Roman Catholic prayer
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According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting St. John Damascene, "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God."[1].Roman Catholicism holds that prayer is necessary for salvation.[2] Prayer may be practiced alone or in a group; silently or aloud.
The Catholic Church teaches that no man can perform great deeds within the mystical body of Christ except by prayer, and unless the forces exercised rely on the power of prayer.[3]Cardinal John Henry Newman stated that: "If there is anything which distinguishes religion at all, which is meant by the very word, it is the power of prayer."[4]
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[edit] Belief in Prayer
As seen in the Gospel accounts, Jesus often prayed. In the Gospel of John, Jesus prayed to The Father for his Apostles and followers:"And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me.." [5]
In Matthew 17:20 Jesus said to his Apostles:
- "...For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain: Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible to you." [6].
In his book "An Invitation to Prayer" Pope John Paul II emphasized prayer as the cornerstone of Catholic life[7]. Similarly, in her book "Everything Starts from Prayer" Mother Teresa of Calcutta stressed the importance of prayer in every aspect of life to Catholics, from multiple perspectives [8].
Christian teachings have for long held that prayer involves the action of the Holy Spirit, e.g. referring to Romans 8:26, "The [Holy] Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words." [9] In Catholic belief, the Holy Spirit, as the "master of prayer', both inspires and guides prayer.[10]. The Catholic encyclopedia advises that prior to prayer, an act of adoration to God should be performed and a petition made for the prayer to be directed by the Holy Spirit.[11]
Section 2744 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy.[12] In the Catholic tradition personal prayer has been positioned as a source for personal strength, just as Jesus was strengthened during prayer in Gethsemane in Luke 22:43.
Despite the promises associated with the prayer, the direct measurement of its effect is often discouraged in the Abrahamic religions, e.g. Deuteronomy 6:16 states: "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God"[13].
[edit] Teachings on Prayer
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Jesus teaches his disciples to pray with a pure heart, persevering faith and filial boldness. Humility is the foundation of prayer.[14] The Gospel of Saint Luke contains parables illustrating that effective prayer is patient, persistent, and humble.[15]
In Catholic tradition, there are many legends about the power of persistent prayer. In the fourth century, Saint Monica of Hippo is said to have prayed for the conversion of her son Augustine for fourteen years[16] and he eventually became an influential figure in Christian thought.
Another example of long term prayer often mentioned in the Roman Catholic tradition is that of the Venerable Leo Dupont, also known as the Holy Man of Tours. Dupont was said to have prayed for 30 years for the public release of messages from sister Marie of St Peter in 1844 regarding the Holy Face of Jesus[17]. Shortly before Dupont's death in 1876, Charles-Théodore Colet was appointed as the Archbishop of Tours and allowed the records to be made public.
[edit] Expressions of Prayer
[edit] Forms of prayer
The basic forms of prayer are: blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.[18].
In the prayer of petition one asks God for necessities. "Whatever you ask in prayer believe that you will receive it, and you will." [19]. In intercession, one who prays looks "not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others..."[20] This has been used to provide a sense of hope, perseverance and strength to others, knowing that they are being prayed for.
Roman Catholic tradition includes specific prayers and devotions as acts of reparation. These prayers do not involve a petition for a living or deceased beneficiary, but aim to repair the sins of others, e.g. when the name of Jesus Christ is taken in vain, or for the repair of the sin of blasphemy. Some such prayers are provided in the Raccolta Catholic prayer book, approved by a Decree of 1854, and published by the Holy See in 1898.[21]
Some prayers focus on reparations for insults and blasphemies against Jesus Christ and the Holy Name of Jesus. Other prayers are as Acts of Reparation to the Virgin Mary. Specific Catholic organizations with the purpose of promoting prayer as reparation have been formed. For instance, the Archconfraternity of Reparation for blasphemy and the neglect of Sunday was founded by Msgr. Pierre Louis Parisis in 1847 and the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face was founded in 1851 by the Venerable Leo Dupont, the "Holy Man of Tours".[22]
[edit] Methods of prayer
Three methods of Christian prayer are vocal, meditation, and contemplative prayer.
Because it is external vocal prayer is the form most readily accessible to groups.[23]The Bible suggests that group petitions and prayers are different from individual requests. In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus said:
- “ Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." [24]
Mental prayer was defined by Fr. John Hardon in his Modern Catholic Dictionary as a form of prayer in which the sentiments expressed are one's own and not those of another person. Mental prayer is accomplished by internal acts of the mind and affections and is either simple meditation or contemplation. Mental prayer is a form of prayer whereby one loves God through dialogue with him, meditating on his words, and contemplating him.[25] It is a time of silence focused on God and one's relationship with him. It is distinguished from vocal prayers which use set prayers, although mental prayer can proceed by using vocal prayers in order to improve dialogue with God.[26]
Meditation is a form of reflective prayer which engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. There are as many methods of meditation as there are spiritual masters.[27]
Contemplative prayer is a silent attentiveness which looks at God by contemplating and adoring his attributes.[28]
According to Mother Teresa:
"The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace."[29]
[edit] Learning to pray
Although many promises are associated with prayer, in his book "The Way to Christ" Pope John Paul II warned against "mechanical prayer" and pointed out the need for self reflection before prayer[30]. And in his message for the 42nd "World Day of Prayer" he said:
- "We have to learn to pray: as it were learning this art ever anew from the lips of the Divine Master himself, like the first disciples: 'Lord, teach us to pray!' (Lk 11:1)."[31]
In his book The Secret of the Rosary Saint Louis de Montfort went into significant detail on how to prepare to say a single rosary. He emphasized purity of intention before the rosary begins, the need for attention, focus and reverence during the prayer and the necessity of fighting distractions [32].
[edit] Devotions
[edit] Holy Face of Jesus
This Catholic devotion was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1885[33]. According to Sister Marie of St Peter, a Carmelite nun who lived in Tours France, in 1844 she had a vision in which Jesus told her:"Those who will contemplate the wounds on My Face here on earth, shall contemplate it radiant in heaven." According to Sister Marie of St Peter, in her visions Jesus told her that He desired devotion to His Holy Face in reparation for sacrilege and blasphemy. She wrote The Golden Arrow Holy Face Devotion (Prayer) which she said was dictated to her by Jesus. The first Holy Face Medal was offered to Pope Pius XII who accepted it and approved of the devotion[34].
[edit] The Sacred Heart of Jesus
From 1673 to 1675 Saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque reported a series of visions of Christ speaking to her which led to her founding the Devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus[35]. As part of her visions of Jesus and Mary she stated that Jesus gave her twelve promises directed towards those who pray and practice the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which promises range from receiving all the graces necessary for their state of life to the grace of final repentance provided they receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months[36].
[edit] Rosary
Medieval piety developed the prayer of the rosary as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours. [37].The significance of the rosary is widely emphasized in Catholic teachings, e.g. in his 1981 apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio Pope John Paul II said:"The rosary should be considered as one of the best and most efficacious prayers"[38], and in his encyclical Rosarium Virginis Mariae discussed how his motto "Totus Tuus" was inspired by the writings of Saint Louis de Montfort[39].
Catholic belief in the power of the Rosary goes as far back as 1571 when Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory at the Battle of Lepanto, in which the Papal States faced a much larger army. Pius V attributed the decisive victory at Lepanto (in which the entire Muslim fleet was destroyed) to the Rosaries which were prayed. The feast on October 7 associated with the Battle of Lepanto was initially called the feast of "Our Lady of Victory" but was later renamed the feast of "Our Lady of the Rosary".[40][41] In 1683 King John III Sobieski of Poland achieved a crucial victory in Vienna in the battle against the Muslims and the victory was attributed to the power of the Rosary.
The belief in the power of the Rosary has continued into the 20th century, e.g. in his book The Power of the Rosary Rev. Albert Shamon discussed the power of rosary prayers and the promises attributed to the Rosary in various reported visions such as Our Lady of Fatima and Međugorje[42].
Some Roman Catholic sources suggest that through Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de Rupe the Blessed Virgin Mary made fifteen specific promises to Christians who pray the rosary,[43] although other sources argue that the rosary and these promises have their roots in the preaching of Alan de Rupe between 1470–1475 and not Saint Dominic.[44] The fifteen rosary promises range from protection from misfortune to meriting a high degree of glory in heaven [45].
The promises attributed to the rosary continue to appear and be extended in the reported visions of Jesus and Mary. For instance, the Carmelite nun, sister Lucia dos Santos stated that she was told in the Our Lady of Fatima messages:
- "There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." [46][47]
[edit] Shoulder wound of Jesus
The Prayer to the shoulder wound of Jesus is variously attributed to Saint Bernard, Saint Gertrude, or Saint Mechtilde. According to St. Bernard, he asked Jesus which was His greatest unrecorded suffering and the wound that inflicted the most pain on Him in Calvary and Jesus answered:
"I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound which was more painful than the others and which is not recorded by men. Honor this Wound with thy devotion and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through its virtue and merit and in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins and will no longer remember their mortal sins."[48]
The modern version of the prayer bears the imprimatur of Bishop Thomas D. Bevan, bishop of Springfield, Mass. 1892. [49].
[edit] Chaplet of Saint Michael
The Chaplet of Saint Michael is due to a reported vision of Saint Michael the Archangel to the Portuguese Carmelite nun Antonia d'Astonac. According to Antonia, Saint Michael asked her to honor him by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels and promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have, when approaching Holy Communion, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during life.[50][51]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2590
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2744
- ^ The Theology of Prayer by Monsignor Joseph Fenton 2009 ISBN 2917813008 page 70
- ^ Sermon notes of John Henry Cardinal Newman, 1849-1878 by John Henry Newman 2001 ISBN 0852444443 page 3
- ^ BibleStudyTools John 17
- ^ BibleStudyTools Matthew 17
- ^ Pope John Paul II "An Invitation to Prayer" ISBN 0743449061
- ^ Mother Teresa, "Everything Starts from Prayer" ISBN 978-1883991258
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 741
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2670
- ^ Catholic encyclopedia
- ^ Catechism at the Vatican website
- ^ Deuteronomy 6:16 BibleStudyTools Deuteronomy 6
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2559
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2613
- ^ Saint Augustine "Confessions" ISBN 978-0385029551
- ^ Joan Carroll Cruz "Saintly Men of Modern Times" ISBN 1931709777
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2644
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2610
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2635
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12620a.htm
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12775a.htm
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic church, 2740
- ^ Matthew 18:19
- ^ Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary
- ^ of Avila, St Teresa; Translated by Benedictines of Stanbrook (2007). The Way of Perfection. Cosimo, Inc.. p. 141. ISBN 1602062617. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=HM_Ry1PxbdMC&pg=PA141&dq=mental+prayer&cd=3#v=onepage&q=mental%20prayer&f=false.
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2707
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2724
- ^ Mother Teresa Prayers —
- ^ Pope John Paul II "The Way to Christ" ISBN 978-0060642167
- ^ Vatican Message of Pope John Paul II on Prayer http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/messages/vocations/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_20040811_xlii-voc-2005_en.html
- ^ Saint Louis de Montfort "Secret of the Rosary" ISBN 978-0895550569
- ^ Dorothy Scallan. The Holy Man of Tours. (1990) ISBN 0895553902
- ^ Joan Carroll Cruz, OCDS. Saintly Men of Modern Times. (2003) ISBN 1931709777
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09653a.htm
- ^ Fr John Croiset, S.J. The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ISBN 0895553341
- ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2678
- ^ Familiaris Consortio http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio_en.html
- ^ Pope John Paul II's encyclical Rosarium Virginis Mariae http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae_en.html
- ^ EWTN on Battle of Lepanto (1571) [1]
- ^ Butler's Lives of the Saints by Alban Butler, Peter Doyle 1999 ISBN 0860122530 page 222
- ^ Rev. Albert Shamon "Power of the Rosary" ISBN 1877678104
- ^ Dominican Fathers on the Rosary http://www.rosary-center.org/nconobl.htm,
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13184b.htm
- ^ Holyrosary.org http://www.theholyrosary.org/power.html
- ^ The Holy Rosary http://www.theholyrosary.org/power.html
- ^ From the housetops: Saint Benedict Center Publications, Issues 42-48, 1999 page 60
- ^ Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Jesus http://www.olrl.org/pray/shwound.shtml
- ^ Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Jesus http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=31
- ^ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 087973910X page 123
- ^ EWTN The Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel
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