PRAYERPRAYER

PRAYER: some definitions…PRAYER: some definitions…

• St. Clement - conversation with St. Clement - conversation with God: this implies an ongoing God: this implies an ongoing relationship with God.relationship with God.

BALTIMORE CATECHISMBALTIMORE CATECHISM

• Prayer is defined as - Lifting our Prayer is defined as - Lifting our hearts and minds to God. hearts and minds to God.

FOUR TYPES OF PRAYERFOUR TYPES OF PRAYER

• ADORATIONADORATION

prayers of praiseprayers of praise

prayers that give glory to Godprayers that give glory to God

TYPES OF PRAYER:TYPES OF PRAYER:

• CONTRITION –CONTRITION –expresses sorrow expresses sorrow and forgiveness for sins; we are and forgiveness for sins; we are moved by God’s goodness and moved by God’s goodness and mercy to ask for forgiveness.mercy to ask for forgiveness.

TYPES OF PRAYER:TYPES OF PRAYER:

• ThanksgivingThanksgiving - expressions of - expressions of gratitude for all God has done for us. gratitude for all God has done for us. Prayers of thanksgiving acknowledge Prayers of thanksgiving acknowledge the many gifts God has given us. This the many gifts God has given us. This type of prayer shows that we don’t type of prayer shows that we don’t take things for granted, appreciate take things for granted, appreciate everything he has done for us and everything he has done for us and reveals that without God we can do reveals that without God we can do nothing.nothing.

TYPES OF PRAYER:TYPES OF PRAYER:

• Supplication Supplication - the most common - the most common form of prayer. These are prayers of form of prayer. These are prayers of petition. We count on Jesus’ petition. We count on Jesus’ message that his father is also our message that his father is also our loving father whom we may loving father whom we may approach in confidence.approach in confidence.

BENEFITS OF PRAYER:BENEFITS OF PRAYER:

• Prayer contributes to our self worth :Prayer contributes to our self worth :

• In prayer we get in touch In prayer we get in touch with our with our true selves. true selves.

• We discover that God loves We discover that God loves us.us.

• We can experience God’s We can experience God’s love.love.

BENEFITS OF PRAYER:BENEFITS OF PRAYER:

• Prayer leads to happiness:Prayer leads to happiness:

• We find through prayer that We find through prayer that our our only enduring source of true only enduring source of true

HAPPINESS IS God.HAPPINESS IS God.

BENEFITS OF PRAYER:BENEFITS OF PRAYER:

• Prayer changes usPrayer changes us

• We cannot meet God and We cannot meet God and remain remain unaffected.unaffected.

• Prayer develops virtue in Prayer develops virtue in the pray-the pray- er such as faith, er such as faith, hope and love, hope and love, humility etc.humility etc.

BENEFITS OF PRAYER:BENEFITS OF PRAYER:

• Prayer gives us more energy:Prayer gives us more energy:

• Time spent with the lord is Time spent with the lord is energizingenergizing

• We return from prayer with We return from prayer with more more enthusiasmenthusiasm

• Prayer has a calming effectPrayer has a calming effect

BENEFITS OF PRAYER:BENEFITS OF PRAYER:

• Prayer has a healing effect:Prayer has a healing effect:

• God touches and heals our God touches and heals our emotional fearsemotional fears

• Forgives sin, relieves guiltForgives sin, relieves guilt

BENEFITS OF PRAYER:BENEFITS OF PRAYER:

• Prayer helps us solve problems:Prayer helps us solve problems:

We learn to let go and let God.We learn to let go and let God.