2. Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe
CHAPTER 10
Prayer
 Keep Your Eyes on the Shepherd
 What Is Prayer?
 The Bible and Prayer
 How to Pray
 The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)

3. Chapter 10 Prayer Keep Your Eyes on the Shepherd
Prayer a vital element to life
Jesus, the Master, will guide us and give us the confidence to live the Christian life
As food is to our bodies, prayer is to our souls

4. Chapter 10 Prayer What Is Prayer?
Definitions of prayer
Prayer is “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God” (St. John Damascus)
Prayer is a loving conversation with God, involving both talking and listening
“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)
“The living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit.” (CCC, 2526)

5. Chapter 10 Prayer What Is Prayer?
Vocal
Types of prayers
Petition (supplication)
Silent
Contrition
Thanksgiving
Blessing
Conversation
Adoration
Praise

6. Chapter 10 Prayer The Bible and Prayer
Models of prayer
Genesis reveals how important faith is when we pray, a quality exemplified by the patriarchs
Exodus reveals prayer as a two-way dialogue between God and Moses
Religious leaders like Samuel, David, and Elijah taught prayer to the Chosen People
The Jerusalem Temple was a special place of worship
David modeled the attitudes of submission, praise, and repentance especially in the Psalms

7. Chapter 10 Prayer The Bible and Prayer
Jesus prayed:
 in the desert before beginning his public preaching
 before choosing his Apostles
 after performing miracles
 on the mountain at the time of his Transfiguration
 in the Garden before his arrest

8. Chapter 10 Prayer The Bible and Prayer
Jesus prayed in many different ways:
 he praised the Father for revealing God’s will to the humble and lowly
 he thanked God when he raised Lazarus
 he petitioned God to keep Peter from giving in to temptation
 he shared his great priestly prayer of intercession
 he prayed for us that “they may all be one…”
 at his crucifixion he prayed for all sinners and forgave his persecutors

9. Mary, the Mother of God, is also an inspiration for prayer
Chapter 10 Prayer The Bible and Prayer
The Magnificat "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Luke 1: 46-55
Mary, the Mother of God, is also an inspiration for prayer
She showed the qualities of faith and humility
Her appearances throughout the New Testament are accompanied by prayer

10. Chapter 10 Prayer How to Pray
The Holy Spirit:
Teaches the Church how to pray primarily through the living Tradition of the Church and through Sacred Scriptures
Gives us the theological virtues to help us pray
Lives in us

11. Chapter 10 Prayer How to Pray
Place It is good to find a special place where you can slow down, relax, and focus your attention
Basics of prayer
Relax body and mind Breathing exercises and comfortable body posture can help you to concentrate
Keep at it Keep the faith that God always hears you, even if you do not “feel” anything
Time It is good to get in the habit of choosing a special time each day to pray
Good attitude Begin by recalling that God is present, that he loves you, and that he has given you many gifts

12. Prayer expressions Contemplation Chapter 10 Prayer How to Pray
Meditation
Actively using thoughts, emotions imaginations, and desires to think about God’s presence
Prayer expressions
Vocal prayer
The expression of feelings in words
Mental prayer
Conversing with Jesus or reflect on one of the mysteries of his Life
Contemplation
Silent, wordless prayer in which you simply rest in the presence of God

13. Chapter 10 Prayer The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)
† Hallowed be thy name we pray that everything on earth will regard God as holy and as the source of all holiness
† Give us this day our daily bread we ask for our needs as well as the needs of all people; we also ask for the fullness of material and spiritual blessings that will be ours in Heaven
† Who art in Heaven refers to God’s way of being, his majesty
† Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven God’s Kingdom will be fully established at the end of time, but we are to live, experience, and work for it right now
† Our Father Jesus’ Father is our Father; since God is our Father, we are brothers and sisters to all people

14. Chapter 10 Prayer The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)
† And lead us not into temptation we ask God to keep us off the path that leads to sin and to help us be faithful to the end of our lives
† But deliver us from evil. Amen. we pray that the Father will deliver us from Satan’s snares and temptations; we end the prayer with “Amen,” an expression that means: “so be it”
† And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us we honestly admit that we are sinners who need God’s saving love and we are to extend forgiveness to others

15. Chapter 10 Prayer VOCABULARY
Blessing (263)
Adoration (263)
Praise (263)
Petition (263)
Contrition (263)
Intercession (263)
Eucharist (264)
Prayer (264)
Meditation (270)
Contemplation (270)
Doxology (272)
Amen (275)

16. Chapter 10 Prayer
My heart is steadfast, God; my heart is steadfast. I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn.
I will praise you among the peoples, LORD; I will chant your praise among the nations.
For your love towers to the heavens; your faithfulness, to the skies.
Psalm 108