In this module, you learn about the Catholic understanding of prayer and a variety of prayer practices. This includes an introduction to prayer, an exploration of The Lord’s Prayer and a deeper look at different prayer practices.
Before You Begin
- We have created a Downloadable Guide to Prayer with all of the articles and worksheets you will need for this program. Download this guide before you begin the module. We also provide worksheets in Word files to make them easy for you to write-on during the program.
Contents:
- Prayer in My Life Today
- What is Prayer?
- Prayer is Relationship with God
- Prayer is Opening Our Lives to God
- Prayer is Being Changed by God
- Prayer is Being Attentive to God and Others
- Prayer is Living
- Prayer Takes Practice
- Prayer Activities to Experience
- Contemplative Prayer Experience
- Centering Prayer Experience
- Scripture Prayer Experience #1: Reflective Reading
- Scripture Prayer Experience #2: Imaginative Prayer
- Scripture Prayer Experience #3: Lectio Divina
- Scripture Prayer Experience #4: Visio Divina
- Scripture Prayer Experience #5: The Psalms
- Intercessory Prayer Experience & Intercessory Prayer at Home
- Praise Prayer Experience #1: Psalm 103
- Praise Prayer Experience #2: Psalm 95 & Prayers of Praise at Home
- Thanksgiving Prayer Experience & Prayers of Thanksgiving at Home
- Online Daily Prayer Experiences
- Praying through the Day Experiences
- Closing the Day: The Prayer of Examen Experience
- Preparing to Pray
- Prayer Resources
- In addition to the prayer resources in the Downloadable Guide we have included the Catholic Spirituality in Practice – C21 Resources (Boston College, 2009), with short articles describing a variety of Catholic prayer practices.
- Print this Checklist to help you monitor your progress.
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It will be helpful to have a journal to record any reflections you make as your work your way through this module.
Opening Prayer
Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord, I say it again: rejoice! Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:4, 6–7)