God calls man to pray 56 CONCA, Sebastiano Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane 1746 Oil on canvas, 64 x 47 cm Pinacoteca, Vatican
Compendium of the Catechism 534. What is prayer? Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the petition of good things from him in accord with his will. It is always the gift of God who comes to encounter man. Christian prayer is the personal and living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is infinitely good, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit who dwells in their hearts.
Introduction Prayer should be something natural and normal in our lives. The first reaction of a creature who discovers his creator is to call him and to communicate with him. prayer is to talk with God whom we recognize as our Lord, to whom we have to show reverence and gratitude while telling him about our needs. Prayer is a sweet duty that enables a creature to dialogue with the Creator of the universe. SASSOFERRATO Madonna in Prayer 1640s Oil on canvas Accademia Carrara, Bergamo
Main ideas
1. What is prayer? Prayer is to talk with God. Old catechism Prayer is the elevation of the heart to God. Saint John Damascene Prayer is a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us. Saint Teresa A confident and loving dialogue with God. John Paul II JOHNSTONE, Janet and Anne Breton Fisherman's Prayer illustration for 'Youngsters Prayers‘ Private Collection
2. Prayer is essential to man Prayer is the result of knowing and recognizing God as Creator. Knowledge of God, even if blurred, is acquired along with all other knowledge, once man realizes his dependence on others. Man’s self-knowledge makes him conscious of his limitations and needs, and he confesses them to God in prayer, asking him for help to deal with them. DEUTSCH, Ludwig ( ) At Prayer Oil on canvas Private collection
3. Prayer in the Old Testament The Old Testament offers the example of patriarchs, like Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David who were men of prayer; and of prophets who spoke with God as with a friend. The Psalms are masterpieces of prayer of figures of the Old Testament and remain a fundamental part of the Church’s prayer. GREBBER, Pieter de King David in Prayer Oil on canvas, 94 x 84 cm Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht
4. The prayer of Jesus The Word Incarnate, the only Son of God, teaches us with his example and with the words of the Our Father how to talk to God. Jesus prays: Jesus’ prayer shows his identification with the Father’s will and his absolute certainty of being heard. Jesus teaches to pray: in order to pray it well, one needs a clean heart, a living and persevering faith and filial daring. Jesus heeds prayer: the miracles narrated in the Gospel are often an answer to the petition of people who prayed to him. MANTEGNA, Andrea Agony in the Garden c Tempera on wood, 63 x 80 cm National Gallery, London
5. The prayer of the Church Sooner or later a Christian realizes the importance of prayer, realizes that the Church leads a life of prayer – nay, that the Church exists in order to pray. It is the Holy Spirit who arouses in Christians a life of prayer. The Holy Spirit is the master and teacher of Christian prayer. GÉRÔME, Jean-Léon ( ) The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer Oil on canvas, /2 x 59 inches (87.9 x cm) Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore
6. The prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary In order to help us discover and lead a life of prayer, the Blessed Virgin Mary goes ahead of us preparing the way. She has taught us to pray with her Fiat (Let it be done) and with the Magnificat (her hymn of humility and praise). She introduces us into friendship with Jesus, as she did in Cana when she said: " Do whatever he tells you " VAN BIJLERT, Jan Virgin and Child c Oil on canvas, 113 x 92 cm Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Resolutions for Christian life
Resolutions to move forward We should always be keen to improve our life of prayer. Set aside a few minutes every day to talk with God, but especially when we get up and at the end of the day.