For a very long time in her history, Catholic Church has been tagged to be a very contemplative abode which emphasizes solemn worship and rightfully so. In fact, she may sometimes be called a church of the book as she has so many traditional prayers that have been compiled in books and require that her ministers and congregation adhere strictly to these prayers. These prayers have been carefully composed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit relating to various areas of human life’s experiences. Hence, in the rituals of the church, there are so many prayers that apply to almost every events of our lives. This is one of the beautiful treasures of the church which has sustained and continues to sustain her in her mission and life. These prayers have been used by men and women of faith in times past and in recent times and have testified to their efficacy.

Pope Francis noted in his General Audience on 14 April, 2021 “The Church is a great school of prayer. Many of us learned how to whisper our first prayers while on our parents’ or grandparents’ laps. We might perhaps, cherish the memory of our mommy or daddy who taught us to say our prayers before going to bed. These moments of recollection are often those in which parents listen to some intimate secret from their children and can give their advice inspired by the Gospel. Then, while growing up, there are other encounters, with other witnesses and teachers of prayers (cf. CCC 2686-2687). The life of a parish and of every Christian community is marked by liturgical moments of community prayer. We become aware that that gift we received with simplicity in childhood is a great heritage, a rich inheritance and that the experience of prayer is worth deepening more and more.”  

The contemplative and meditative life of the Church is all the more emphasized in the structure of the Holy Mass, which is the greatest prayer in the Catholic Church. This mass is such a beautiful moment of encounter with God our Father through songs, moments of silence, the word of God, the Holy Eucharist and the actions of both the people and the priest. It was Pio of Pietrelcina who said that “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do so without the mass.” He will further say that “Every Holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls, marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we, ourselves, do not know…It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!” This is why the Church calls on all her priests “Nevertheless, the priest must remember that he is the servant of the sacred liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass.” All of these stringent guidelines/procedures/regulations are to further emphasize the sacredness of the church’s liturgical actions and to enhance her contemplative and meditative life.

There was however a great change in the life of the church at the break of the charismatic movement in the year 1967. No doubt, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a part of the wider Charismatic movement across historic Churches and it has soon become a household name. this movement is described as a “current of grace.” Beginning with some students at Duquesne University who attended a protestant worship service where they claimed to have been “baptized in the Holy Spirit.” This movement has indeed become a useful instrument in the church, no doubt as it helps us to return to the first Pentecost experience, with much emphasis on having a personal relationship with Jesus, deep emotional experiences, and expressing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Cardinal Leo Josef Suenens described Charismatic renewal as “Not a specific movement; the Renewal is not a movement in the common sociological sense; it does not have founders, it is not homogeneous and it includes a great variety of realities; it is a current of grace, a renewing breath of the Spirit for all members of the church, laity, religious, priests and bishops. It is a challenge for us all. One does not form part of the Renewal, rather, the Renewal becomes a part of us provided that we accept the grace it offers us.” Speaking further on the goodness this Renewal has brought to the church, Theologians Peter Hocken, Tony Richie and Christopher Stephenson say that it is intrinsically ecumenical and has given rise to covenant communities with members from major Christian denominations who lead a “shared life based on baptism in the Holy Spirit.”

There is nevertheless a conflict of interest between this renewal and traditional Catholics. There is no doubt that this Renewal has become so forceful and has received a wide range of acceptance at the expense of the Church’s traditional treasures. Sometimes, their practices shift the focus of worship away from reverent communion with Christ in the Eucharist and towards individual emotions and non-Liturgical experiences as a substitute. Interests in traditional catholic prayers are dwindling, calling for serious attentions. These days, we have more Catholics who would come out en masse for Crusades and revivals than for Novena prayers organized by their pastors. Sadly, or quite unfortunate, priests are now today classified on the basis of crusades and special prayer sessions organized, the one who calls for novenas and masses is not usually the spiritual one. In fact, many priests today have become a victim of this tide so much so that we begin to bring all sort of things into the mass in the bit to appease our congregation.

What happens to the days of Novenas, the days when we celebrate the mass with so much dignity and reverence? The various pious societies of the church have so few a number these days adding to the disinterestedness in traditional Catholic devotions and prayers. It now appears like prayers are repetitions. We have forgotten that through this devotional prayers, we are strengthened in our relationship with the host of heaven especially the saints. Through this prayer as well, the bond found in the church triumphant, suffering and militant is further made known. The traditional catholic most often challenges us to a life of holiness, a call away from sin and frivolities. It drives towards a genuine love for God; the desire to please him at all times. A major problem here is that we either hurriedly say these prayers or do not understand them. No thanks to the prayer centers around us. There is so much noise in our masses these days just because we want to make it “lively and appealing”.

It appears more today that what we have around are protestant Catholics; Catholics who have taken on so much the garment of Pentecostalism. We are Pentecost people called to have a special relationship with the Holy Spirit and sometimes could be emotional in our expressions, yet, as Catholics, we must recognize the efficacy of the many traditional prayers of the church such as the Mass, Novenas, Prayers to Saints, Prayer before various events etc. CCC 2698 says “The tradition of the church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying intended to nourish continual prayer. Some are daily, such as morning and evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours. Sundays, centered on the Eucharist, are kept holy primarily by prayer. The cycle of the Liturgical year and its great feasts are also basic rhythms of the Christian’s life of prayer. It is therefore the task of church leaders (priests and laity) to wake up and promote the traditional Catholic prayers for these remain one of the greatest treasure of the church.