Joshua Bennett
Prayer is an essential aspect of Catholic life, and the Church provides a variety of prayers for different occasions and purposes. These prayers are formulaic and based on Christian tradition, drawing from Scripture, the words of Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Catholics are encouraged to pray together, as Christ encouraged in Matthew 18:20: For wherever two or more are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines various forms of prayer, including adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication, often remembered using the acronym ACTS. The Rosary, a devotion to the Virgin Mary, is a significant aspect of Catholic prayer, consisting of fifteen decades, each focusing on a mystery in the life of Christ and his mother. The Liturgy of the Hours is another important daily prayer practice for Catholics, with fixed prayer times for clergy and devout believers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "The raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." |
| Types | Adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication, blessing, petition, intercession, praise, meditation, doxology, and more. |
| Forms | Vocal (spoken or sung) or mental (meditation or contemplation). |
| Frequency | Liturgy of the Hours is recited daily at fixed prayer times by clergy, devout believers, and members of the consecrated life. |
| Purpose | To adore and acknowledge God's power, bring thanks and petitions, and express sorrow for sins. |
| Nature | Often meant to be prayed in the company of others. |
| Examples | Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, and many more. |
| Resources | The Catechism, breviary (prayer book), Rosary, and more. |
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What You'll Learn
The four basic elements of Christian prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication
Prayer is an integral part of the life of a devout Catholic. It is described as "the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God". The four basic elements of Christian prayer are Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, which can be easily remembered using the acronym ACTS.
Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before God. It is an act of praising and glorifying God, not because of what He does, but simply because of who He is and what He can do. Adoration is about recognizing God's power, glory, and goodness. An example of adoration can be found in Acts 4:24.
Contrition or repentance is the second element of prayer, where one confesses their sins and seeks forgiveness from God. It involves a daily examination of conscience, recounting one's actions and failures, and making amends. An example of confession can be found in Ezra 9:6.
Thanksgiving is the third element, where one expresses gratitude to God for all the good things He has created and the blessings received. It is an acknowledgment of God's grace and mercy. An example of thanksgiving can be found in 1 Chronicles 29:13.
Supplication, or petition, is the fourth element, where one presents their requests, needs, and desires to God. It includes both pleadings for oneself and intercessions for others. An example of supplication can be found in 1 Chronicles 4:10.
These four elements provide a framework for Christian prayer, allowing one to worship, confess, give thanks, and make requests before God.
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The Rosary
The four sets of mysteries are the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into a restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps one to enter into the silence of their hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be prayed privately or with a group.
To pray the Rosary, one must first make the Sign of the Cross while holding the Crucifix. On the first bead, the prayer is the 'Our Father'. One 'Hail Mary' is said on each of the next three beads. For each of the five decades, the Mystery is announced, followed by a brief Scripture reading, and then another 'Our Father'. While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, ten 'Hail Marys' are said while meditating on the Mystery. A Glory Be is then said. After the five decades, the 'Hail, Holy Queen' is said, followed by a dialogue and prayer: "V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ." The Rosary is concluded with the Sign of the Cross.
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Meditation and contemplation
Prayer is an integral part of the life of a devout Catholic. It is an act of the moral virtue of religion, which Catholic theologians identify as a part of the cardinal virtue of justice. Prayer is a way of expressing love, adoration, gratitude, and reverence for God. It is also a way of seeking guidance, forgiveness, and strength from God.
Monasteries and monastic practices have played a significant role in preserving and teaching contemplative prayer. The Cloud of Unknowing, a 14th-century manual on contemplative meditation, is a well-known guide that has influenced many monks and priests. The practice of lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio—reading, meditating, affective prayer, and contemplation—is a traditional monastic approach to prayer.
In their teachings, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Ignatius have also contributed to the understanding of contemplation. Contemplative prayer, according to Pope Francis, is like "salt that gives flavor to our day." It is a way of being still and quiet before God, recognizing His presence, and fixing our gaze upon Him. This form of prayer seeks to achieve a deep union with God.
Imaginative prayer, or imaginative contemplation, is another form of contemplative prayer. It involves opening oneself to the Gospel and entering into it imaginatively, allowing one's heart to be fully present for God. This type of prayer enables individuals to encounter God in a unique and intimate way, enhancing their relationship with Him.
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The Lord's Prayer
The traditional version of the Lord's Prayer is as follows:
> Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
This version of the prayer is taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (1662). The Catholic form of the Lord's Prayer has changed recently, and the Catholic Church omits the doxology at the end ("For thine is the kingdom, the power, etc.). The prayer is based on the text in Matthew, rather than Luke, and is considered a summary of the whole gospel.
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Doxologies
In the Catholic Mass, a prose doxology concludes the Eucharistic prayer, preceding the Our Father. It is usually sung by the priest and any concelebrating priests. The Latin text, translated into English, is:
> Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen.
The Gloria in excelsis Deo, or the Greater Doxology, is a hymn that begins with the words that the angels sang when the birth of Christ was announced to the shepherds in Luke 2:14. The Gloria Patri, or Glory be (gloria patri) prayer, is also commonly used as a doxology in many Christian traditions, including Roman Catholics.
Another familiar doxology is often added at the end of the Lord's Prayer:
> For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.
> O pure and immaculate and likewise blessed Virgin, who art the sinless Mother of thy Son, the mighty Lord of the universe, thou who art inviolate and altogether holy, the hope of the hopeless and sinful, we sing thy praises...
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic list of prayers is called a "tract".
Some common Catholic prayers include the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Rosary, and the Our Father.
The six fundamental elements of Catholic prayers are adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication, blessing, and intercession.
Some examples of Catholic prayers of intercession include the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Prayer of St. Dominic.
There are four basic forms of Catholic prayers: vocal prayer (spoken or sung), mental prayer (meditation or contemplation), formal prayer, and informal prayer.
