Practicing our Faith Conversation with God Prayer Practicing our Faith Conversation with God

What is prayer? A form of worship in which we have a conversation with God that includes both speaking and listening and opens us up fully to God. You can pray anytime and anywhere. Use your whole self to pray. There are different reasons why we pray. There are different forms of prayer. Just as it is necessary to speak with our friends to maintain a relationship with them, it is important to keep an open communication with God.

Forms of Prayer Adoration (Blessing and praise) Contrition Give glory and praise to God for creation and just because He is God Doxology: A short prayer of praise Contrition To tell God we are sorry for our sins and ask for forgiveness Thanksgiving Thank God for personal blessings Supplication (petition or intercession) Asking for favors for ourselves and others

Expression of Prayer Individual Communal Vocal Silent Praying alone Praying with others Vocal Voicing prayer out loud Silent Praying in silence

Expressions of Prayer Individual Formal Reciting already written prayers Psalms Informal Spontaneous prayer/ making up your own prayer Meditation Reflection on scripture, events in the life of Jesus or any other material Lectio Divina Ignatian Meditation Contemplation Clearing your mind completely and allowing God to enter and guide you. mysticism

Expressions of Prayer Communal Liturgy (Public Prayer of the Church) Sacrifice of the Mass Sacraments Liturgy of the Hours Devotions (Can be individual prayer) Stations of the Cross Rosary Advent Candle

Obstacles to Prayer Misconceptions Distractions and dryness Merely a psychological activity or rattling off memorized words Requires expertise “Pray without ceasing” Unite your prayer life to your everyday life, good works Distractions and dryness Wandering thoughts Feeling separated from God Lack of devotion discouragement

The Lord’s Prayer Address Theological Petition Personal Petition Our Father, who art in Heaven, Theological Petition Hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven Personal Petition Give us this day our daily bread Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those… Lead us not into temptation Deliver us from evil Doxology* Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory Acclamation Amen * A short prayer of praise

Ignation Gospel Meditation Originated by St. Ignatius of Loyola, also the founder of the Jesuit Order of Men Form of meditation Take a comfortable and silent position Select a scripture passage (gospels are easiest) Read through once, noting the characters in the account, the details such as colors, smells, visuals Enter the story through your imagination; Be yourself as a spectator or assume the character of one already in the account Note your reactions and respond to them in prayerful conversation with Jesus

Praying the Triduum PRAYER

Lord’s Day & Liturgical Year Sunday, Why? It’s the day of the week that Christ rose from the dead As a “New Creation” it is the 1st Day the day of “Let there be Light” Liturgical Year: The annual cycle of religious feasts and seasons that forms the context for the church’s worship.

Liturgical Feasts and seasons Advent Preparation for Coming Immaculate Conception Christmas Incarnation Epiphany Ordinary Time Jesus’ Baptism Mission Lent Ash Wednesday Triduum Holy Thursday Good Friday Easter Sunday Easter Ascension Thursday Pentecost Jesus Teachings, etc.

Praying the Triduum Holy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Jesus celebrates the Passover feast Church celebrates the institution of the Eucharist Chrism Mass- washing of feet, collection for the poor Good Friday Remembrance of the crucifixion by reading scripture accounts of the passion and death Intercessions Veneration of the Cross Stations of the Cross Holy Saturday Jesus descends into “Hell” to release the souls that have been waiting for salvation Easter Sunday Three days after His death Jesus is resurrected from the dead High Masses Blessing of water Blessing of Candle Readings of Salvation History New Catholics are initiated by Baptism and Confirmation

Liturgy & the Paschal Mystery *Liturgy (Public Prayer of the Church) Comes from Greek, “service on behalf of the people” Sacrifice of the Mass Eucharist is the central liturgy of the church and the basis of most other liturgies A weekly celebration of “little Easter” Sacraments Visible and efficacious signs of Jesus’ presence in our midst Liturgy of the Hours Pray without ceasing- Blesses the entire day

Sacrifice of the Mass The central Christian liturgical celebration established by Jesus at the Last Supper. Eucharist is based on the Greek word for “thanksgiving” Remembers and renews the sacrificial death and Resurrection of Jesus. We participate in Jesus’ sacrifice. Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated amidst prayers and readings. It combines the ancient worship of the Jewish people with the new celebration of “breaking of bread” Transubstantiation: The changing of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus.

Sacraments An *efficacious and visible sign of God’s invisible grace that was instituted by Jesus. Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick Holy Orders, Matrimony Consists of essential ritual actions and words The actions are sensate symbols of what the sacrament is in fact doing.*

Liturgy of the Hours AKA, Divine Office Official public daily prayer of the Church Usually said communally but can be said individually. Because it is a Liturgical Prayer, it benefits the whole church in either circumstance Consists of standard prayers, Scripture readings, and reflections at regular hours throughout the day. Matins (6am morning) 9am, 12 noon, 3pm Vespers (6pm evening) 9pm, 12 midnight, 3am