Why does the Catholic church believe in recited prayers?

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Today was the third week that I attended a Rosary prayer group and I finally memorized the Hail Mary prayer, but haven’t figured out how to do the sign of the cross yet. I was told of how to do the St. Jude prayer recently and had attempted it, although I believe that I didn’t much success in doing so. I’m getting better at praying the Rosary and the people in the group have noticed that I’ve improved since I’ve been attending it each Monday morning for three weeks now so far.

I’m curious as to why Catholics believe in recited prayer. Also, how many prayers to saints are there?
 
Recited prayer is what our Lord taught. He gave us exactly 1.0 prayers. The “Our Father.”

He prayed three times - the exact same words - to the Father at Gethsemane.

Do you suppose that the Father did not hear Him the firs two times?

But, prayer is not mere recitation. It is elevating our hearts and minds to God.

Honestly, it does not appear that the Rosary is the best introduction to Catholic prayer for you. As you have noted, it becomes technical with too many chances to mess up or become distracted. This excludes the very purpose of the Rosary: Contemplation of the life of Christ.

However, one of the recorded Rosaries on the web might help, as images which we may contemplate coincide with the prayers. Have a look at this one: www.comepraytherosary.org

Neither did our Lord teach us the stuttering, stammering prayers so often heard outside of Catholicism. “Lord we just” is taught exactly zero times in scripture, for example.

Maybe watch the online Rosary and simply contemplate the images. The rest will fill in as you go.
 
Catholicism is a liturgical religion. We have many recited prayers (perhaps you mean “formulaic”) because repetition and a certain formula aid in worship. No matter what our mood is–and it varies all the time of course–we pray such prayers and are relieved from the pressure to have to do “spontaneous” prayer all the time.
But of course, we also do spontaneous prayer, talking to God, all the time too!
How many prayers to the saints are there? About a million and more. There are a whole lot of saints, and a whole lot of prayers to them.
Do you have Laudate, the prayer and worship app, on your phone? You’ll meet each day’s saints there and have lots of prayers and other resources. It is free.
 
The recited prayers was an aid to and for those that really had no other means to learn or get to know the gospel- kind of a simple catechism that serves us well even today in our ‘educated, suspected’ world. Not everyone had knowledge or the ability to read and write the written word. The decades of the rosary teach all the major events of the Bible. The oral word and tradition were the educational tools of the day and still are in many places and countries. Sorry if I have not explained it well.
 
I’ll check out the link you sent me and I still don’t understand entirely on how praying the Rosary works. Thanks.
 
No, I don’t have that app, but I’ll get it now. I’ll eventually understand Catholicism better as I continue to study and learn about your church.
 
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER. In general, that form of mental prayer in which the affective sentiments of the will predominate, as distinct from discursive reflections of the mind. Or again, it is that prayer which looks at God by contemplating and adoring his attributes more than by asking him for favors or thanking him for graces received.
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With more detail here:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04324b.htm

It is a structured, or semi-structured way of simply loving God for Who He is. No favors asked. None expected, other than the grace to love God more profoundly.

As with all prayer, without faith, they are vain, empty.
 
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Catholics have a wide range of prayers. We’re not limited to one type of prayer or formula for prayer, but can pray in a way that suits our personality, our relationship with God, our needs on a particular day.

I love one form of prayer called the Liturgy of the Hours which is largely based on the Psalms. Since Jesus also knew the Psalms and prayed with them, I find it comforting to think that I can pray in the same way he did.

I also love contemplative prayer, where I can just sit with God and experience his presence – no words are necessary.

On the other hand, when I’m scared or worried and my mind is working at a million miles a minute, having set prayers that I know – where I don’t have to think of the words myself – can be comforting and calming.

Sometimes I read the prayers that other people have written and I’m inspired and uplifted.

And that barely scratches the surface of ways to pray.
 
I was just praying a Rosary via a bluetooth speaker in my garage. Suddenly, it struck me! One of the Rosaries was offered by Fr. Benedict Groeschel†, Franciscan friar, Priest and clinical psychologist. His reflections are amazing. It might be a good idea for you to have a listen, to enter into that personal chapel, eyes closed, and just listen. Contemplate the reflections, which will lead you to an ever-deeper contemplation of the life of Christ. Here are links to the four sets of mysteries:
 
There is a sense of unity that vocal prayers can obtain that mental prayer is unable to do. Fortunately the Rosary is both.
 
And, vice versa! Saint Teresa of Avila’s ecstasies were at a level quite beyond words.

But, first things first.
 
Ogie_Reeves said:
I’m curious as to why Catholics believe in recited prayer.
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Because it is calming, effective, and provides a link to our history.
Also, how many prayers to saints are there?
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An absolutely ENDLESS supply. You will never be able to say them all, so don’t try. Just pick a couple you like and say them. I do this short perpetual novena thing to Jesus and St. Therese every day myself.
 
Ogie_Reeves said:
I’m curious as to why Catholics believe in recited prayer. Also, how many prayers to saints are there?
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This is a very good question. We believe in recited prayer because that is how Jesus prayed. The book of Psalms was His prayer book.

Prayers that are given to us by the Holy Spirit are the best kind! We can never go wrong.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

When we cannot find the words, prayers inspired by the Holy Spirit can carry us.
 
Good luck in your prayers and may you remember them more and more each day.

The main recited prayers, considering that you are new to this, are the Sign of Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. These are the most recited and you are good to go with them.

As for others, you may be surprised, very few Catholics can recite them by hearts, so do not feel bad if you too cannot remember them. It depends on how prayerful you are and in times, you may be able to recite more.

Having said that, you can pray in any ways you like to pray, not necessarily the recited prayers.

God bless.
 
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po18guy said:
Neither did our Lord teach us the stThuttering, stammering prayers so often heard outside of Catholicism. “Lord we just” is taught exactly zero times in scripture, for example.
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I disagree with your view on ad lib prayers. While it may not sound pleasing and poetic to the ear, God hears all heart-felt prayers. Some stammer and stutter when they are put on the spot, but at least they try. We don’t know every prayer that Christ, the apostles and others over the years have prayed. One prayed very simply - Lord I believe, help my unbelief. I used the ad lib style exclusively, and now enjoy adding the different Catholic prayers. I love the Glory be and often look up prayers for specific situations. I would never criticize anyone’s prayer style - God surely does not.
 
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Why not?
Sometimes I have a heartfelt need, but can’t get the words right (yes, i know God already knows my need), but somebody has found the words.
It helps me to focus,
 
Feel free to disagree! But, if one is going to ad lib prayers, don’t you think they should have a certain flow to them?

OK, I attended the funeral of a former co-worker. A CoC pastor officiated. I counted 17 Lords in the opening prayer and 19 in the closing. He already had the Lord’s attention without calling His name 36 times!

This is the trouble when you depart from formulaic prayers. Can you still do it?

Of course. It just sounds strange to me.
 
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Jesus prayed recited (or formulaic) prayers - they’re called the Psalms. Many, many people throughout time have memorized the words of the Psalms and have prayed them alone or in groups. The Church still does in the Liturgy of the Hours.

Formulaic prayers are so very helpful when praying in groups - how else can everyone pray the same words at the same time?
 
Formulaic prayers help at difficult times. Like when I had very dark feelings about myself (including towards God) and needed desperately to pray. So - what to say? Just go on a rant against God, express my desperation so the devil laughs at me? So instead I opened my prayer book and read prayers.
 
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