CATHOLIC PRAYER AND WORSHIP

HOW DO WE PRAY?

• WE START WITH MEMORIZED PRAYER

* AS YOU MATURE YOU FIND YOUR OWN WAY TO TALK TO GOD.

• APPROACH PYAER AS TALKING TO GOD

*LISTEN TO GOD

• PRAYER IS RAISING ONE'S MIND AND HEART TO GOD.

WHY DO WE PRAY?

*TO BUIND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

*WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS WE PRAY.

* WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR WEAKNESSES AND OUR GIFTS

* GOD IS BUILT IN US; WE ARE CALLED TO ENCOUTER HIM IN PRAYER.

* GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO US AND WE LEARN ABOUT OURSELVES

FORMS OF PRAYER

* BLESSING & ADORATION

* PETITION

* INTERCESSION

* THANKSGIVING

• PRAISE

BLESSING

• A PRAYER ASKING THAT GOD CARE FOR A PARTICULAR PERSON, PLACE, OR ACTIVITY.

WE SHOULD RESPOND WITH GRATITUDE & JOY!

ADORATION

• THE PRAYERFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT GOD IS GOD AND CREATOR OF ALL THAT IS!

ADORATION PRAYER

• Glory BE To The Father (Gloria Patri)

PETITION

• A PRAYER FORM IN WHICH ONE ASKS GOD FOR HELP OR FORGIVENESS.

INTERCESSION

• A PRAYER ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP.

THANKSGIVING

• A PRAYER OF GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE AND THE GIFTS OF LIFE.

PRAISE

• A PRAYER OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT GOD IS GOD, GIVING GLORY TO GOD NOT FOR WHAT HE
DOES, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS.

EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER

* VOCAL PRAYER

* MEDITATION PRAYER

* CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

VOCAL PRAYER

* Vocal prayer is an essential element of the Christian life.Vocal prayer is an external expression of words
addressed to God. Verbal prayer can be formal and informal.

- Formal prayer (eg Our Father, Hail Mary, Creed, etc)

- Informal prayer where we pray simply using our own words

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER/SACRED WORD

• Contemplative prayer uses what is called the sacred word. The idea is that when thoughts start to come into
your mind that you focus on the sacred word to bring you back to just resting in God. The word is not spoken.
The word is in your mind. Examples of words are:Jesus, grace, peace, stillness, mercy.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

• The ultimate goal is to empty one's self and be in God's presence. This does not involve listening to God. It is
to just be. Answers are to be sought outside of contemplative prayer.

PRAYER: INFORMAL & FORMAL

• Prayer can be formal or informal, verbal or nonverbal, active or contemplative. Prayer is communicating with
God. Just as we talk and share with our best friends what is happening in our lives, so we talk and share with
God.Just as we listen to our friends, so we listen to God.
Levels of Prayer

1. Personal Prayer

Personal PrayerExample:

- Novena -Devotion to Saints

- Rosary -Meditation and others

2. Communal Prayer

Communal Prayer

Example: Holy Mass

Liturgy - is the official public worship of the Church (Holy Mass)

The Mass

It can be divided into four Sections:

* Introductory Rites

* Liturgy of the Word

* Liturgy of the Eucharist

* Concluding Rites

Each contains several acts which will be expanded on later.

This is a normal American Roman Catholic

Ceremony but there is alterations depending

Introductory Rites

* Entrance of priests, usually with music

* Greeting of the Alter, including a greeting to the people by the priest

* Act of Penitence, confessions of the people that they are sinners and need forgiveness

* Kyrie Eleision, a chant of acclamation to the Lord

* Gloria, a hymn sung by the choir with or without the

* The Collect, a prayer of preparation to be in presence of God.

Liturgy of the Word

* Silence, does exactly what it says on the tin

* Biblical Readings, from both the old and new testaments

* Responsorial Psalm, sung by both the leader and the people

* Homily, priest's interpretation of the readings and exposition on the themes of this particular time of year

* Profession of Faith, using the church's own creed

* Prayer of the Faithful, a prayer directed by priest with participation by the people

Liturgy of the Eucharist

* Preparation of the Gifts, the Eucharistic elements are laid on the alter

* Prayer over the Offerings

* Eucharistic Prayer, this transforms the bread and wine into Jesus' flesh and blood respectively through
Transubstantiation

* Lord's Prayer

* Rite of Peace, a prayer for unity within the church

* The Fraction, when the priest breaks the bread and drips in the wine and the people consume

• Prayer of Communion Rite, concludes the Section

Concluding Rites

* Announcements, about the church or its

* Priest's Blessing

* Dismissal

* Kissing the Alter, done by a priest followed by a bow