On Prayer: Introduction

"The yearning to pray is a prayer in itself"
My presentation is not original; it is based on a presentation I heard a number of years ago, given by a person I respect. Furthermore, I have found these categories to be accurate, based on my own experience and the experience of others.

However, what I call "Methods" of prayer are not intended to be exhaustive, but are a means to begin a discussion and consider the breadth of prayer.

These methods are:

• Verbal
• Imaging
• Physical; and
• Contemplative

This week, we focus on verbal prayer.  This is a method used by most of those who pray, and is very familiar to us. Examples of verbal prayer include:

• Prayer Book
• Episcopal Book of Common Prayer
• Book of Psalms
• Roman Catholic Breviaries
• Memorized Prayers
• The Lord's Prayer
• Gloria Patri (from Roman Catholic tradition, means "Glory be to the Father")
• Original, spontaneous prayers
• Singing
• St. Augustine said that singing was praying twice

The Baltimore Catechism of the Roman Catholic tradition also understands prayer to be of four types:

• Adoration
• Contrition
• Thanksgiving
• Supplication

William O. Paulsell's Rules For Prayer (sadly out of print) seems to suggest that there are as many ways to pray as there are people. So, this presentation does not suggest that there is a right way or wrong way to pray.

If you are struggling to learn how to pray, consider St. Paul's promise in his letter to the church at Rome that the Holy Spirit will provide us with the words we need (c.f., Rom. 8:26). Paulsell's book offers this definition of prayer: "The ultimate goal of prayer is to look beyond earthly things, to see beyond the created order, and arrive at the contemplation of God. . . . We pray to know God, not to give God orders" (pg 7). This may seem daunting at first, but less so in the light of St. Paul's promise.

Finally, consider Paul's instruction to the church at Thesolonica:

Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you
1 Thes. 5: 16-18, NRSV

My hope is this series will suggest ways we may achieve that goal of praying without ceasing.