RCIA Inquiry Session 13 July 2011 God Calls Us to Pray RCIA Inquiry Session 13 July 2011

Gods Calls Us to Pray Opening Prayer Oh Holy Spirit, You are the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. You are the Spirit of truth, love and holiness, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to Them in all things. I adore You and love You with all my heart. Teach me to know and to seek God, by whom and for whom I was created. Fill my heart with a holy fear and a great love for Him. Give me compunction and patience, and do not let me fall into sin. Increase faith, hope and love in me and bring forth in me all the virtues proper to my state of life. Make me a faithful follower of Jesus, an obedient child of the Church and a help to my neighbor. Give me the grace to keep the commandments and to receive the sacraments worthily. Raise me to holiness in the state of life to which You have called me, and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Gods Calls Us to Pray Questions of the week What was your blessed moment this week? Have you ever sought the Lord in prayer about a decision you needed to make, or for wisdom about a situation that you were facing? How did he give you guidance? What did he say?

Gods Calls Us to Pray What is Prayer? The Catechism clearly defines prayer as a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God.” (CCC, No. 2558) All of Part Two of the Catechism deals with prayer as it is found in the celebration of the Sacraments and in the Liturgy of the Hours. “Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God.” (CCC 2565) – US Catechism for Adults, P. 523-524

Gods Calls Us to Pray What is prayer? For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Manuscrits autobiographiques, C 25r) “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and hearts to God in thanksgiving and in praise of His glory. (CCC 2259/St. John Damascene, Defide orth. 3,24:PG 94,1089C)” St Francis de Sales remarked, “Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer, except when we are busy—then we need an hour.” “True Prayer is nothing but love.” (St. Augustine)

Gods Calls Us to Pray What is Prayer? “Prayer is the first expression of our inner truth, the first condition of true spiritual truth. Prayer gives a meaning to the whole life, at every moment, and in every circumstance.” (Pope John Paul II) It can also include the requesting of good things from God. It is an act by which one enters in awareness of a loving God. It is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part We pray as we live because we live as we pray. The spiritual battle of the Christian’s new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer Why is prayer a battle? (CCC 2725-2745)

Gods Calls Us to Pray Guides for Prayer The saints have left a heritage of prayer. Parents are the first teachers of prayer. Children witness the prayer of adults closest to them. Priests and Deacons have a public responsibility to lead people in prayer. They should also teach people how to pray. Men and women religious who embrace the consecrated life profess a commitment to prayer. Choose places for prayer where you can achieve sufficient concentration of heart and mind. Parish church, retreat centers, shrines, home, etc.

Gods Calls Us to Pray Prayer in the New Testament Church The infant Church was born in prayer; at Pentecost, after nine days of prayer, the disciples experienced the gift of the Holy Spirit. The letters of St. Paul show him to be a man of intense prayer. Prayers of praise/thanks for the blessings the church and himself received. Prayer of intercession as he seeks God’s grace for the communities he evangelized.

Gods Calls Us to Pray Types of Prayer Adoration and Blessing Petition Intercession Thanksgiving Praise

Gods Calls Us to Pray Consider A robust, effective prayer life doesn’t rely on a narrow approach of one or two, but uses all types of prayer, as moved and led by the Holy Spirit. Each type of prayer, including all the potential subcategories, is like a note on the musical scale. Combine them and you can form a melody. Combine them again and again and you form a song—a love song to God.

Gods Calls Us to Pray Adoration and Blessing The prayer of blessing is man's response to God's gifts. We bless him because he first blessed us In adoration, man acknowledges that he stands humbly before his creator. An act where we glorify the God who made us. We adore God from whom all blessings flow. Ephesians 1 : 3-14 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 1st Chronicles 29:10-13 – Blessed be you O Lord… Psalm 24 – King of Glory Psalm 108 – I will praise you among the peoples Psalm 84 – Better one day in your court…

Gods Calls Us to Pray Petition This is a prayer that takes many forms: to ask, to beseech, to plead, to implore, to invoke, to entreat, to cry out It acknowledges how much we as sinners depend on God for our needs Our petition is already a turning back to him; an asking for forgiveness Matthew 6: 9-13 – Seven petition of the Our Father Matthew 7:7-8 - Knock and the door will be opened Genesis 15:2-3 – Abraham asks for an heir Genesis 18: 20-33 – Abraham’s Prayer for Sodom

Gods Calls Us to Pray Prayer of an Anonymous U.S. Civil War Soldier I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy, I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for – but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all people, most richly blessed.

Gods Calls Us to Pray Intercession Prayers made on behalf of the needs of others God calls to intercede for each other…and even for our enemies Intercessions for others’ needs are part of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours Hebrews 7:25 – Christ intercedes for us Romans 8:26-27 – The Holy Spirit intercedes for us Philippians 1:3-4 –Paul’s prayer for the Philippians Ephesians 6:18-20 – Pray for all the holy ones Colossians 4:3-4 – Pray for us Luke 18:13 – Tax collector, “O God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Gods Calls Us to Pray Thanksgiving This form of prayer flows through the Church’s greatest prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist. We are called to thank God for all the gifts received, including our joys and sorrows. Luke 17: 15-19 – The grateful leper 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances… Colossians 2:6-7 – Give Christ thanks … Psalm 75:1 – We give thanks to you, O God… 1 Chronicles 16:8 – Give thanks to the Lord…

Gods Calls Us to Pray Praise This is a prayer that show that “we love God in Faith before seeing him in glory” (CCC 2639) Praise lauds God for his own sake and gives him glory United with all the saints and angels, as members of the Church on earth, we sing together songs of praise with faith in a God who loves us beyond all imagination (CCC 2642) Psalms 2, 7, 9, 18, 21, 22… Isaiah 12:1-6 – Praise God my salvation Acts 16:25-26 – Paul and Silas singing Praise Revelation 5:12 – Worthy is the Lamb… Revelation 19:5-6 – Voice from the throne…”Give praise to our God…”

Gods Calls Us to Pray The prayer of Jesus As a child , Jesus learned to pray from Mary and Joseph. Joined in prayer at the synagogue and at the Temple. He also had his heavenly Father as a source of prayer. It was a filial (as a son) prayer (Luke 2:49). Jesus addressed his Farther by the name “Abba”. The Gospels describe numerous times Jesus went away from the crowds and his disciples to pray by himself. Jesus taught his disciples to pray (Mt 6:5-15, 7:7-11).

Gods Calls Us to Pray Prayer in Communion with Mary We do not pray to Mary in the same way as we do to God. In praying to Mary, we invoke her intercessions on behalf of our needs, whereas when we pray to God we ask him directly for gifts and favors. Church magnifies Mary for the great things the Lord has done for her and to entrust intercessory prayer and praises to her. This manner of joining Mary in praising God for his gifts and seeking her intercession has found a privileged expression in the Hail Mary.

Gods Calls Us to Pray The Rosary The Hail Mary In the Latin church the Rosary developed out of a popular piety. Praying the Rosary involves reciting vocal prayers including the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Glory Be while meditating on the mysteries in the life of Jesus. The Hail Mary Along with the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary is one of the most widely used Catholic prayers. The first half comes from The Magnificat in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 1:46-55) Second half is an intercessory prayer developed in the Church’s tradition.

Gods Calls Us to Pray Expressions of Prayer May the Lord be in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.” These symbolize three kinds of prayer: vocal, meditative, and contemplative. Vocal Prayer: Since we are body as well as spirit, we need to express ourselves orally.

Gods Calls Us to Pray Expressions of Prayer: Meditative Prayer “Meditation is above all a quest.” (CCC, 2705) In meditative prayer, we use our minds to ponder the will of God in his plan for our lives. The Church provides many aides for meditation: The Sacred Scriptures, holy icons, liturgical text of the day or season, and writings of spiritual fathers Lectio Divina (“Holy Reading”) is most prominent expression of meditative prayer that uses both scripture reading and prayer

Gods Calls Us to Pray Expressions of Prayer: Contemplative Prayer: “Contemplative prayer… is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love” (CCC 2724). We rest attentively before Christ. It is a time of silent listening and love St Teresa of Avila, “Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

Gods Calls Us to Pray Expressions of Prayer: Song “To sing is to pray twice.” St. Augustine The Psalms Singing is one of the most essential elements of worship To open the gates of trust in God, nothing can replace the beauty of human voices united in song. This beauty can give us a glimpse of "heaven’s joy on earth." Songs can help sustain personal prayer

Gods Calls Us to Pray Consider Pray without ceasing Prayer requires time, attention, and effort Distraction and dryness will discourage us Pray as if everything is dependent on God Pray in a daily, sustained, and structured manner. Daily reading of Scripture is a rich source of prayer. Participate in the Mass (CCC, No. 2655) Faith, Hope and Love Prayer is the life of the new heart

Gods Calls Us to Pray Consider Christian prayer is always Trinitarian. Prayer should direct us toward the Father. Access to the Father is through Jesus Christ; Address our prayers to Christ (Son of God, Word of God, Lamb of God etc.). Holy Spirit helps us to draw nearer to Jesus. The Tempter will try to pull us away from prayer. The remedy is faith, fidelity to times for prayer.

Gods Calls Us to Pray Describe your life of prayer. Name both positive elements and challenges or difficulties in prayer. How can you renew a spirit of prayer in your home, with family members, and children? What is your favorite Christian prayer? In what way could your participation in Sunday Eucharist strengthen your commitment to daily prayer? What are the challenges committing to a life of prayer?

Gods Calls Us to Pray