1. ON PRAYING ALWAYS
O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, Make haste to help me!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
A Prayer Leader will lead us in songs of praise
Psalm 33
The loyal heart must praise the Lord!
Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal heats.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten stringed lyre sing Him songs.
O sing Him a song that is new,
play loudly, with all your skill.
For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE PHILLIPIANS (4:6)
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that
surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Reflection on the Lordıs Prayer
The Prayer Leader will play recorded music as we read teh following passage.
I cannot say OUR if my religion has no room for others and their needs.
I cannot say FATHER if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily
living.
I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if all my interest and pursuits are in earthly
things.
I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME if I who am called by His name am not holy.
I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME if I am unwilling to give up my own sovereignty
and accept the righteous reign of God.
I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE if I am unwilling or resentful of having His
will in my life.
I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN unless I am truly ready to give
myself to His service here and now.
I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD without expending honest effort
for it or by ignoring the genuine needs of my fellowmen.
I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS
AGAINST US if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately choose to remain
in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I am not prepared to fight in the
spiritual realm with the weapons of word and prayer.
I cannot say AMEN unless I honestly say, ³Cost what it may, this is my
prayer!²
A. Teaching Psalm Sampler: Using the Psalms for Prayer
2. Do I find in Eucharist the "breath of faith"? What is behind this analogy?
The prayer of community praise, not only in the liturgy as in the Liturgy of tthe Hours, but also spontaneous and free praise found in the weekly meetings of the small communities is a way to pray in which the Spirit acts very specially. Habitually our prayers are limited to ready-made repetitive formulas or prayers of petition only. Like Jesus we must elevate our eyes to the heavens to know and discern the will of the Father in everything that we ask of Him. (Navarro REMAIN AND PERSEVERE 2:3) 3. Picture a thermometer - where is my comfort level in free and spontaneous praise?
4. We are so used to patterns of prayer from our childhood. But how would you describe the prayer of the early Christians in their house churches?
5. Even the early church had its "prayerbook" (the Psalms). What place should written prayer, even rote prayer, have in my prayer life?
"Nothing without prayer, and everything as a fruit of prayer" must be the thrust of the true believer that really walks in the Spirit and wants to grow in the Lord. Getting away for personal prayer daily, receiving the Eucharists frequently, attending the weekly community meeting and going to prayer assemblies all need to be normal ways of life for every Christian that wants to grow spiritually and become holy. (Navarro REMAIN & PERSEVERE 2:3)
6. Who are the people I pray with? Give a brief history of how praying with that person developed, its stages, the goals you may have for developing that growth in prayer with that person/s.
C. CLOSING
Magnificat
My spirit sings Your praise.
You lead me on, You lift me up,
And gladness fills my days.
All nations now will share my joy;
Your gifts You have outpoured.
Your little one You have made great.
I magnify my God.
For those who love Your holy name,
Your mercy will not die.
Your strong right arm puts down the proud,
and lifts the lowly high.
You fill the hungry with good things;
The rich you send away.
The promise made to Abraham
is filled to endless day.
Use the colored pens you obtained for previous Bible Studies and mark these ³prayer² passages with a predetermined color. On a 3x5 card that you can use as a bookmark, make an index of your color code and symbols (e.g. triangle for God, lips for prayers of praise, folded hands for prayers of petition, etc.)
Lk 18:1
Mt 6:5-13
Jude 20
1 Thess 5:16-18
Jn 16:23-24
Phillipians 4:6
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2558-2865
Fr. Ron 04/03/04