Right now, amidst the crisis in our Church, we are in desperate need of prayer. It’s important to remember that there are many different ways that we are able to encounter Him in prayer, but essentially, there are only five forms of prayer.
1-Blessing and Adoration
- A simple way to bless God each day is to make a morning offering. When you wake up in the morning, offer your life to God with this prayer:
O Jesus, through the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and
sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in
union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in
reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in
particular for the intentions of our Holy Father for this month.
- By frequenting the Sacraments, you will be blessed by God, and in return you will bless Him with your life. Go to Mass every Sunday–more than that if you can–and receive Him in the Eucharist. Go to Confession often and receive forgiveness for your sins. If you are married, strive to bless your spouse with your life and love for him/her. The Sacraments were given to us by God as visible signs of His love and blessing upon us. Participation in and celebration of these Sacraments is an effective way to receive God’s blessings, and in return to bless Him with your life.
- One of the best ways to adore God is to rest in His Eucharistic presence in Adoration. Find a local Adoration chapel near you (most parishes have one), and devote an hour a week to adoring Christ in His presence.
2- Prayers of Petition
In your daily
time of prayer, bring God your needs. What is it that is burning in your
heart? Do you have worries for your family? For the Church? For loved
ones that haven’t accepted Christ? Offer these needs and people to
Christ in prayer. Verbally (either vocally or in your heart) ask God to
hear your prayers and to answer them according to His will.
3-Prayer of Intercession
- Right now, our Church is especially in need of intercessory prayers. Pray daily that God may have mercy on us and that he will rid our Church of any darkness within it.
- A great intercessory prayer is the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Pray it weekly–or even daily–on behalf of your personal needs, the needs of your family, and the needs of the Church.
4- Prayer of Thanksgiving
Christ our Savior came and died for us so as to rise again, and by doing
so, set creation free to live–free from sin and death–in close
communion with the Father.
“Thanksgiving
characterizes the prayer of the Church which, in celebrating the
Eucharist, reveals and becomes more fully what she is…The thanksgiving
of the members of the Body participates in that of their Head.” (2637)
In your daily
prayer, call to mind all of the blessings you have in your life. From
the very breath you breathe, to the shoes on your feet–everything is a
gift from God. Recall those gifts in your time of prayer with Him.
5- Prayer of Praise
Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God
is God. It’s a recognition of who He is, and an acknowledgment of His
glory for His own sake.In
your daily prayer, freely praise God. Read the Gospel writings and
spend time meditating on Christ’s life so that you may more easily offer
Him prayers of praise. As you get to know His works, words, miracles
and life better, it will become easier for you to offer Him words of
praise.
