Introduction to Prayer

 

According to an ancient definition, prayer is “keeping company with God.”  Prayer is you relating to God in the deepest recesses of your personality.  It is you seeking and communing with the living God -- responding to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- made known to you through the teachings of the Church.

 

As intimately personal as it is, prayer make use of word formulas.  Liturgical prayer -- the official community prayer of the Church -- uses approved formulas.  So does unofficial group prayer.  Even in solitary, private prayer, traditional formulas can be of great help.  At its most personal, private prayer is spontaneous -- and sometimes even wordless.  Nonetheless, people who pray constantly find formulas to be practical helps for breaking into prayer and expressing the faith they share with the people of God.