How to pray
Prayer can be difficult to truly define, as our own personal experience, and preference, can be vastly different but the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Prayer is turning the heart toward God. When a person prays, they enter into a living relationship with God.” (2558-2565) so in essence prayer is all about RELATIONSHIP, it is about how we communicate with God and how we receive God’s love too. St John Vianney said that “Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.”
There are many forms of prayer…
What the Saints have said about prayer
We must speak to God as a friend speaks to his friend, servant to his master; now asking some favour, now acknowledging our faults, and communicating to Him all that concerns us, our thoughts, our fears, our projects, our desires, and in all things seeking His counsel.’
–St. Ignatius of Loyola
“Much more is accomplished by a single word of the Our Father said, now and then, from our heart, than by the whole prayer repeated many times in haste and without attention.”
–Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be
thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Useful Links
Prayer-related news and articles from the Vatican, including commentary on the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions
The Pope’s monthly prayer intentions, including a link to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, where you can find videos and reflections based on each month’s intention
Pray as you go—a popular audio app and website with daily prayer sessions based on Ignatian spirituality and incorporating Scripture, music and questions for reflection, produced by Jesuit Ministries UK
The Examen—a strikingly designed downloadable prayer resource based on the Examen, published on The Well website by Catholic Youth Paramatta
Franciscan Media—a US Franciscan spirituality website that includes a range of useful prayer and devotional resources such as Minute Meditations and Pause+Pray
How to pray the rosary—an 11-minute YouTube video from Catholic Online that clearly and engagingly explains how to pray the rosary
Pray.com—a Christian prayer app with daily and nightly prayers, bedtime Bible stories, a ‘read the Bible in a year’ program and Christian podcasts
The Catholic Church of England and Wales – there is lots of information about the Church, resources and a great overview of what is happening across the country
YouCat – this is a wonderful resource for young people that explains our Catholic faith in a beautiful and age appropriate way. Great for adults too!