As we move into our third week of discussing prayer, it's important to remember that this is the year of prayer. This focus on prayer is not just a passing phase but a significant opportunity for us to deepen our prayer life.

This week, we will continue our exploration of the third type of prayer we started last week and examine the topic of rote prayer.

Contemplative prayer is resting completely in God's presence, shutting out your imagination, thoughts, and emotions. This prayer is not exclusive to Nuns or Monks, as is often believed. It is a practice open to all, including you.

It requires one to enter deeply into silence and open up completely to God. Sitting in solitude and resting in God’s presence brings purpose, direction and love of God like nothing else. In the words of St. Teresa in CCC 2709, "Contemplative prayer [oracion mental], in my opinion, is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us."

Another form of prayer often associated with the Church is rote prayer. Rote prayers are written prayers such as the Hail Mary, Our Father, etc. This form of praying warrants repetition in a structured manner.

Through the meaning of ‘Catholic’ as universal, rote prayer provides the standardized type of prayer that Catholics the world over usually use, creating a sense of unity and oneness within the Church because, with rote prayers, Catholics of different cultural backgrounds can come together in common prayer using the exact words.

Rote prayers have their roots deep in the history and traditions of the Church, often passed down from one generation to the other, serving as a way of connecting with the faith of those before us. 

Rote prayers help us to have a sense of continuity with our religious heritage. Just as we well know, rote prayer, though significant to our Catholic worship, is not the only form of prayer we have as Catholics. Rote prayers are one of the many ways we express our faith and connect with God. 

In conclusion, the Christian tradition concerns three main expressions of the prayer life: vocal prayer, meditations, and contemplative prayer (2721). The Church invites the faithful to have a regular prayer life: daily prayers, the Liturgy of the Hours, Sunday Eucharist, etc. (CCC2720).

 

In this year of prayer, let us be inspired to explore the numerous forms and types of prayer. Let us use these diverse forms of prayer to deepen our faith, trust, and connection to the Father and to enrich our spiritual journey.

May the Lord hear and answer our prayers. Amen.