Chapter Three – Prayer – Hidden Treasure

Chapter Three – Prayer – Hidden Treasure Lesson One: Let us Pray

Prayer ① What is prayer? ② When do you pray? ③ Do you pray with anyone? ④ What is your favorite prayer? ⑤ What do you like to talk to God about? ⑥ Do you have a special place to pray?

The Importance of Prayer John 16:23: “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” John 16:23: “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

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Prayer and the 1 st Commandment Why is prayer included in the First Commandment? –Prayer is our conversation with God. Imagine if we said we loved and obeyed our parents, but never took the time to listen to them, talk with them, or even tell them we love them! Prayer is important and necessary for us to grow in love with God.

Prayer Prayer is the lifting up of our hearts and minds to God. It is not just talking to God, but talking with God. We share what is in our hearts and on our minds - all things big and little. We also listen to God in the silence of our hearts, he guides us to do his will by prompting our hearts and minds with peace, joy, and rightness.

Three Forms of Prayer 1.Vocal Prayer 2.Meditation 3.Contemplation

Vocal Prayer In vocal prayer, we use our voice and say set words that we read or have memorized, such as the Our Father or Hail Mary. Or we say personal prayers aloud.

Meditation In meditation we use our mind, heart, and imagination to consider God and to seek His will for us. We may also pray about what is happening in our lives. Books, such as the Bible, are often used in meditation.

Contemplation In contemplation, we are simply and lovingly united to God. Since prayer is a way to worship God, it includes things necessary for due worship;

Other Key Terms Adoration –to be in awe of God and to praise and bless him for who he is. Contrition –to have sorrow for sin and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Thanksgiving –to thank God for his many gifts Supplication –to ask for what we need, and for the needs of others

Matthew 6:8 & 7: Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Ask, Seek, Knock 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Psalm 139: 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

Luke 18: 1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow 18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

God Answering Prayers God gives us three answers for prayer: –Yes –No –Slow Yes God answers prayers according to his love for us and his will.

Chapter Three – Prayer – Hidden Treasure Lesson Two: Pray Always

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How can we pray always? Everything should remind us of God and his love for us. We can thank him. Our encounters with people should lead us closer to him. Our hearts and thoughts should never be apart from God. Even when we are working, or studying, or playing, we should be in union with God.

Distractions during Prayer Often when we try to pray, we become distracted. We must try not to give into these distractions. Some things that we can do are: –Use prayerful posture –Be in a prayerful place –Use vocal and mental prayer –have a bible –Look at a holy image –use your senses

Does God always hear us? God always hears our prayers. We can pray anywhere. However, as Catholics, we have a special gift to be able to pray before Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in our churches, and sometimes at Adoration.

Chapter Three – Prayer – Hidden Treasure Lesson Three: Prayers

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Liturgy of the Hours This is the official prayer of the Church, said by religious and those who have been consecrated in Holy Orders. It is said throughout the day, so that those who pray it are uniting themselves and centering their lives upon Christ thourghout the day.

The Mysteries of the Rosary The Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation The Visitation The Nativity The Presentation The Finding in the Temple

The Mysteries of the Rosary The Sorrowful Mysteries: The Agony in the Garden The Scourging at the Pillar The Crowning with Thorns The Carrying of the Cross The Crucifixion

The Mysteries of the Rosary The Glorious Mysteries: The Resurrection The Ascension The Descent of the Holy Spirit The Assumption The Coronation

The Mysteries of the Rosary The Luminous Mysteries: The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan The Wedding Feast at Cana The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God The Transfiguration of Our Lord The Institution of the Holy Eucharist

Class Activity You are going to write your own prayers. You are to make the prayers yourself, they can be for your friends, family, yourself etc. You will need a total of 8 prayers (that two per person in the group) and you will also need 4 intentions inside of your book. Do not rush and really make this nice and special, this is going to be an in class grade. I will be grading on teamwork, neatness and creativity. Make sure that you have a cover for you book also and place all of the team members name on the outside of the book.

Chapter Three – Prayer – Hidden Treasure Lesson Four: Spiritual Life

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Three Levels to the Spiritual Life 1.Purgative Way 2.Illuminative Way 3.Unitive Way

Major Project Due: October 9 nd You will have to do a research project on a Saint in the Catholic Church. Saints will be given out on a first come first serve basis. If someone else has that saint already then you are going to have to find another one to do.

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