Real difference between vocal and mental prayer?

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What’s the real difference between “vocal” as opposed to “mental” prayer?

I’ve done some research over this (some catechisms, a few tracts, forum threads, etc.) and there seem to be conflicting views on it.

Some say that the difference between vocal and mental prayer is that the former is recited aloud (i.e. praying with external manifestation, with use of the senses) while the latter is praying silently in our hearts and minds (“interior” prayer where we just “think” the prayer, whether it be the Our Father, Hail Mary, or our own spontaneous conversation with God).

Others have a different view. They say that vocal prayer is roughly equivalent to formula prayers, or pre-prepared words and petitions (Our Father, Hail Mary, Scripture passages, etc.). In this sense, it doesn’t matter whether if it’s recited aloud or just in the mind. If it’s the Our Father, it’s vocal prayer whether you recite it for people to hear or just “think” it. This is distinguished from mental prayer which is just our spontaneous lifting of our being to God either in conversation or meditation, with or without words.

So what’s the real difference? Do we have any authoritative teaching on this?

And relatedly, if vocal prayer really were just prayers recited aloud, regardless of whether they’re formulaic or not, does that mean it’s improper (even inefficacious) to pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, or the Rosary in our minds? Do we have to recite these formula prayers (and even our personal petitions to the saints) aloud for them to be proper and efficacious? If I were to silently converse with, say for example, St. Thomas Aquinas, will that be improper/invalid/inefficacious such that I have to actually speak and enunciate words addressed to the saint? Or if a priest imposes three Hail Marys as penance, do I have to say them aloud, and if I just “think” the Haily Marys, they won’t count?
 
“Mental Prayer,” a term coined by St Teresa of Avila, is merely understanding that when you are praying, whether it’s vocal memorized prayer, or interior prayer, you are in the presence of God.

It is the mental focus of what you are doing that is important.

In time, vocal prayer will lead you to silent interior prayer, but in either case, pray with the focus of being in God’s presence.

Jim
 
Prayer is mental when the inherent mental powers of the soul only are used in sharing one’s intimate thoughts or feelings with God. Prayer is vocal when the acts of the soul and its conscious experiences are made known in words.In other words, to pray mentally is to think in the presence of God and presenting before Him the thoughts of our soul, carrying with it the full intent of our will to do so. Vocal prayer, on the other hand, gives expression to our thoughts and our emotions through speech, making these more concrete and manifest. We may even draw these up into formulas of prayer to make them useful for others – thus, the Psalms and the Church’s liturgy. Unless the mind and the voice be in accord, though, repeating crystallized vocal prayers is not prayer but the mere recitation of a formula.
 
If praying privately, it really doesnt matter. It is the seriousness, or meaning in the prayer that counts. And there are times that silent mental prayer is appropriate, ( ie needing confidence in a dental procedure, during a presentation, etc).

Vocal prayer is much more appropriate , if possible, during Lord’s Prayer at Mass, or when its your turn for Rosary.

Saints talk about different prayer levels, but they first stress being genuine in prayer. Singing psalms is another way of praying.

Its fine to speak silently to God and His saints, or out loud.
 
In spiritual theology and spiritual writers you will find various uses of terms etc and differing schools of thought…
 
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