On Prayer
COMPENDIUM
Prayer is a lifting up of the mind to God in order to adore and thank Him, and to ask for what we need. There are two kinds of prayer: mental and vocal. Mental prayer is made with the mind only; vocal prayer is expressed in words, accompanied with attention of the mind and devotion of the heart.
Prayer may also be distinguished into private and public prayer. Private prayer is that which is offered by each person in particular for himself or for others. Public prayer is that which is offered by the sacred ministry in the name of the Church and for the salvation of the faithful. That prayer may also be called public which is made in common and in public by the faithful, as in processions, pilgrimages, and in churches.
Our hope of obtaining from God the graces that we need is founded on the promises of God Almighty, most faithful and true, and upon the merits of Jesus Christ. Hence, we should ask God for such graces as we require, in the name of Jesus Christ, as He Himself has taught us and as is the custom of the Church, for her prayers always end with the words per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, which mean "through Jesus Christ our Lord." But our principal reason for asking for graces through Jesus Christ is because He is our Mediator, and it is through Him alone that we can approach the throne of God.
Often, our prayers are not answered because we ask for things which are not helpful towards our eternal salvation, or because we do not pray in the way that we ought. Before all, and above all, we ought to ask God for His glory, and for our own eternal salvation and for the means to obtain it. But it is also allowable to ask Him even for temporal goods, provided that their granting be in accordance with His holy will, and that they be no impediment to our eternal salvation. Although God knows all our needs, we ought nevertheless to pray to Him, because He wishes us to do so, and in order to thank Him as the Giver of every good gift, and to show Him our humble submission, and that we may merit His favors.
The best way of making our prayers efficacious is to be in a state of grace, or, if we are not so, at any rate to desire to return to such a state. In order to pray well, recollection, humility, confidence, perseverance, and resignation are specially required. Recollection means that we must remember that we are speaking to God, and, therefore, that we must pray with all reverence and devotion, avoiding distractions as far as possible, i.e., all thoughts which are foreign to prayer. If such distractions occur through our own fault or negligence in repelling them, they rob our prayer of its merits; but if we do our best to be recollected before God, they will not take from the value of our prayer, but may even add thereto. In order to rid ourselves of distractions, we should avoid all occasions of them, and, while we are praying, bear in mind that we are in the presence of God, who both sees and hears us. In order to pray with true humility, we must honestly recognize and acknowledge our own unworthiness, impotence and need, and our demeanor should be modest and grave. Confidence implies that we have a firm hope of being heard, if obtaining our petition will be for the glory of God and for our own true welfare. If we pray with perseverance, we shall not give up praying because we do not see an immediate answer to our prayers, but we shall continue to pray even more fervently. Resignation is needed, because we must conform to the will of God, who knows, better than we, what is necessary to our eternal salvation, even in those cases in which our prayers are not answered. If, indeed, our prayer is offered in the right way, it is never unanswered, but God answers it in the way He judges to be most profitable for our eternal salvation, and not always in accordance with our will.
In us, prayer produces the following effects: it makes us acknowledge our dependence upon God as our supreme Lord in all things; it makes us lift up our thoughts to the things of heaven, progress in virtue, obtain the mercy of God, strengthens us against temptations, comforts us in tribulations, helps us in our needs and obtains for us the grace of final perseverance. We should have recourse to prayer, specially in times of danger or temptation and at the hour of death; and, besides this, it is a duty to pray frequently, and it is well to pray every morning and evening, and at the beginning of every important act during the course of the day. It is, likewise, a duty to pray for everybody, i.e., for ourselves, our parents and relations, our superiors, benefactors, friends and enemies, for the conversion of poor sinners and of those who are outside of the true Church, and for the Holy Souls in purgatory.
CATECHISM
253. What does this part of Christian Doctrine treat of?
This part of Christian Doctrine treats of prayer in general, and of the Pater noster (Our Father) in particular.
254. What is prayer?
Prayer is an elevation of the mind to God to adore Him, to thank Him, and to ask Him for what we need.
255. How is prayer divided?
Prayer is divided into mental and vocal prayer. Mental prayer is that made with the mind alone; and vocal prayer is that expressed in words accompanied by attention of mind and devotion of heart.
256. Can prayer be divided in any other way?
Prayer may also be divided into private and public prayer.
257. What is private prayer?
Private prayer is that which each one says individually for himself or for others.
258. What is public prayer?
Public prayer is that said by the Sacred Ministers in the name of the Church and for the salvation of the faithful. That prayer also which is said in common and publicly by the faithful, in processions, pilgrimages and in God's house, may also be called public prayer.
259. Have we a well-founded hope of obtaining by means of prayer the helps and graces of which we stand in need?
The hope of obtaining from God the graces of which we stand in need is founded on the promises of the omnipotent, merciful and all-faithful God, and on the merits of Jesus Christ.
260. In whose name should we ask of God the graces we stand in need of?
We should ask of God the graces we stand in need of in the Name of Jesus Christ, as He Himself has taught us and as is done by the Church, which always ends her prayers with these words: through our Lord Jesus Christ.
261. Why should we beg graces of God in the Name of Jesus Christ?
We should beg graces of God in the Name of Jesus Christ because He is our Mediator, and it is through Him alone that we can approach the throne of God.
262. If prayer is so powerful, how is it that many times our prayers are not heard?
Many times our prayers are not heard, either because we ask things not conducive to our eternal salvation, or because we do not ask properly.
263. Which are the chief things we should ask of God?
The chief things we should ask of God are His own glory, our eternal salvation and the means of obtaining it.
264. Is it not also lawful to ask for temporal goods?
Yes, it is lawful to ask God for temporal goods, but always with the condition that these be in conformity with His Holy will and not a hindrance to our salvation.
265. If God knows all that is necessary for us, why should we pray?
Although God knows all that is necessary for us, He nevertheless wills that we should pray to Him so as to acknowledge Him as the Giver of every good gift, to attest our humble submission to Him, and to merit His favors for ourselves.
266. What is the first and best disposition to render our prayers efficacious?
The first and best disposition to render our prayers efficacious is to be in the state of grace; or if we are not in that state, to desire to put ourselves in it.
267. What other dispositions are required in order to pray well?
To pray well we specially require recollection, humility, confidence, perseverance and resignation.
268. What is meant by praying with recollection?
It means remembering that we are speaking to God; and hence we should pray with all respect and devotion, as far as possible avoiding distractions, that is, every thought foreign to our prayers.
269. Do distractions lessen the merit of prayer?
Yes, when we ourselves bring them about, or when we do not promptly drive them away; but if we do all we can to be recollected in God, then our distractions do not lessen the merit of our prayer, and may even increase it.
270. What is required to pray with recollection?
Before prayer we should banish all occasions of distraction, and during prayer we should reflect that we are in the presence of God who sees and hears us.
271. What is meant by praying with humility?
It means sincerely acknowledging our own unworthiness, powerlessness and misery, and as well as this observing a respectful posture.
272. What is meant by praying with confidence?
It means that we should have a firm hope of being heard, if it is to God's glory and our own true welfare.
273. What is meant by praying with perseverance?
It means that we should not grow tired of praying if God does not at once hear us, but that we should ever continue to pray with increased fervor.
274. What is meant by praying with resignation?
It means that we should conform our will to the will of God, even when our prayers are not heard, because He knows better than we do what is necessary for our eternal salvation.
275. Does God always hear prayers when well said?
Yes, God always hears prayers when well said, but in the way He knows to be most conducive to our eternal salvation, and not always in the way we wish.
276. What effects does prayer produce in us?
Prayer makes us recognize our dependence on God, the Supreme Lord, in all things; it makes us think on heavenly things; it makes us advance in virtue; it obtains for us God's mercy; it strengthens us against temptation; it comforts us in tribulation; it aids us in our needs; and it obtains for us the grace of final perseverance.
277. When should we especially pray?
We should especially pray when in danger, in temptation, and at the hour of death; moreover, we should pray often, and it is advisable we should do so morning and night, and when beginning the more important actions of the day.
278. For whom should we pray?
We should pray for all; first, for ourselves, then for our relatives, superiors, benefactors, friends and enemies; for the conversion of poor sinners, and of those outside the true Church, and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.