus (John 19:26) she accompanies us in receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:14)
We magnify what God has accomplished in her (Luke 1:46-49) and we ask her to bring our needs to her Son. (John 2:1-5)

Three Forms of Prayer

Praying with the lips (Catechism 2700 – 2702)
We speak to God as with a friend, either with formal, structured prayers or spontaneous prayer from the heart.

Praying with mind (Catechism 2703 – 2708)
Christians meditate in order to understand how to respond to the Lord.
As meditation confronts us, we discover the movements in our hearts.
We then ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

Praying with the heart (Catechism 2709 – 2719)
Contemplative prayer is a prayer of a silence, a “close sharing between friends,
taking time frequently to be alone with him whom we know loves us” (St. Teresa of Jesus).
Contemplative prayer, if it abides in the night of faith, becomes a communion of love.

Prayer is a gift to which we must respond. This presupposes effort.
Christ and the saints show that prayer is a battle, both against ourselves and against Satan the tempter.
We pray as we live because we live as we pray.
Therefore, we must habitually live by the Spirit so we can pray in the Spirit. (Catechism 2725)