What is Prayer?

   According to an ancient definition, prayer is “keeping company with God.”  Prayer is you relating to God in the deepest recesses of your personality.  It is you seeking and communing with the living God- responding to him as he has made himself known to you through the teachings of the Church. (CCC 2559-2565, 2697-2699)

   As personal as it is, prayer makes use of word formulas.  Liturgical prayer - the official community prayer of the Church- uses approved formulas.  So does unofficial group prayer.  Even in private prayer, traditional formulas can be of great help.

   At its most personal, private prayer is spontaneous or impromptu – and sometimes even wordless.  Nonetheless, formulas are practical helps for breaking into prayer and expressing faith.  For this reason, some of the most loved, time-approved formulas of Catholic devotion are offered here – prayers that express the whole range of prayerful attitudes: adoration, thanksgiving, petition, and atonement.  Also offered in this section is a suggested method of private meditative prayer. (CCC 2700-2704)