praying

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What saints explain praying best? I simply repeat many marian prayers and the our father. But what we ask we receive said Jesus. Does one have to be in a state of Grace for this? Without mortal sin? What about Teresa of Avila or John of the Cross? Did they teach about prayer?
 
2562 Where does prayer come from? Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays. But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times). According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1.htm

Catechism is a good place to start, the link above is the first page of several, buttons to move forward through the pages are at the bottom of the web page.

Thinking that we will always receive the result we want from prayer borders on superstition. Christ prayed to be spared the cross if possible and was refused, yet God did send an angel to strengthen Him to carry out God’s will. Prayer isn’t a magical incantation- it’s a request to God. He can and will say no, or not right now at times. Christ did tell a couple of parables about the necessity for persistence in prayer, which reinforces the point that asking more than once is necessary. But always with the goal of raising our minds and hearts to God and being open to what that means relative to our requests.

2111 Superstition is the deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary. To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand, is to fall into superstition.
 
I like this quote from St. Therese of Lisieux which is found in the Catechism:

For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. (1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church 2558)

And really like this from St. John Damascene:
***“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church 2559)
Keepin’ it simple! 👍
 
St John Climacus writes well on this subject:
  1. Let your prayer be completely simple. For both the publican and the prodigal son were reconciled to God by a single phrase.
  2. The attitude of prayer is one and the same for all, but there are many kinds of prayer and many different prayers. Some converse with God as with a friend and master, interceding with praise and petition not for themselves but for others. Some strive for more (spiritual) riches and glory and for confidence in prayer. Others ask for complete deliverance from their adversary. Some beg to receive some kind of rank; others for complete forgiveness of debts. Some ask to be released from prison; others for remission of accusations.
  3. Before all else let us list sincere thanksgiving first on our prayer-card. On the second line we should put confession, and heartfelt contrition of soul. Then let us present our petition to the King of all. This is the best way of prayer, as it was shown to one of the brethren by an angel of the Lord.
    …]
  4. Do not say, after spending a long time at prayer, that nothing has been gained; for you have already gained something. And what higher good is there than to cling to the Lord and persevere in unceasing union with Him?
  • St John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28
You can read all of St John Climacus’ writing here: desertfathers.webs.com/ladderofdivineascent.htm
 
Zekariya said:
St John Climacus writes well on this subject:
  1. Let your prayer be completely simple. For both the publican and the prodigal son were reconciled to God by a single phrase.
  2. The attitude of prayer is one and the same for all, but there are many kinds of prayer and many different prayers. Some converse with God as with a friend and master, interceding with praise and petition not for themselves but for others. Some strive for more (spiritual) riches and glory and for confidence in prayer. Others ask for complete deliverance from their adversary. Some beg to receive some kind of rank; others for complete forgiveness of debts. Some ask to be released from prison; others for remission of accusations.
  3. Before all else let us list sincere thanksgiving first on our prayer-card. On the second line we should put confession, and heartfelt contrition of soul. Then let us present our petition to the King of all. This is the best way of prayer, as it was shown to one of the brethren by an angel of the Lord.
    …]
  4. Do not say, after spending a long time at prayer, that nothing has been gained; for you have already gained something. And what higher good is there than to cling to the Lord and persevere in unceasing union with Him?
  • St John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28
You can read all of St John Climacus’ writing here: desertfathers.webs.com/ladderofdivineascent.htm
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Thanks much!
 
St Teresa of Avila is the Doctor of Prayer, said quite a bit about prayer, especially contemplative prayer.

She’s my patron saint. 🙂
 
asia53 said:
St Teresa of Avila is the Doctor of Prayer, said quite a bit about prayer, especially contemplative prayer.

She’s my patron saint. 🙂
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Great! I have interior castle and another book of hers. How many are there out there she is ascribed to?
 
As far as I know, just the two books listed below. However, there are lots of books written about her, even an autobiography.

Interior Castle
Way of Perfection

Complete Works St Teresa of Avila, Volumes I, II, III has been recommended to me. I haven’t bought it yet.
 
billcu1 said:
Great! I have interior castle and another book of hers. How many are there out there she is ascribed to?
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St Teresa can be difficult to read, especially without having a spiritual director or assistant.
But don’t let that stop you from trying.

I would recommend reading “The Fire Within,” by Fr Thomas Dubay.

Fr Dubay did a great job presenting St Teresa and St John of the Cross, in an easy way to understand.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
St Teresa can be difficult to read, especially without having a spiritual director or assistant.
But don’t let that stop you from trying.

I would recommend reading “The Fire Within,” by Fr Thomas Dubay.

Fr Dubay did a great job presenting St Teresa and St John of the Cross, in an easy way to understand.

Jim
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Would preist be good enough or would one have to be a carmalite? Like her and John of the Cross.
 
billcu1 said:
Would preist be good enough or would one have to be a carmalite? Like her and John of the Cross.
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There is a version of Way of Perfection with a study guide written by a priest, Father Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D., with interpretive notes, and study questions. Father Kavanaugh is the english translator of St Teresa of Avila’s, and St John of the Cross’ writings. He’s a Carmelite priest. This version was recommended to me by the Lay Carmelite community in a neighboring parish.

Interior Castles has a study edition, too. However, I’ve never looked into this one.
 
billcu1 said:
Would preist be good enough or would one have to be a carmalite? Like her and John of the Cross.
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It depends on the priest.

Diocesan priest do not study spirituality as a Carmelite Friar or Benedictine would.

Some do, but all the diocesan priest I’ve met, I knew more about contemplative prayer and spirituality than they did.

Jim
 
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