Session 1

Prayer - an Introduction

RCIA Day of Prayer & Fellowship

Welcome!

Prayer is the Lifeblood of our Relationship with

God…

A religious activity - rituals.

To get out of a dangerous, desperate situation.

Help

God

What is Prayer?

“Prayer is turning the heart toward God - when a person prays, he enters into a living relationship with God” (CCC 2558-2565)

God

““Prayer is the path to increased awareness of our oneness with God, with one another, and with the world.” ”

What is Prayer?

“Prayer is turning the heart toward God - when a person prays, he enters into a living relationship with God” (CCC 2558-2565)

God

What is Prayer?

2. Relationship with God

1. God is the object

3. Relationship with other people

What Prompts a Person to Pray?

•He seeks us; He calls for us;

•There is an infinite longing for God St Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God”

•We always need help: Blessed Mother Teresa: “Because I cannot rely on myself, I rely on Him 24 hours a day.”

Yes, Prayer is a Gift of God.

Turn your heart toward God

and ask Him to teach you how to pray

The 5 types of Prayer

1.Prayer of Blessing and Adoration. We recognise God’s greatness, omnipotence, holiness and love.

• We kneel, we prostrate ourselves in humble adoration;

•Calling down God’s blessings upon us, upon each other, a simple

“God bless you!’ •Priests bless in the name of Jesus and the church.

2. Prayer of Petition – prayers that cry out, implore,

lament, call upon God for help. Someone who asks:•Opens himself and returns to the Author of all good•Brings him into a right relationship with God.

The 5 types of Prayer…

3. Prayer of Intercession – we pray for other people - just as we ask others to pray for us.

4. Prayer of Thanksgiving – being grateful to God

• Eucharist (Mass) – the greatest prayer of thanks.• A simple “Thank God!”

5. Prayer of Praise - joyful wonder at God’s greatness and goodness:

• We join the angels and saints in heaven in praising God;• Praise & Worship• A simple “Praise the Lord!”

The Tradition of Prayer

The Holy Spirit teaches the Church how to pray:

•We pray to the Father through Jesus – “We make this prayer through Christ our Lord…”

•We pray to Jesus – “God saves.”

•We pray to the Holy Spirit.

•We pray in communion with Mary and the Saints.

•We pray with the rest of the Church.

Praying as a Church We gather as a believing and praying community,

•Holy Mass

•Liturgy of the Hour

•Novena’s and popular devotions

•In our faith community – BECs, Prayer

groups.

How We Pray

1. Vocal Prayers•Psalms, Prepared Prayers, Rosary•In song and in dances.•Spontaneous

2. Silent Meditation•Meditating on the Scripture•Centering Prayer•Contemplation

Prayer is an Encounter (not a Performance)

Talk – communicate with God

Listen – surprise discovery Respond – living it out

RCIA Day of Prayer & FellowshipWe now invite you to spend the rest of the day not just to learn more about prayers, but also,

to know each other – that’s one way to know God!

““Prayer is the path to increased awareness of our oneness with God, with one another, and with the world.” ”