Questions about Catholic prayer

[porthos11]

When I started school (27 years ago) we were taught set prayers like ‘Hail Mary’ etc. no context was given for this, it was just a script to repeat. I can still recite it without question or delay, but I still have no knowledge as to why Catholics in particular use this form of prayer. Every other Christian tradition that I am aware of generally go with prayers from the heart rather than learning to repeat.

I’m also curious to know what it feels like when you pray, I’ve been trying to pray over the past week and it just feels like I’m talking to the sky so I’d like to know what emotional response you have when you pray.

Apologies for the rambling nature of this post as well.

Because set prayers have always been part of Biblical religion, both under the Old and New Testaments. As is spontaneous prayer. The error here is that set prayer is somehow not prayer from the heart. That’s a false dichotomy.

Set prayers have the advantage of having been vetted by the Church and purified through tradition. Therefore, one can always be assured one is not praying heresy (e.g. “O Father Jesus…”) when one uses prayers approved for use. Even Jesus himself gave us a set prayer, and no, not that nonsense of the Our Father being a mere “pattern” or “template.” He said, Pray Like This.

The Jews used the Psalms. Jesus and his apostles used the Psalms. And today, the Church uses the Psalms. And Catholics also pray spontaneously in their own words.

It’s not an either/or case here.