1. Christian Prayer Session 1: Prayer in the Christian Life
Welcome!
Christian Prayer
Session 1: Prayer in the Christian Life

2. Our Journey Through the Catechism…
God’s Self Revelation & Our Faith Response
I. Profession of Faith
II. Celebration of the Christian Mystery
III. Moral Life in Christ
IV. Christian Prayer

3. How can I renew a spirit of prayer in my daily life, in my home, and in my community?

4. Session Schedule Opening Prayer Paired Activity
Talk #1: God’s Universal call to Prayer
Standing Activity
Talk #2: Source and Nature of Prayer
Small Group Activity
Closing Prayer

5. Opening Prayer: “Hail Mary”
“Hail Mary, full of grace.” “The Lord is with thee.”
“Blessed art thou among women.”
“Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”
“Holy Mary, Mother of God.”
“Pray for us sinners.”
“Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
Mary’s Song

7. Paired Activity: Pair, Share, Compare
What are some of your favorite ways to pray?
What are some challenges you face in your prayer life?
In what ways are you striving to deepen your prayer life?

8. Personalizing the Hail Mary (10x)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou among women,
and blessed in the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for ______________,
Now and at the hour of death. Amen.

9. Talk # 1: God’s Universal Call to Prayer
“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (CCC, n. 2559, citing St. John Damascene)
“In prayer the faithful God‘s initiative of love always comes first; our own first step is always a response. As God gradually reveals himself and reveals man to himself, prayer appears as a reciprocal call, a covenant drama. Through words and actions, this drama engages the heart. It unfolds throughout the whole history of salvation." (CCC, n. 2567)

10. Prayer and Scripture
“The Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body.” (CCC, n. 103)
In the Old Testament, prayer is a trusting response to God’s call: -Abraham, Moses, David -The example of Hannah -Psalms
In the New Testament, Jesus reveals his “filial” prayer (the prayer of a son) by referring to his Father as “Abba”

11. New Testament: Examples of Prayer
Christ himself prays: “I must be in my Father’s house” (Lk 2:49)
Jesus’ parables on prayer teach the importance of knocking, persisting, and having humility
Pentecost: The Church was born in prayer, lived in prayer, and thrived in prayer

12. Basic Forms of Prayer: Taught by the Holy Spirit for the Church
Adoration: acknowledges we are creatures in the presence of our Creator
Petition: recognizes our dependence on God for all of our needs
Intercession: addresses the needs of others
Thanksgiving: expresses gratitude to God for all the gifts we have received
Praise : recognizes that God is God
USCCB: Prayer: faith life/adoration

14. Prayer Gestures
Standing: expressing reverence, as well as vigilance and readiness; the original gesture of praise for God involved standing with one’s hands outstretched.
Orans position: “praying” with hands extended and raised, as a sign of pleading
or supplication. Sitting: listening interiorly to what is happening; pondering the Word in one’s heart, and meditating on it.

15. Prayer Gestures
Kneeling: making oneself small in the presence of God’s greatness; recognizing one’s dependence on God’s grace.
Prostrating: adoring God.
Folding the hands: overcoming distraction, “recollecting oneself” and uniting oneself; this is the original gesture of petition.

16. Standing Activity: Composing a Prayer
Guidelines
Invocation: Call upon God
Adoration: Acknowledge the greatness of God
Petition: Ask God for something
Intercession: Pray for others
Thanksgiving: Thank God for his gifts and for his many blessings
Praise: Praise God for his greatness and holiness
Closing: Conclude the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, and end with “Amen”
If time allows, include appropriate prayer gestures: folding hands, raising arms, sitting, standing, etc.

17. Gloria Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people
of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks
for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,

18. Gloria you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand
of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father,
Amen.

19. Talk #2: The Source and Nature of Prayer
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes 5:17)
What’s your daily prayer plan?
Christian Prayer is Trinitarian: To the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit
Prayer is fundamentally Marian: A wholehearted response to God’s initiative (“Thy will be done”)

20. The Daily Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.

21. Scripture is God’s Word in human words: meditate on the Sunday Gospel or daily readings
Saints have left a heritage of prayer by the example of their lives and the transmission of their writings.
Parents are the first teachers of prayer.
The faith community should provide lifelong training in the art of prayer.
Guides for Prayer

22. Modes or Forms of Prayer
Making the sign of the cross over our minds, lips, and hearts—symbolizes the three types of prayer:
Vocal Prayer: raising one’s voice to express personal prayers
Meditative Prayer: Pondering the will of God and his plan for our lives
Contemplative Prayer: Listening silently and resting in God’s love (“heart to heart”)

23. The “Work” of Prayer & “Spiritual Warfare”
'The Battle of Prayer' (CCC, nos )
Acedia (sloth or laziness)
Distractions and dryness
Beyond individualism and an “independent spirit”
“Prayer is the soul of discipleship and can strengthen us for a life of mission…”
St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle

25. Prayer Activity: From Meditation into Contemplation
“1 Minute Meditation” or “Breathing Prayer”:
While slowly breathing in, say in your mind: “Jesus”…
While exhaling, say in your mind one of the following prayers:
"I trust in you"; “Remember me"; “Have mercy on me"; or “Fill me with your presence”
From Meditation to Contemplation:
Embracing 4-5 minutes of silence

26. What is a new way I might try to pray?
How might I face one of the challenges in my prayer life?
In what ways can I deepen my prayer life?
How can I renew a spirit of prayer in my daily life, in my home, and in my community?

27. Follow-up Reflection and Resources
1) Session Evaluation & Feedback
2) Recommended follow-up: US/CCA, Chapters 35: “God Calls us to Pray”
Catholicism, Episode IX:
“The Fire of His Love: Prayer and the Life of the Spirit”
3) For Catechists & Catholic School Teachers: “Record of Formation,” including:
required reflection & documentation

28. Closing Prayer: The Angelus
L: The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
All: Hail Mary…
L: Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R: Be it done unto me according to thy word.
All: Hail Mary…
L: And the Word was made Flesh.
R: And dwelt among us.

29. The Angelus L: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
L: Let us pray.
All: Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we--to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an Angel--may be brought by his Passion and Cross to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.