1. 3.2 What’s The Point Of Prayer

2. Through Jesus, we are called to have a personal, loving and faithful relationship with God.
Jesus teaches us how to pray.

3. Prayer is our living relationship with God
Prayer is our living relationship with God. The forms of prayer have been revealed to us through scripture.
We need to make time to speak and listen to God everyday for this relationship can grow.

4. The third commandment calls us to stop and pray, “Remember to keep the holy the Lord’s Day”
It is also a call to worship and take part in the Eucharist.
For the Israelites, Sabbath was Saturday; for Christians it is Sunday because Jesus rose on Easter Sunday.

5. The Five Kinds of Prayer
The different forms of prayer are revealed through the Scriptures and through the person of Christ.
Jesus teaches us how to pray in the Gospels; by example and directly through his teachings.
The different forms of prayer have also been taught to us through Tradition and the Magisterium.

6. Prayer of Adoration and Blessing
Centred wholly on God’s eternal characteristics: His majesty, power, grace, love, mercy.
Usually personal devotion prayers begin with a prayer of adoration.
There are no deals and bargains.
This prayer form is only intended for God.
Luke 1:46-55 – The Magnificat

8. Prayer of Petition
We ask for something, for God’s divine assistance or for His forgivenss.
God answers all prayers; in God’s time and as part of God’s greater plan.
It also calls for us to trust in the Lord.
This form of prayer is the most often used and misused form of prayer.
Matthew 7:7-8 – Ask and it will be given.

10. Prayer of Intercession
This is a prayer of petition where we ask God to help someone else.
When we intercede for others, we come closest to God’s heart.
Praying for one another is a very Christian thing to do.
Luke 23:32-43 – “Forgive them Father...”

12. Prayer of Thanksgiving
Prayers of gratitude for the blessings that God has given.
The Greek word for thanksgiving is eucharistia – which we use to describe the consecrated host (Holy Eucharist) and the celebration of the mass.
When we celebrate the Holy Eucharistic, we are giving thanks to God and taking part in the highest form of public prayer.
Matthew 11:25-27 – Jesus thanks His Father.

14. Prayer of Praise Prayer which recognizes that God is God.
It lauds God for His own sake and gives Him glory quite beyond what He does, but simply because He is.
Matthew 6:9-10 – “Our Father...”

16. The Eucharist expresses all forms of prayer: it is “the pure offering” of the whole Body of Christ to the Glory of God’s name and, according to the tradition of East and West, it is the “sacrifice of praise.”
One group of people who are always in need of our prayers are those souls in purgatory who have no one to pray for them.
A very special prayer of petition is a prayer of contrition where we ask God for forgiveness.