Prayer
For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. – St Therese of Lisieux
Prayer is a human expression of our attempt to relate to God. Praying is a devotion to and desire to communicate with the mystery that gives meaning to our lives. For Catholics, this mystery is God, revealed to us in the person of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We can engage with this mystery by being open to feeling the presence of God in a joyful moment, sitting quietly alone and ‘spending time’ with God in daily prayer or joining with others to pray. Our day to day activities, if done with God in mind and with good intentions, are prayer. There are different styles of prayer.
Through prayer we acknowledge God’s power and goodness along with our own need and dependence. Prayer is an essential ingredient in all our efforts for a better world and for our own inner peace.
Prayer can help us make sense of our lived experiences which may be overwhelming in positive or negative ways. Reflecting in prayer empowers us to grow in confidence that whatever life may bring we are loved unconditionally by our Creator.
For Catholics, praying together clarifies our relationship with one another within the bigger context of our relationship with God. By gathering together to pray ‘in the name of Jesus’ we are part of ‘the body of Christ’. This links us to others beyond those physically assembled in the one place.
Click here for Catholic Prayers.