RCIA 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer 12: The - PDF document

9/2/2019 RCIA 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Sign of the Cross • A distinctly Catholic (and Orthodox) sign – The world knows we are Catholic and witnesses to our faith • Touch forehead, heart, left & right shoulder – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” • Signifies the Trinity 2 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Sign of the Cross • Used… – at the beginning & end of prayer – when receiving a blessing – during times of temptation – when in danger 3 1

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Introduction • “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God” (CCC 2559) – Our way of establishing a relationship with God • Unique • Personal 4 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Introduction (cont.) • Jesus: we “ought always to pray” (Lk 18:1) • Apart from Him “we can do nothing” (Jn 15:5) • Without us, He will do nothing (free will) 5 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Introduction (cont.) • Spending time with God… – makes us more aware of His presence – strengthens us in virtue – helps us avoid sin and subjection to Satan 6 2

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Introduction (cont.) • Prayer is not always easy – Contend with obstacles • Satan • Our fallen nature – Distraction – Dryness – Lack of faith – Discouragement 7 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Distraction • “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41) • Counteract by re-concentrating – God is pleased in our struggles if we don’t give in • Solitude and silence helps • Make effort to detach from worldly things, thoughts, desires – Self-denial, mortification help control desires – Self-mastery makes us more confident and competent 8 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Dryness • Loss of desire or taste for spiritual things • Helps – Spiritual director – Perseverance 9 3

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Lack of Faith • Faith is the foundation of all our prayers – Concentrate on the Giver, not the gifts • To know, love, & serve God is the purpose of existence • We must believe in Him, trust in Him, that He knows what if for our good – His will must prevail 10 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer Discouragement • Thinking prayers are not heard, not answered • Be persistent • God’s “thoughts are not [our] thoughts, neither are [our] ways his ways” (Isaiah 55:8) • Our “Father knows what [we] need before [we] ask him” (Matthew 6:8) • Ask what He wants for His purposes and for us – Avoid selfishness 11 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Battle of Prayer The Transformative Power of Prayer • God works on us – Deepening faith – Admit dependence on Him – Long for Him more • Prayer’s purpose: to make us holy – So persevere – strive valiantly to gain eternal life • Prayer’s fruit: faith 12 4

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Christian Meditation • Helps us rediscover inner peace where we are alone with God • Used by many religions & by those with none • A quest (CCC 2705) • Quiet time – Spent in conscious presence of God, saints – Talk to God about anything – Listen for response 13 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Christian Meditation • Spiritual reading helps guide us – Firstly, the Bible • Lectio Divina : divine reading • “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12) 14 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Christian Meditation • Methods – Religious orders (e.g., Dominicans) – The rosary (saving events of lives of Jesus & Mary) 15 5

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Christian Meditation • Source and strength for meditation: Holy Spirit 16 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Christian Meditation • In meditation we… – seek to penetrate the heart and mind of God – examine our lives – tell God our joys and sorrows – praise and thank God – sincerely express our failings – ask forgiveness – intend to conform to His will – ask to be more constantly aware of Him 17 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Heights of Prayer: Contemplation • Contemplation – The ultimate form of Christian prayer – A mystery – Teresa Avila: “a close sharing between friends” – Soul’s attention riveted on the Lord Detail of St. Theresa (1827) • Intense, intimate by François Gérard – Human words useless – God is the initiator – a total gift • Requires humility, self-surrender, abandonment – “Dark night”: soul bereft of experience of God (John of the Cross) – Spiritual director strongly recommended Saint John of the Cross (1656) by Francisco de Zurbarán 18 6

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus • Comes from the piercing of Jesus’ heart on the cross after His death • “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (Zechariah 12:1) – Cleansing waters of forgiveness – Blood of redemption • Heart of Christ: symbol of His boundless love 19 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus • Essential elements – Wholehearted acts of love to Jesus – Beg pardon for humanity’s rejection of the Lord 20 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus • Special primacy over all other devotions – Must be cherished by all the Catholic faithful • “Extraordinary remedy for the extraordinary needs of our time” 21 7

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Offering My God, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the intentions for which He pleads and offers Himself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in thanksgiving for Your favors, in reparation for my sins, and in humble supplication for my temporal and eternal welfare, for the needs of our holy Mother the Church, for the conversion of sinners, and for the relief of the poor souls in purgatory. 22 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The San Damiano Cross Devotion to the Cross • Francis of Assisi (13 th c.) – Called by God to “repair my house” – Made physical repairs to local churches – Later he and his followers built up the lives of God’s people, the Church 23 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The San Damiano Cross St. Francis’ Payer Before the San Damiano Cross “Most high glorious God, bring light to the darkness of my heart. Give me the right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, insight, and wisdom, so I can always observe your holy and true command. Amen.” 24 8

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Praying to Mary: Idolatry or the Will of God? • Mary’s last words in Scripture: “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) 25 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Praying to Mary: Idolatry or the Will of God? • Mary is honored & venerated but not adored • Infinite difference human Mary & divine Jesus • We pray to the one who is nearer to the Throne of God than any other created being • In the Incarnation she became… – daughter of the Father – mother of the Son – spouse of the Holy Spirit 26 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Praying to Mary: Idolatry or the Will of God? • From Mary’s Magnificat: – “[A]ll generations will call me blessed.” (Luke 1:48) 27 Magnificat by Sister Mary Grace Thul 9

9/2/2019 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Holy Rosary • Private devotion • Meditation upon the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus • Second most highly recom- mended prayer form • Originated with revelation to St. Dominic (early 13 th c.) to fight heresy – Evolved over time 28 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer The Holy Rosary • Structure – Four sets of mysteries • Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, Glorious – Centered on Jesus from the Gospels • Each set contains five dec- ades of Scriptural prayers – Our Father – Ten Hail Marys – Glory Be 29 12: The Battle of Prayer and Traditions of Prayer Novenas • Prayer said for a particular intention – For nine consecutive days or weeks • Nine because that was the time between Ascension and Pentecost • “[P]ray constantly” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) – One way of persev- ering in a life of prayer • Devotional booklets are plentiful 30 Pentecost3 (1377) by Barnaba da Modena 10

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