Learning how to pray

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Learning how to pray
MILLET, Jean-François The Angelus Oil on
canvas, 1857-1859 55.25 x 66.04 cm Private
collection

• 57

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Compendium of the Catechism

• 557. What is the importance of Tradition in
  regard to prayer?
• 2650-2651
• In the Church it is through living Tradition that
  the Holy Spirit teaches the children of God how
  to pray. In fact prayer cannot be reduced to the
  spontaneous outpouring of an interior impulse
  rather it implies contemplation, study and a
  grasp of the spiritual realities one experiences.

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Introduction

• The Apostles told Jesus Lord, teach us how to
  pray! And he taught them the Our Father. We also
  often feel like telling him Jesus, please teach
  me how to pray!
• A Christian usually learns to pray in the heart
  of a family, the domestic Church.
• The Church is a community of prayer. If we
  behave as good children, our good mother the
  Church teaches us to pray and helps us to be
  souls of prayer.

ANDERSON, Sophie Foundling Girls at Prayer in the
Chapel c. 1877
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Main ideas
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1. Main sources of prayer

• The main source of prayer is the Word of God. In
  Sacred Scripture it is God who talks and teaches
  us to pray.
• Moreover, the Liturgy of the Church, announces,
  makes present and communicates the mystery of
  salvation.
• The theological virtues, faith, hope and charity,
  refer us directly to God and keep us in constant
  communication with God through prayer.
• Everyday situations.

ANGUISCIOLA, Sofonisba Portrait of the Artist's
Sister in the Garb of a Nun (detail) Southampton
City Art Gallery, Hampshire, UK
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2. To whom do we pray?

• The public prayer of the Church, or liturgical
  prayer, is usually addressed to God the Father,
  through the mediation of Jesus Christ, the Son,
  in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
• The prayer of the Church is the pattern for
  personal prayer with the one and triune God.
• In order to reach God more easily we seek the
  intercession of the angels and the saints
  especially the Mother of God and Saint Joseph.

ROBUSTI TINTORETTO, Jacopo The TrinityGalleria
Sabauda Turin, Italy
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3. Praying in communion with the Holy Mother of
God

• Ever since the episode in Cana Our Lady continues
  to lead us to Jesus
• Do whatever he tells you
• Mary, with her example and behaviour, is a sure
  path of prayer. The Magnificat is a model of
  prayer based on humility.
• Besides praying with Mary, we pray to Mary to
  entrust to her our petitions and our praises.

DÜRER, Albrecht The Virgin Mary in
Prayer 1518 Oil on lindenwood, 53 x 43
cm Staatliche Museen, Berlin
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4. The Hail Mary the best prayer to Mary

• As Gods mother and our mother, Mary continuously
  intercedes before her son Jesus Christ for each
  one of us.
• The best way to recourse to her is praying the
  Hail Mary which echoes the greeting of the
  Archangel announcing the mystery of the
  incarnation
• " Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
  thee.
• " Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the
  fruit of thy womb ".

RUBENS, Peter Paul Annunciation 1609 Kunsthistoris
ches Museum, Vienna, Austria
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5. The school of piety

• The Christian family is the natural school to
  educate children in prayer.
• This piety is fostered and completed by the
  teachings of priests and religious in catechesis,
  in groups of prayer and in spiritual direction.

CHARDIN, Jean-Baptiste-Siméon The Prayer before
Meal 1744 Oil on canvas, 50 x 38,5 cm The
Hermitage, St. Petersburg
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6. Where to pray

• We can talk with God always and everywhere
  because he sees and hears everything and he is
  everywhere.
• The best place to pray is in the church, where he
  is present in a special way.
• In the Tabernacle, Jesus, true God and true man,
  is present with his body, his blood, his soul and
  his divinity.
• We should sincerely love the Mass and attend it
  whenever we can, because in each celebration of
  the Eucharist Christ offers himself.

BACON, Henry Christmas Prayers 1872 Private
Collection
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Resolutions for Christian life
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Resolutions to move forward

• Meditate on the words of the Hail Mary in order
  to better understand what we pray.
• When we are in church, carry out with attention
  the little details of love and respect use of
  Holy Water, genuflexion before the Tabernacle,
  bowing ones head before a crucifix or an image
  of Our Lady, etc.