Chapter 10:Chapter 10:Jesus Teaches Us Jesus Teaches Us

to Prayto Pray©Ave Maria Press

Prayer Means Prayer Means Talking and Talking and

Listening to GodListening to GodSince prayer is a

conversation with God, the communication must go both ways.

PrayerPrayer is a conversation with is a conversation with God. It involves lifting of one’s God. It involves lifting of one’s mind and heart to enter into mind and heart to enter into

that communication. that communication.

When we pray, we should realize that,

since it is a real conversation, God’s answer to our prayer might be “yes.” But out of God’s wisdom and love for us, the

answer might be “no.”

We must also realize that God We must also realize that God answers prayer in answers prayer in hishis time, not time, not

ours. ours. An answer of “no”

might close one door, but open another.

Also, what we request might not be the right thing for us

right now, but at some time in our

future it will be. We must trust in God’s

infinite wisdom as we do in his infinite love.

Prayer Is God’s Prayer Is God’s Gift to UsGift to Us

The Holy Spirit enables us to pray to God the Father.

We can pray because God

approaches us first.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that us that prayerprayer is the “living relationship is the “living relationship of the children of God with their Father of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his who is good beyond measure, with his

Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit.”Spirit.”

Just as human friendships thrive

on dialogue, prayer deepens

our friendship with God and gives

us the strength to live according to his plan for us.

There are many There are many different ways different ways

to talk to God. to talk to God.

When we talk to God in everyday When we talk to God in everyday language about what is important to language about what is important to

us, this is called us, this is called spontaneous spontaneous prayerprayer. .

We can use our own words, and

share our thoughts and feelings with

God. It may be to praise him, to ask him for what

is good, or to express our fear, sorrow,

joy, or gratitude.

Prayers of Prayers of praisepraise acknowledge acknowledge God and his goodness, and God and his goodness, and glorify him for who he is. glorify him for who he is.

Prayers of Prayers of petitionpetition ask God for ask God for favors. Another name for this is favors. Another name for this is supplication. Jesus himself tells supplication. Jesus himself tells us to ask God for what we need. us to ask God for what we need.

Prayers of Prayers of thanksgivingthanksgiving express our express our gratitude to God for everything he has gratitude to God for everything he has

given us. Not only is God responsible for given us. Not only is God responsible for giving us everything we have, including giving us everything we have, including

our very life, but we should also be our very life, but we should also be thankful for his gift of salvation. The thankful for his gift of salvation. The Eucharist is the greatest prayer of Eucharist is the greatest prayer of

thanksgiving. thanksgiving.

ContritionContrition is a type of petition is a type of petition prayer. We ask our merciful Father prayer. We ask our merciful Father to forgive us for our sins. In prayers to forgive us for our sins. In prayers

of contrition, we also express our of contrition, we also express our sorrow or regret for doing what is sorrow or regret for doing what is

wrong. wrong.

Prayers of Prayers of intercessionintercession are those that we are those that we ask on behalf of others. Praying for ask on behalf of others. Praying for

others is a good example of Christian others is a good example of Christian mercy and love in action. It also follows mercy and love in action. It also follows

the example of the saints in heaven, who the example of the saints in heaven, who pray for us.pray for us.

There are also many ways to listen when There are also many ways to listen when we pray. We need quiet time and space in we pray. We need quiet time and space in

order to hear God “speaking” to us.order to hear God “speaking” to us.

God might answer us through the beauty of his creation, or he might

send a person into our lives who will bear his message. God can also

speak to us in our dreams or thoughts that arrive as

“inspiration”—coming not from our own making, but from God’s.The key to hearing the Lord is to be still

and let him speak. When we are open to God’s answers for us, the real encounter

with him can take place.

There are many expressions of prayer. There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God.ways to express our response to God.

Vocal or Spoken PrayerWhen we express our prayer feelings

in words, we are doing what Jesus often did. Speaking our prayers aloud with family or at Mass, we strengthen our relationship with our brothers and

sisters as well as with God.

There are many expressions of prayer. There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God.ways to express our response to God.

MeditationThis is a form of prayer where the

mind and imagination focus on Christ or part of God’s revelation with the purpose of applying what we learn

from this prayer to our lives.

There are many expressions of prayer. There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God.ways to express our response to God.

Mental PrayerThis kind of prayer usually focuses on Jesus. In our minds, we talk with him or reflect on one of the mysteries of

his life. When we focus on his suffering and death, imagining how hard and

painful it must have been for him, we are engaging in this kind of prayer.

There are many expressions of prayer. There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God.ways to express our response to God.

ContemplationThis is a silent wordless prayer in

which we allow our mind and heart to rest in God’s goodness and majesty.

When praying this way, we empty our minds of thoughts and images, and

allow God’s presence to fill us.

Jesus Is Our Jesus Is Our Best Best

Guide to PrayerGuide to PrayerWe can learn

everything we need to know about

prayer from Jesus.

Jesus should be our model for Jesus should be our model for prayer. Also, through the power of prayer. Also, through the power of

the Holy Spirit, Jesus prays the Holy Spirit, Jesus prays alongside of us. alongside of us.

We should look to Jesus for an

example of how to pray, and what to

pray for.

Jesus set aside time to pray. Some Jesus set aside time to pray. Some of those times were of special of those times were of special

importance to his life and ministry. importance to his life and ministry.

After his baptism by John in the

Jordan River, Jesus went into the

desert for a forty day retreat to pray before

beginning his public ministry. It was during this

time that he was tempted by the devil, and his

prayer sustained him.

Jesus set aside time to pray. Some Jesus set aside time to pray. Some of those times were of special of those times were of special

importance to his life and ministry. importance to his life and ministry.

Before selecting his Apostles, Jesus

spent the whole night in prayer, knowing how

important a step he was about to

take.

Jesus set aside time to pray. Some Jesus set aside time to pray. Some of those times were of special of those times were of special

importance to his life and ministry. importance to his life and ministry.

After performing his first miracles of healing and the multiplication of the

loaves and fishes, Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray.

Jesus set aside time to pray. Some Jesus set aside time to pray. Some of those times were of special of those times were of special

importance to his life and ministry. importance to his life and ministry.

The night before Peter confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Lord could be

found praying.

Jesus set aside time to pray. Some Jesus set aside time to pray. Some of those times were of special of those times were of special

importance to his life and ministry. importance to his life and ministry.

Jesus had gone up to the top of a mountain to pray, when he

was Transfigured

and Moses and Elijah appeared

with him.

Jesus set aside time to pray. Some Jesus set aside time to pray. Some of those times were of special of those times were of special

importance to his life and ministry. importance to his life and ministry.

After the Last Supper,

in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to be spared

the torture and death he saw before

him.

Jesus also prayed as a faithful Jew. He Jesus also prayed as a faithful Jew. He celebrated religious festivals, such as celebrated religious festivals, such as

Passover, which always centered around Passover, which always centered around prayer. He participated in synagogue prayer. He participated in synagogue

services each Sabbath, and would have services each Sabbath, and would have joined in the major prayers recited there.joined in the major prayers recited there.

The Shema (“Hear”), confessed the belief that God is one: Hear O Israel, the Lord our

God the Lord is one.The Jewish Eighteen Benedictions

asked God for wisdom, forgiveness, and help.

The Kaddish asked that people hallow and glorify God’s name throughout the

world, and that God would fully establish his kingdom soon.

Jesus frequently recited from the Jesus frequently recited from the Bible’s prayer book: the Psalms. Bible’s prayer book: the Psalms.

Jesus sang the Psalms during worship services

in the Temple in Jerusalem. He sang

them with his Apostles after the Last Supper.

Jesus even quoted Psalm 22 (a prayer that begins with lament of

abandonment, but ends with confident faith that

God will rescue the innocent) as he was dying on the cross.

From the teaching and From the teaching and example of Jesus, we receive example of Jesus, we receive instructions on how to pray. instructions on how to pray.

Pray with sincerity.Jesus spoke out against prideful

displays of religiosity. He told his followers to go to a private place and

pray to the Father in secret.

We should not take this advice to mean that we are hiding something when we pray, but that we focus on our communication with God rather than what others will see. This helps us to purify our motives for prayer.

From the teaching and From the teaching and example of Jesus, we receive example of Jesus, we receive instructions on how to pray. instructions on how to pray.

Pray with childlike simplicity.God can read our hearts as well as our

lips, so elaborate multiplication of words is not necessary for effective

prayer.

We should pray with the confidence of little children approaching their loving

Father.

From the teaching and From the teaching and example of Jesus, we receive example of Jesus, we receive instructions on how to pray. instructions on how to pray.

Pray with persistence.Jesus told his disciples to ask, knock,

and seek—always expecting an answer from our loving Father. Jesus told a parable about an unjust judge and a persistent widow to underscore the

importance of persistence in prayer.

We should pray without giving up. How much more will a loving God

respond to our persistence, if a widow can receive justice through refusing to

give up?

From the teaching and From the teaching and example of Jesus, we receive example of Jesus, we receive instructions on how to pray. instructions on how to pray.

Pray with faith.Jesus used images his disciples would

have thought to be impossible to illustrate the importance of trusting

that God will answer our prayers—like moving mountains by our faith.

Jesus’ message still applies to us today.

We must trust in our loving God, and have

faith that he will respond to our prayer by giving us all that we need.

From the teaching and From the teaching and example of Jesus, we receive example of Jesus, we receive instructions on how to pray. instructions on how to pray.

Pray with others.In addition to praying to our heavenly Father in secret, Jesus also urged his disciples to know that praying with

others is important. He said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of

them.”

When we gather together for Mass, we bring Christ’s presence alive—both in the Eucharist, and in the community

of believers.

From the teaching and From the teaching and example of Jesus, we receive example of Jesus, we receive instructions on how to pray. instructions on how to pray.

Pray with a forgiving heart.Jesus instructed his disciples to

approach God with a calm and loving spirit. Specifically, if they had a

grievance with someone, they were to settle it and approach God after

forgiving the offender.

This is still important advice for us today. Our hearts and minds cannot

properly focus on God if they are full of malice against one of his children.

The Lord’s The Lord’s PrayerPrayer

The most familiar instructions we have

from Jesus about prayer are contained in the words of the

Our Father.

Our Father Who Art in Heaven Our Father Who Art in Heaven

Jesus invites us to address God as “Our Father”—in Hebrew: Abba, or “Daddy.”God is our Father—

which means we are all brothers and sisters. We

must treat each other with compassion,

understanding, and love. God’s

transcendence is brought into focus by

the phrase “in heaven.”

Hallowed Be Thy Name Hallowed Be Thy Name

We pray that all people will recognize that God is holy, and respond to

his name with reverence and awe. As Christians, we help to make God’s name holy by acting as

true followers of his Son.

Y H W HY H W H

GodGod

FatherFather

Thy Kingdom Come; Thy will be done Thy Kingdom Come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven on earth as it is in heaven

With the coming of Christ, God’s kingdom

has broken into our world. But it will only be here in its fullness

at the end of the world. Until then, we

work toward the righteousness and

peace it will bring, and pray for Christ’s

return.

Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread

Asking God to give us our daily bread

symbolizes all our material needs, which are fulfilled by God’s good gifts. We also receive the spiritual

necessity of our daily bread in the Eucharist, which Christ gives us for everlasting life.

And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who as We Forgive Those Who

Trespass Against Us Trespass Against Us

We recognize that we are sinners, and we

need God’s forgiveness. We also

respond to Jesus’ teaching that for God’s

forgiveness to penetrate our hearts,

we must in turn, forgive others who sin

against us.

And Lead Us Not into Temptation And Lead Us Not into Temptation

We ask God to preserve us from falling into a life of sin. We trust the Holy Spirit to bestow gifts of fortitude,

watchfulness, and perseverance upon us, so that we may live lives pleasing to

God. This petition also calls us to eliminate conditions in the world that lead others into sin

—violence, selfishness, pornography, and other

influences that reduce people to subhuman objects.

But Deliver Us from Evil But Deliver Us from Evil

We pray that God will protect us from the evil of accidents, illness, and natural disaster—but especially to preserve us from spiritual evil. We pray

to remain safe from the power of Satan and share in

the victory Christ has already won over him. We await the Second Coming of Christ, or

Parousia, when Christ returns at the end of the

world, and we will be forever free from the snares of the

devil.

Amen Amen

When we say “Amen” at the end of a prayer, we are indicating that we

believe everything we just said. The word means “I agree” or “I believe,”

and attests that we have said this prayer with personal conviction.

A Prayer A Prayer PrimerPrimer

We pray to God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also pray in union with Mary and the

other saints of heaven.

The Sign of the Cross The Sign of the Cross identifies to whom we pray. identifies to whom we pray.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy

Spirit. Amen.

The Jesus Prayer The Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a

sinner.

The Hail MaryThe Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,

Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God,pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of death. Amen.

Where, When, and How to Where, When, and How to PrayPray

We can pray anywhere, but it is good to find a special place where we can

slow down and relax, so we can focus our attention on God.

A school chapel, your bedroom, a quiet place in a park—all can be good

places to pray.

Where, When, and How to Where, When, and How to PrayPray

Any time of day is a good time for prayer if it works for you. It is

beneficial to set aside a specific time so that you can develop the habit of

prayer. In the morning, before bedtime, at a break in the day—any

time is good if you are able to approach prayer properly at that

time.

Where, When, and How to Where, When, and How to PrayPray

It is hard to pray when we are tense or distracted. Prayer

requires that we are both alert and relaxed. Relaxation techniques and

appropriate body posture can be important to effective prayer.

We must not be discouraged by not “feeling” an immediate result from

praying. Prayer often requires perseverance, as Jesus pointed out with his parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Resist the temptation from Satan to conclude that prayer is silly or a waste

of time.

Where, When, and How to Where, When, and How to PrayPray

Distractions in prayer can be caused by a wandering

mind, an overactive imagination, or external

noises. One way to overcome distractions is to

focus on an object that points us toward God—like a crucifix, a lit candle, or a

holy picture. A prayer phrase that we repeat, like

“Abba,” or “Savior,” or “Jesus help me,” can also

help us to refocus our attention on God.

Where, When, and How to Where, When, and How to PrayPray

The saints can be an example to us for how to pray. They understand how

important prayer is to having a good relationship with God, so we should try

to follow their lead when it comes to praying. Many saints also wrote

reflections about their own prayer experiences that can be useful to us.

St. Maria Goretti St. Aloysius Gonzaga St. Therese of Lisieux St. Ignatius Loyola

Living the Living the MissionMission

After studying the life and teaching of Jesus, the responsibility of all Christians is to share

the Gospel with others.

Remember Jesus’ final words to his Remember Jesus’ final words to his disciples in the Great Commission:disciples in the Great Commission:

“Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am

with you always, until the end of the age.”