Why do we pray?

[whatevergirl]

I have always prayed since I was old enough to kneel without fidgeting at night, before bedtime. I love prayer. It is a beautiful conversation with God…and in my prayers, I hear Him speaking to me through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, I admit, I get confused when yesterday’s mass readings indicate that we shouldn’t say wordy prayers, because God knows our thoughts and needs before we pray them. What exactly does that mean? (don’t be wordy in your prayers like the Pharisees) Anyone know what I’m referring to?

I mean…I pray for many things…for world peace…asking for guidance and peace…asking for my children to be safe…is it wrong to ask God these things?

 

[pumpkinbeast]

I think that verse refers to useless wordy prayers, prayers that are wordy for the sake of being wordy, not because you honestly have that much to say to God. Don’t worry about it. It sounds like you’re sincerely praying for worthy things, not trying to puff up your prayer time with useless things.

 

[whatevergirl]

I think that verse refers to useless wordy prayers, prayers that are wordy for the sake of being wordy, not because you honestly have that much to say to God. Don’t worry about it. It sounds like you’re sincerely praying for worthy things, not trying to puff up your prayer time with useless things.

oh i see…what would be an example? I honestly am pleading ignorance …I don’t know what that verse means??

 

[LilyM]

oh i see…what would be an example? I honestly am pleading ignorance …I don’t know what that verse means??

Well, gibberish really. Anything that has no meaning to you. I say the ‘Jesus prayer’ sometimes - after a few repetitions of that it can be difficult indeed not to lose my concentration, but I’m doing my best

 

[pumpkinbeast]

Well, think about what the Pharisees liked to do: they would follow the Law to the letter, in a very public fashion to make sure everyone else knew they followed it, too. So they would make their prayers long and drawn out, so everyone would be like, “Oh, they must be very holy, look at how much they are praying!” I highly doubt you are trying to find more things to pray for just to make sure everyone around can see that you pray for a long time.

 

[whatevergirl]

I pray the Rosary…and the Chaplet…but these are meditative…I’m still confused…lol

maybe i need sleep.

 

[InLight247]

The other posters actually answered your question well.
Our loving God is interested in our lives. It is good to tell Him our cares and concerns, a child’s school work, a friend’s health problem, bills to pay, a volunteer project, a computer logic to solve, protection and blessings of our priests, our nation’s safety, the world peace…

Even all knowing God knows everything, He still likes to hear us.
What Jesus said in Thursday’s reading is not to be wordy for wordy’s sake, not to say long prayers to be impressive, not to repeat meaningless words.

Rosary and Chaplet are not meaningless repetition. They are good and meaningful devotions, bless Mary, bless Jesus, asking for God’s mercy, they are sincere petitions if prayed with our hearts.

I actually like Rosary and Chaplet because I just need to state my petition either in the beginning or at the end once and leave the rest of the prayer with my devotions.

For example, if I pray for people who are seeking for employment, in the beginning of the Rosary, I tell God “This rosary is for A, and B, and C and all who are seeking for employment”. Then I start my rosary. I don’t have to repeat and be wordy of keeping on telling God “please help A and B and C find a job, please help A and B and C find a job…”
Instead, I profess my belief (Creed), I say the Lord’s prayer that including everything(from acknowledging my relationship to Father God to asking for daily provision, to seeking forgiveness, to forgiving others…) Then I invoke Holy Mother’s help, I say the Fatima prayer to beg for forgiveness…

Rosary and Chaplet, though have lot of repetitions, they are meaningful repetitions, plus the Scripture meditation, it is very rich. And by simply stating our intention once or twice (beginning and end), we are not being wordy with our own words. Of course when we pray the Rosary or Chaplet, we have to do our best to pray with our hearts, not just our lips.

I hope my explanation makes sense.

 

[Dorothy]

I have always prayed since I was old enough to kneel without fidgeting at night, before bedtime. I love prayer. It is a beautiful conversation with God…and in my prayers, I hear Him speaking to me through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, I admit, I get confused when yesterday’s mass readings indicate that we shouldn’t say wordy prayers, because God knows our thoughts and needs before we pray them. What exactly does that mean? (don’t be wordy in your prayers like the Pharisees) Anyone know what I’m referring to?

I mean…I pray for many things…for world peace…asking for guidance and peace…asking for my children to be safe…is it wrong to ask God these things?

I believe you mean this passage:

"Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.”

It is possible to pray vocal prayers while not paying attention to them and daydreaming about other things instead. This would be worthless babble. We need to focus on the Lord who we are praying to. I’m not just talking about ordinary distractions, which everyone has, but a total inattention. All of us have distractions, but when we recognize them we should put our focus back on the Lord.

That Scripture passage is followed by the Our Father, which contains all the elements of prayer, the first part being the most important - adoration and worship.

It certainly is not wrong to ask the Lord for the things you mention above. He wants us to be dependent on Him for all things.

 

[water]

I pray the Rosary…and the Chaplet…but these are meditative…I’m still confused…lol

maybe i need sleep.

You can go to Psalm 136 and see that the phrase “God’s love endures forever” repeated over and over again.

Also, Revelation 4:8
"The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop excalaiming:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
Who was and who is, and who is to come.”

 

[Margaret33]

A few excerpts from the Baltimore Catechism on prayer…
(baltimore-catechism.com/lesson28.htm)

Q. 1098. **Is there any other means of obtaining God’s grace other than the Sacraments?
**
A. There is another means of obtaining God’s grace, and it is prayer.

Q. 1099. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is the lifting up of our minds and hearts to God, to adore Him, to thank Him for His benefits, to ask His forgiveness, and to beg of Him all the graces we need whether for soul or body.

Q. 1104. Is prayer necessary to salvation?

A. Prayer is necessary to salvation, and without it no one having the use of reason can be saved.

Q. 1117. What are the fruits of prayer?

A. The fruits of prayer are:

1. It strengthens our faith,
2. nourishes our hope,
3. increases our love for God,
4. keeps us humble,
5. merits grace and atones for sin.

Q. 1118. Why should we pray when God knows our needs?

A. We pray not to remind God or tell Him of what we need, but to acknowledge that He is the Supreme Giver, to adore and worship Him by showing our entire dependence upon Him for every gift to soul or body.

 

[Margaret33]

I came across something the other day about using too many words in prayer, and meant to post it instead of what I posted prior. I can’t find it. But hopefully, this will help:

*(from Summa Theologica)

As Augustine says (ad Probam. Ep. cxxx), “to pray with many words is not the same as to pray long; to speak long is one thing, to be devout long is another. For it is written that our Lord passed the whole night in prayer, and that He ‘prayed the longer’ in order to set us an example.” Further on he says: “When praying say little, yet pray much so long as your attention is fervent. For to say much in prayer is to discuss your need in too many words: whereas to pray much is to knock at the door of Him we pray, by the continuous and devout clamor of the heart…”*

Bless you,
Margaret

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I have always prayed since I was old enough to kneel without fidgeting at night, before bedtime. I love prayer. It is a beautiful conversation with God…and in my prayers, I hear Him speaking to me through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, I admit, I get confused when yesterday’s mass readings indicate that we shouldn’t say wordy prayers, because God knows our thoughts and needs before we pray them. What exactly does that mean? (don’t be wordy in your prayers like the Pharisees) Anyone know what I’m referring to?

I mean…I pray for many things…for world peace…asking for guidance and peace…asking for my children to be safe…is it wrong to ask God these things?

There are different levels of prayer and what you describe is discursive prayer, which is really the beginning of prayer. However, to grow in faith, you must move toward deeper levels of prayer, and this is called contemplation. St. Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross are doctors of contemplative prayer.

My favorite modern day author on contemplative prayer is Father Thomas Keating. His book Open Mind Open Heart, is a wonderful book where Father Keating teaches how to open ourselves to contemplation. You can read the book on line if you wish here;

centeringprayer.com/OpenHeart/index.htm

God Bless
Jim

 

[whatevergirl]

I came across something the other day about using too many words in prayer, and meant to post it instead of what I posted prior. I can’t find it. But hopefully, this will help:

*(from Summa Theologica)

As Augustine says (ad Probam. Ep. cxxx), “to pray with many words is not the same as to pray long; to speak long is one thing, to be devout long is another. For it is written that our Lord passed the whole night in prayer, and that He ‘prayed the longer’ in order to set us an example.” Further on he says: “When praying say little, yet pray much so long as your attention is fervent. For to say much in prayer is to discuss your need in too many words: whereas to pray much is to knock at the door of Him we pray, by the continuous and devout clamor of the heart…”*

Bless you,
Margaret

thanks margaret…i really enjoyed this post.

 

[whatevergirl]

There are different levels of prayer and what you describe is discursive prayer, which is really the beginning of prayer. However, to grow in faith, you must move toward deeper levels of prayer, and this is called contemplation. St. Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross are doctors of contemplative prayer.

My favorite modern day author on contemplative prayer is Father Thomas Keating. His book Open Mind Open Heart, is a wonderful book where Father Keating teaches how to open ourselves to contemplation. You can read the book on line if you wish here;

centeringprayer.com/OpenHeart/index.htm

God Bless
Jim

Hi Jim–I was using those as examples, but I feel that I do pray very deeply…truly moved by each prayer experience for I’m rejoicing, thanking, petitioning, and confessing through prayer. I grow through prayer…I was just confused on if my prayers were too wordy. (because I pray long…but I suppose length varies depending on the person…and is relevant for each person?)

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Hi Jim–I was using those as examples, but I feel that I do pray very deeply…truly moved by each prayer experience for I’m rejoicing, thanking, petitioning, and confessing through prayer. I grow through prayer…I was just confused on if my prayers were too wordy. (because I pray long…but I suppose length varies depending on the person…and is relevant for each person?)

rejoicing, thanking, petitioning and confessing are the beginning stages of prayer. Contemplative prayer is resting in the presence of God.

Its like two lovers sitting together in each others arms. No words are necessary to convey what each is feeling toward each other. Just being with each other, in loving embarace is enough.

So it is in contemplative prayer. Just being in the presence of God, is enough. Nothing is expected, nothing is asked for. Just an exchange of love, between you and God. The meeting place is the center of your being.

Jim

 

[whatevergirl]

rejoicing, thanking, petitioning and confessing are the beginning stages of prayer. Contemplative prayer is resting in the presence of God.

Its like two lovers sitting together in each others arms. No words are necessary to convey what each is feeling toward each other. Just being with each other, in loving embarace is enough.

So it is in contemplative prayer. Just being in the presence of God, is enough. Nothing is expected, nothing is asked for. Just an exchange of love, between you and God. The meeting place is the center of your being.

Jim

I have times like this with God–although, I never looked at that as prayer…hmm…thank you for your post. Perhaps I have always thought prayer to be a conversation of sorts with God…

I’m glad I asked this question then…thank you

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I have times like this with God–although, I never looked at that as prayer…hmm…thank you for your post. Perhaps I have always thought prayer to be a conversation of sorts with God…

I’m glad I asked this question then…thank you

You’re welcome, but the thanks really goes to God. He’s the one who has led you there. You just needed some definition to understand it.

Again, Father Thomas Keating, does a great job explaining the deeper levels of prayer, as St. Teresa and St John of the Cross teach it.

Jim