Prayer--Communication with God

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Prayer-Communication with God

1. What is prayer?
2. Why do we pray in the name of Christ?
3. Must everyone pray?
4. How can we learn to pray?
5. How should we pray?
6. What are the types of prayer?
7. What are the best sources of prayer?
8. When should we pray?
9. Where can we learn to pray?
10. For whom should we pray?
11. What are the common forms of prayer?
12. What is vocal prayer?
13. What is meditation?
14. What is contemplative prayer?
15. Why are we often distracted during prayer?
16. What other difficulties can affect our prayer?
17. Why do we not always obtain what we pray for?
18. How can we pray better?
19. Why is it important to pray at times with others?
20. What is the greatest community prayer?
21. What is the sign of the cross?
22. How are the mysteries of the Trinity and redemption expressed in the sign of the cross?
23. When do we usually make the sign of the cross?
24. What are some prayers that every Catholic should know by heart?

1. What is prayer?
Prayer is talking to God with mind and heart, and often with the voice. It is a response to God's invitation to seek him. (2559)

Come to me, all you grown weary and burdened, and I will refresh you (Mt 11:28).

2. Why do we pray in the name of Christ?
Through Baptism we are one with Christ and his Church; therefore, all our prayers are offered with his to the Father in the Holy Spirit. (2565)

In Christ we have free and confident access to God through our faith in him (Eph 3:12).

3. Must everyone pray?
God calls every person to prayer. He wants to engage us in a personal relationship, a conversation. Even if some do not hear the call or pay attention to it, God continues his invitation to each human heart. (2566-2567)

By groping about after him they might search for and find God, for he is not far from any of us (Acts 17:27).

4. How can we learn to pray?
We learn to pray best by praying, by talking to God from our own heart. Many examples of prayer can be found throughout the pages of Scripture, especially in the Psalms. (2568-2619, 2653-2654)

Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my groaning. Hearken to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you, and watch (Ps 5:1-3).

5. How should we pray?
We should pray with the same sentiments which the Gospels demonstrate:

conversion of heart (Mt 5:23-24)

faith (Mt 7:7-11)

filial boldness (Mk 9:23)

desire to do God's will (Mt 9:38)

watchfulness (Mk 1:15)

perseverance (Lk 11:5-13)

patience (Lk 18:1-8)

humility (Lk 18:9-14), (2607-2613)

6. What are the types of prayer?
These are the types of prayer:

blessing (Eph 1:3)

adoration (Ps 95:6)

petition (Col 4:12)

asking forgiveness (Lk 18:13)

intercession (1 Tm 2:1)

thanksgiving (1 Thes 5:18)

praise (Eph 3:20), (2626-2643)

7. What are the best sources of prayer?
The best sources of prayer are God's Word (Scripture), the Church's liturgy (prayers and sacraments), and the virtues of faith, hope and love (dispositions to prayer). (2653-2658)

8. When should we pray?
We should pray every day, and we can pray at any time, in any circumstance, for any reason. (2659-2660, 2742)

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every manner of prayer and supplication (Eph 6:18).

9. Where can we learn to pray?
The main school of prayer is the family, where Christian beliefs and practices are explained and shared. The Church's liturgy, along with her ministers and teachers, also offer us opportunities to learn how to pray. Religious congregations share their spirituality with others, and we can also learn prayer from the lives and writings of the saints. (2683-2690)

Anyone who lives on milk is still a child and is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, whereas solid food is for the mature (Heb 5:13-14).

10. For whom should we pray?
We should pray for ourselves, our family, relatives, friends and neighbors, the Pope, bishops, priests and religious, government leaders, lawmakers, judges and public officials, the sick and the dying, sinners, unbelievers, the suffering souls in purgatory, and even for our enemies.

First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men-for kings and for all those in positions of authority... (1 Tm 2:1-2).

11. What are the common forms of prayer?
Three common forms of prayer are vocal prayer, meditation and contemplative prayer. (2721)

12. What is vocal prayer?
Vocal prayer is prayer of mind, heart and lips. It is prayer spoken audibly. (2700-2704)

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise (Ps 51:15).

13. What is meditation?
Meditation is a mental (unspoken) prayer in which a person, after quiet reflection, arrives at or strengthens a resolution to live a better Christian life. Meditation can lead us to know Jesus better and follow him more closely. (2705-2708)

Reflect on the statutes of the Lord, and meditate at all times on his commandments. It is he who will give insight to your mind, and your desire for wisdom will be granted (Sir 6:37).

14. What is contemplative prayer?
Contemplative (mental) prayer is unspoken prayer in which a person is united to God and ponders his truths. (2709-2719)

Then there are those sown on the good earth, who are the ones who hear the word and welcome it and bear fruit, one thirty fold, one sixty fold, and one a hundredfold (Mk 4:20).

15. Why are we often distracted during prayer?
Worries, anxieties or physical discomfort can distract us, while other distractions may come from the devil. The efforts we make to overcome these distractions make our prayer better and more pleasing to God. (2729)

16. What other difficulties can affect our prayer?
False expectations, lack of feeling, disinterest, laziness or weak faith can also make our prayer difficult. (2726-2728, 2730-2733)

If the grain of wheat that falls to the ground does not die, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit (Jn 12:24).

17. Why do we not always obtain what we pray for?
God knows what is best for us, and can see that a particular request may not be for our ultimate good. In these cases he gives us some other spiritual gift according to his loving plan for our lives. Every sincere prayer is answered in some way. (2735-2737)

This is the confidence we have in [God], that if we ask for something which is in accordance with his will he hears us (1 Jn 5:14).

18. How can we pray better?
We can pray better by allowing the Holy Spirit to pray in us, remembering that prayer is the duty and privilege of a Christian. (2745)

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every manner of prayer and supplication (Eph 6:18).

19. Why is it important to pray at times with others?
It is important to pray at times with others because Jesus wants us to come to prayer as a community.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Mt 18:20).

20. What is the greatest community prayer?
The greatest community prayer is the Mass. (See the section on the Eucharist, pages 97-114.)

21. What is the sign of the cross?
The sign of the cross is a prayer which reminds us of two important mysteries of our faith: the Blessed Trinity and the redemption. As the prayer is said the cross is traced from our forehead to our chest and from one shoulder to the other. We are literally "signing" ourselves with the cross.

22. How are the mysteries of the Trinity and redemption expressed in the sign of the cross?
When we say "In the name," we express the truth that there is one God. When we say, "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," we manifest our belief that there are three distinct Persons in God. When we make the form of the cross on ourselves, we express our belief that the Son of God-made-man redeemed us by his death on the cross.

23. When do we usually make the sign of the cross?
We usually make the sign of the cross when we begin and end our prayers and when we enter and leave a church.

24. What are some prayers that every Catholic should know by heart?
Some prayers that every Catholic should know by heart are the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Apostles' Creed, the Glory, the Hail Holy Queen, the Angel of God, the Eternal Rest for the souls in purgatory, the acts of faith, hope, love and contrition, the morning offering, and grace before and after meals.

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