The
following are some suggestions & considerations to assist you in
your prayer life.
-
Combine
prayers with fasting. "So we fasted, and prayed to our God for this, and our petition was granted."
(Ezra. 8:23)
-
Forgive
others before praying. "Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then
when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven." (Sirach
28:2) and "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly
Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither
will your Father forgive your transgressions." (Our Lord Jesus
Christ, Mt. 6:14-15)
-
Pray
respectfully as a loving child to a loving Father.
-
Pray
with confidence like a child who
totally expects that his or her father
will take care of his or her every
need. Have complete faith, and
know & believe that God will
listen to your prayers.
-
Pray
on your knees where possible.
-
Ask
God for your petitions, but do not
make demands.
-
Click
here for biblical pleadings that God
may hear prayers
-
Pray
humbly and from your heart.
-
Pray
reverently. Remember, you are
speaking to the Creator of all and
King of the world!
-
Pray
where you are least likely to become
distracted.
-
Pray
for forgiveness (Sirach 21:1), that God sets your feet in the path
of truth (Sirach 37:15), for those who persecute you (Mt. 5:44),
against evil spirits (Mk. 9:25-29), that you may not undergo the
test (Mk. 14:38, Lk. 22:40) for those who mistreat and persecute you (Mt.
5:44, Lk. 6:28),
pray when you see someone sinning (1 Jn. 5:6), etc.
-
Offer
up your suffering in prayer.
-
Offer
up your day in prayer.
-
Say
the Rosary daily. This cherished method of prayer has been called a
"truly heavenly instrument", "the greatest method of
praying", "the scourge of the devil", "a
treasure of graces", and "the most powerful weapon".
It has been advocated by many Popes, Saints, and other Religious.
Those who faithfully pray the Rosary may gain many graces.
Note: For more
information on the Holy Rosary, click
here.
-
Make
your every action a prayer.
-
Learn
more prayers (click here) including short, one line prayers
(i.e. aspirations) that may be said
throughout the day.
-
Pray
regularly throughout the day: Pray before meals, pray in
the morning, pray at night, pray at
3:00 (the hour of our Savior's death),
and at other times. Note: Click
here for daily prayers.
-
Do
not neglect the Lord's Prayer which
was taught by Jesus himself.
Pray it slowly and meditate on it.
-
When
praying, don't do all the
talking. Give God a chance
to 'speak' to you. "Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if
you were alone with God. Speak with familiarity and confidence as to
your dearest and most loving friend. Speak of your life, your plans,
your troubles, your joys, your tears. In return, God will speak to
you - not that you will hear audible words in your ears, but words
that you will clearly understand in your heart. These may be
feelings of peace, hope, interior joy, or sorrow for sin" (St.
Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
-
Engage
in all appropriate types of prayer (i.e.
adoration, thanksgiving, etc.). Remember that prayer is not
just for petitions.
-
Frequently,
meditate on/contemplate a passage from Scripture and on the
mysteries of the Rosary.
-
Ask
others to pray for you and with you
and don't forget to request the
Saints' intercession. "The fervent prayer of a righteous
person is very powerful." (Jms.
5:16)
-
Utilize
both vocal and mental forms of prayer.
-
Feel
free to request
prayers on this site as well as on other appropriate websites, your
parish, and elsewhere.
-
Throughout
the day, give thanks often to God,
even if by nothing more than a quiet
"Thank You,
Lord".
-
Pray
frequently. "Then he told them a parable about the necessity
for them to pray always without becoming weary...Will not God then
secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and
night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, He will see to it
that justice is done for them speedily." (Lk. 18:1-8) "Rejoice
in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer." (Rom.
12:12) "With all prayer and supplication, pray at every
opportunity in the Spirit..." (Eph. 6:18) "Have no anxiety
at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." (Phil. 4:6)
"Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving"
(Col. 4:2). "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thes. 5:17) "The
end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for
prayers." (1 Pt. 4:7)
-
Pray
near the Holy Eucharist whenever possible.
-
Start
(and finish) prayers with the sign of the Cross. Be sure to make the
sign of the Cross slowly and with devotion.
-
Begin
prayers with an examination of conscience and an act of contrition.
-
Say
at least a quick prayer each time you
pass a Catholic church.
-
Pray
for the Pope, priests, for vocations, for the Catholic Church, for
the conversion of
sinners, for one's country, family,
friends, for the elderly, ill/dying, the poor
and needy, the weak, persecuted Catholics, the abused, the
suffering, the lonely, co-workers, teachers, leaders, souls
in purgatory, prisoners, for the faithful, for conversion of unbelievers, for a
happy death, for an increase in virtue, for
one's enemies, etc.
-
Consider
participating
in an appropriate Catholic prayer chain/prayer group to pray for the
needs of others.
-
Make
a 'prayer jar' (or 'prayer basket'). Place prayer
requests in the jar as you think of them.
Pray for the intentions contained in
the jar, and also select a request each
day for special prayers.
-
St.
Teresa of Avila recommends
praying with one's eyes closed (as appropriate).
-
Don't
neglect to pray to the Holy Trinity - pray to God the Father, to Jesus
the Son, and
to God the Holy Spirit.
-
Prayers
said during the consecration (at Mass) are the
most powerful of all prayers. The practice of saying "My Lord and My God"
when the Host is raised has traditionally been enriched with indulgences, while simply
looking at the raised Host and Chalice
reverently may gain you special favors (according to St. Gertrude
the Great, your place in Heaven is
raised each time you look at the
Blessed Sacrament). Be sure to prepare for Holy Communion with appropriate
prayers. After
Communion, be sure to say the Anima Christi and other appropriate
prayers (try
here).
-
Be
sure to give thanks to God for the
many gifts He has given you. Put
God first and yourself second in your
prayers. In the perfect prayer
given by Jesus, Our Lord's Prayer,
note that our needs are listed second,
not first. Try to pattern all
your prayers after the Lord's Prayer.
-
Frequently
recite "Spiritual Communion" prayers (try
here).
-
Make
sure to recite indulgenced prayers frequently.
Note: Click
here for more information on indulgences.
-
Men: Pray with your head uncovered. Women: Pray with
your head covered. As stated by St.
Paul - under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor.
11:3-10): "But I want you to know that Christ is the head of
every man, and a husband the head of his wife, and God the head of
Christ. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings
shame upon his head. But any woman who prays or prophesies with her
head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same
thing as if she had had her head shaved. For if a woman does not
have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off. But if
it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head
shaved, then she should wear a veil. A man, on the other hand,
should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God,
but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but
woman from man; nor was man created for woman, but woman for man;
for this reason a woman should have a sign of authority on her head,
because of the angels." (emphasis added)
-
Consider
learning favorite prayers in Latin, the Church's official language (try
here).
-
Do
not pray in haste. "Haste is the destroyer of devotion.. If we allow ourselves to get into this habit, the interior spirit, which is the source of all merit, becomes dried up, and instead of the highest use of our intellect there is only a lip-worship, and holy thoughts and noble feelings are replaced by a blind and mechanical repetition. Once slave to this habit, it is vain to multiply our words of
prayer... The words that rise to our lips mean nothing to our heart and leave no impression on our soul. They are nothing but a useless set of words like those for which our Lord blamed the heathen: When ye pray, speak not much as do the heathen, for they think in their much speaking they may be heard' (Mt. 6:7)" (St. Francis de
Sales, Doctor of the Church)
-
Have
family prayer time - remember that
"the family that prays together stays
together". Statistics
strongly support the truth of this statement.
-
Click
here for biblical insight and
tips on prayer
-
Consider
prayer to be of very great importance in your
life. In addition to pleasing
our Lord, you will gain enormously from praying.
"Those
who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly
damned." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
"There
is, in fact, such a necessary link between holiness and prayer that
the one cannot exist without the other." (Pope St. Pius X,
"Haerent Animo", 1908)
"All
the damned are in hell because they have stopped praying!... They
would not be there had they not stopped praying. " (St.
Alphonsus, Doctor of the Church)
"All
the saints are in heaven because they have prayed much. They would
be less holy if they had prayed less, and they would not have been
there at all, if they had not prayed " (St. Alphonsus, Doctor
of the Church)
"As
our body cannot live without nourishment, so our soul cannot
spiritually be kept alive without prayer." (St. Alphonsus
Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
Note:
Click
here for more reflections on the necessity of prayer
Also
See:
Prayers & Devotions Reflections
[top]
He
is never too busy for you. In fact,
He 'longs for your prayer'. At any
time of day or night, no matter where you are, you have full,
complete, and instant access to the
Creator and King of all things. He
listens to every word you say. He
desires conversation. He knows
everything. He made you and all that
you love. He knows you intimately
and only desires for your good. He
will share your burdens and struggles, and
rejoice with you in your triumphs.
There
is no waiting line and He will not finish
your sentences. You can pray
anywhere. He listens intently and
lovingly to all that you say and He cares
for you like no one else can. He has
known and loved you intimately since
before birth, even better than you know
yourself. Should you deny or forget
about Him, He still waits for
you.
He
cares not how you look, how educated you
are, or how much money you make. He
does not judge you by your appearance and
there is nothing that He will not forgive if you are truly sorry. He never tires of
you. You could never do anything to
stop His love for you. In fact, He
loves you so much that He suffered severe
pain, humiliation, and death for you.
Whether
you notice or not, He watches over you all
night and during the day. He
supplies for all your needs. When
you speak to Him, He always has time for
you and an eager ear. He will not laugh at
you. He always wants your
company. You have only to speak to
be heard. True forgiveness is yours
for the asking.
Unfortunately,
many turn to Him only in times of desperation.
Of course, it is right to turn to God in
such times, but by limiting prayers only to such times, we miss out on the
opportunity to build a relationship with
the One who loves us perfectly. It
has been said that prayer is "the key
to all holiness". God
wills you to pray and has promised to
answer your prayers.
God
is your true Father. He loves you
deeply and always has your best interest
at heart. He provides for your every
need and is always there for you.
He planned you and He wants you. He
longs for you to talk to Him. That
breath you just took... it was from
Him. Those things that make you
smile... they are from Him. God is
always there for you and He always seeks
for your good. Don't hesitate to
pray to Him. And, pray often!
He is waiting.
Other
Insights on Prayer:
-
There
is really no such thing as an
"unanswered prayer".
God knows what is best for you and what
isn't. God sees the big picture
that we aren't yet able to see.
As with our eternal Father, good earthly fathers cannot give their children
everything they desire.
"Unanswered prayers" are
simply requests that your Father must
answer in a way other than how you
would like Him to.
-
Pray in communion with
the Saints. The Saints have led
very prayerful lives and now sit
before the throne of God. They
are pleased to offer prayers for
you. "The fervent prayer of a righteous
person is very powerful." (Jms.
5:16)
-
"Prayers
make wonderful gifts." While gifts
can wear out or be forgotten, prayers
have lasting value. Shower those
you love with prayers.
-
Whether
you realize it or not, you depend on
God for everything. It is
important to thank Him with your
prayers for His many gifts.
-
Want
to be more like Jesus? Jesus prayed
often and tells us to do the
same. For information on Jesus
in prayer, click
here.
-
Talking
with God helps you become closer to
him. When your life is over, you
don't want to hear Jesus utter the
words "Amen, I say to you, I do not know
you." (Mt. 25:12)
-
Prayers
are taken by angels to God. "Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy
ones" (see Rv. 5:8), "Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne."
(Rv. 8:3) "The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel."
(Rv. 8:4)
-
Prayer
helps strengthen us in our trials and helps keep us from sin.
"Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength to
escape the tribulations that are
imminent and to stand before the Son
of Man." (Lk. 21:36)
-
Prayers
are effective and have resulted in
many miracles. For answered
prayers from the bible, click
here. For the answered
prayers section on this site, click
here.
-
God
has promised to answer our
prayers. "Again, (amen,) I say
to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to
pray, it shall be granted to them by
my heavenly Father." (Mt. 18:19) "Whatever you ask for in prayer with
faith, you will receive." (Mt.
21:22) "Therefore I tell you, all
that you ask for in prayer, believe
that you will receive it and it shall
be yours." (Mk. 11:24)
-
Prayers
may help save the sick. "My son,
when you are ill, delay not, but pray
to God, who will heal you" (Sirach
38:9) "Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the
presbyters [priests] of the church, and they should pray over him
and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of
faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If
he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven." (Jms. 5:14-15)
-
Prayers
can help you become a better parent, a
better spouse, a better person,
etc. They can help lead to your
ultimate happiness in heaven.
-
Prayers
are necessary for your
salvation. "There is no duty which Christ and His
Apostles more emphatically urged by both precept and example than
that of prayer and supplication to Almighty God. The Fathers and
Doctors in subsequent times have taught that this is a matter of
such grave necessity, that if men neglect it they hope in vain for
eternal salvation." (Pope Leo XIII, "Fidentem Piumque
Animum", 1896)
-
God
won't force you to pray. The
decision is yours. Be sure to
make the right one.
Answered
Prayers Section
Prayers
& Devotions Reflections
Prayers,
Novenas & Hymns
Prayers
of the Saints
The
Bible on Prayer
Devotions,
Sacramentals & Pious Practices
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