The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth Chapters 31-35

Christian Prayer
Catechism of the Catholic Church Part Four: Christian Prayer Section 1: Prayer in the Christian Life

Created by Mr. Woodmansee

"Prayer is...
the raising of one's mind and heart to God requesting of good things from God"

In Jesus Name
In baptism we became one with Christ, therefore our prayers unite with His to the Father by the power of the Spirit John 14:13-4 What does it mean to pray in Jesus name?

What makes the Book of Psalms a special tool for prayer? Written by King David Prayed by Jesus, Jews, and Christians Express human emotion and human experience

308-9

According to Jesus what attitude should we have when praying? We must reconcile with others Love our friends and enemies Pray sincerly Work for the Kingdom

309-10

Mary as Model
At the Annunciation, Mary accepted GODs will

I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be done with me according to your word
Luke 1:38 See the Magnificat - Luke 1:46-55, pg 387
311-2

Forms of Prayer
These are different form those found in your text Adoration Praise Thanksgiving Penitence Oblation Intercession
& Petition
314

Forms of Prayer
Praise
Honor God for being God

Adoration
Enjoying Gods Presence Lifting your heart & mind to God

Thanksgiving
Giving thanks for what we cherish

315 & 319

Forms of Prayer
Petition (us) & Intercession (others)
Asking for Gods help For ourselves & others

Penitence
Confessing our sins Making restitution

Oblation
Offering our actions, work, lives to God Work to build the Kingdom
316-9 & 387, Luke 11:1-13

Types of Prayer
Vocal Prayer Said/Sung aloud or in one's mind Free-Form - Express feelings, thoughts, problems Meditation Reflect on your thoughts, imagination, feelings, images, and desires to discover God's presence

Private

Types of Prayer
Corporate
Mass Public Worship Unite ourselves with others to share
Sacraments Scripture Prayer

(more in Part B- Liturgy and Sacraments)

342 & 349

T. R. A. P.
Thank God Reflect on your attitudes, thoughts, and actions Ask for forgiveness Promise to change

315 & 319

Ignatian Gospel Contemplation

Imaginative reading of Scripture Read slowly
Imagine you are in the story Experience the story with your senses React to the story as though you were there

339-40

Lectio Divina & 4 Rs

Holy Reading Steps
1. Lectio (Read) Read slowly let all the words sink in 2. Meditatio (Meditate) Reflect on the passage, its meaning, relevance 3. Oratio (Pray) Respond to God using the language, images, feelings you mediated on 4. Contemplatio (Contemplate) Rest knowing you spoke to God

337-8

The Our Father

Luke 11:1-13 Read the passage, slowly in your mind, hear, feels,

and imagine the words

Meditate on the passage, quietly think about the

words, determine what they mean to your life Pray on the passage, praise, honor, thank, or petition God using the same words, feelings, or meanings you thought about. Contemplate on the passage, close your eyes knowing that God heard you and will answer through insight, others, your feelings

The Our Father

Matthew 6:7-18 Read the passage Meditate on the passage Pray on the passage Contemplate on the passage How is Lukes version different from Matthewss? Does Matthew stress something different from Luke? Does this matter to you?

Distractions in Prayer
Read "St Teresa of Avila" pg 329 As a teenager what was she concerned with? How old was she when her mother died? Who raised her? What distractions did she experience? How did she describe prayer?

Why are we often distracted in our prayer?

What are some difficulties that we face when we pray?

328 & 330

Read Praying Always pg 343

What are the benefits of prayer?

What happens when we stop praying? We backslide (fall back into sin)

323-26

Eucharistic Devotions
Define:
Eucharistic Adoration Blessed Sacrament Exposition Monstrance Benediction

346-7

Liturgy of the Hours

Daily prayer of the Church. This practice was borrowed and adapted from our Jewish ancestors. Morning Evening Night

347-8

Bibliography
Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2001. Ripley, Canon Francis. This is the Faith. Rockford, Ill: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 2002. Singer-Towns, Brian, Janet Claussen, Clare vanBrandwijk, and others, The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth. Winona, Minnesota: Saint Marys Press, 2004. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church. Washington DC: USCCB Publishing, May 2007.