God Calls us to Pray

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God Calls us to Pray

• USCCA Chapter 35
• Friday, February 19, 2016

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February 19, 2016

1. St. Thérèse of Lisieux defines prayer as a

1. Surge of the heart.
2. Simple look turned toward heaven.
3. A cry of recognition and love, embracing both
   trial and joy.

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February 19, 2016

1. Prayer

1. Is a vital and personal relationship with God.
2. Is always connected to catechesis, making
   doctrine come alive.

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February 19, 2016

1. Scripture gives us a history of prayer.

1. Old Testament examples include Abraham, Isaac,
   Jacob, Moses, Hannah, Esther, David and the
   Psalms and Judith.
2. In calling God Abba, Jesus both models and
   teaches us how to pray.

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February 19, 2016

1. Scripture gives us a history of prayer.

• The prayer of the New Testament Church gives us
  the basic form of praying
• Adoration acknowledging God as the source of
  all.
• Petition presenting our needs to God.

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February 19, 2016

1. Scripture gives us a history of prayer.

• The prayer of the New Testament Church gives us
  the basic form of praying
• Intercession praying for the needs of others.
• Thanksgiving especially in and through the
  Eucharist.

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February 19, 2016

1. Scripture gives us a history of prayer.

• The prayer of the New Testament Church gives us
  the basic form of praying
• Praise - exulting God for who He is.

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February 19, 2016

1. Sources of prayer include

1. The Scriptures.
2. The Liturgy.
3. Gods life living in us through the gifts of the
   theological virtues (faith, hope and love).

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February 19, 2016

1. Mary has a unique role in our prayer life as our
   model and intercessor.

1. The Hail Mary gives us a Scriptural and
   ecclesial (church) model of praying with her.
2. The rosary allows us to contemplate the key
   events in the life of Jesus with the intercession
   of Mary.

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February 19, 2016

1. The tradition of pray in the Church has been
   supported by

1. Schools of spirituality.
2. Parents and family prayer.

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February 19, 2016

1. The tradition of pray in the Church has been
   supported by

1. Men and women religious.
2. Parish religious education.

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February 19, 2016

1. The primary expressions of prayer are

1. Vocal from the lips.
2. Meditative from the mind.
3. Contemplative from the heart.

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February 19, 2016
8. Prayer requires work and effort. Problems in
prayer include

1. Acedia (a form of spiritual laziness).
2. Distractions, which reveal to us our attachments.

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For Discussion

1. (From the USCCA p. 461-462.) Archbishop Fulton
   Sheens life is a testimony to devotion to Jesus
   in the Blessed Sacrament. What role does
   Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament have in your
   life at this time? How can you deepen your love
   for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?
2. How does our culture make it difficult to pray?