Prayer

Prayer is an open dialogue in which one engages themself in a conversation or communication with God. The vitality of this practice is of utmost importance of a person. Prayer is important because of the necessity that our soul has to be connected to God, who created us in His Image and Likeness (Gen. 1:27) The vitality of prayer rests with the soul. God calls out to us and our prayer is our response to Him. Prayer can be of many different natures.

There are prayers of adoration. In prayers of adoration or worship, we praise the greatness of God, and we acknowledge our dependence on him in all things. The Mass and the other liturgies of the Church are full of prayers of this sort, such as the Gloria (or Glory to God). Among private prayers, the Act of Faith is a prayer of adoration.

Then there are prayers of expiation. In prayers of expiation we ask God to pardon us. We willfully acknowledge our sinfulness and ask God for His mercy and forgiveness. Common Catholic prayers of this nature include the Confiteor, Agnus Dei and the Act of Contrition.  

Another type of prayer is prayers of love. Prayers of love or charity are just expressions of our Love for God. The source and object of our love because He made us and we belong to Him. An expression of a Prayer of Love is an Act of Charity.

One type of prayer that is probably the most prayed type of prayer is prayers of Petition. In prayers of petition we are asking God for the things we need. For the most part we are asking him on the basis of our spiritual needs; we also ask for our physical needs though. We should keep in mind that it is important to keep our hearts and minds open to God’s will and acknowledging His will in our prayers. A good example of this prayer is the Our Father.

Probably the most neglected form of prayer is the prayer of Thanksgiving. We should take the time to make this prayer as often used as the prayer of petition. A good example of this prayer is the Grace Before Meals. This prayer is just as important because we must not neglect to thank God for all that we have been blessed with.

It is important to remember that the examples listed above are not the only prayers that coincide with these types of prayers.  I think it is encourageable to not constrain ourselves just with these prayers but to open our minds, hearts and voices to God with what we come up with on our own. A real personable prayer from us to God is truly a great relationship building tool for us to Him.

Happy praying!