What
is PRAYER?
A.
Definitions of Prayer.
1. Asking for something.
2. Speaking or talking to God.
3. A process of communicating with God.
4.
An assent of the mind to God and
the request for fitting things from Him.
5.
The process of lifting up one’s mind,
heart and soul to God.
B.
Reasons for Prayer.
1.
To adore God as creator.
2.
To implore God’s help and protection.
3.
To seek material assistance
4.
To give thanks for all his blessings
5.
To ask for mercy and pardon for sins.
C.
Prayer as dialogue means…
1.
An intimate sharing between friends.
2.
Taking time frequently to be alone with
God.
3.
Dialogue in faith
4.
Dialogue in truth.
5.
Not a monologue (we not only talk and
listen but also seek and follow).
D.
Qualities of an authentic prayer.
1.
Scripture based.
2.
Deeper knowledge of oneself and of God.
3.
Act in pursuance of building God’s
kingdom.
4.
Perfect instrument of the spirit and
faithful witness.
5.
Leads to contemplation and perfect
sonship of God.
E.
Kinds of Prayer.
1. Individual
or Private Prayer
a. Vocal
1) Formulated:
according to formula
2) Spontaneous
b. Mental
1) Formal
2) Informal
2. Public
Prayer
a. Liturgical
Prayer
1) Mass
or Holy Eucharist
2) Sacraments
3) Divine
Office
a)
Matins and Lauds: At dawn or upon
rising
(3-4 AM)
b)
Prime: Morning Prayer 6 AM)
c)
Tierce: at 9 AM
d)
Sext: at noon
e)
None: around 2 PM
f)
Vespers: Evening Prayer
g)
Compline: Night Prayers or before
retiring.
4) Other
Public Rituals or Holy Week Rites
a)
Washing of the feet
b)
Adoration of the Cross
c)
Blessing of fire
d)
Baptismal Renewal
b. Paraliturgical
1) Bible
Service
2) House/Car
Blessing
3) Exposition
of the Blessed Sacrament
F.
Kinds of Prayer according to purpose.
1.
Adoration : praise, honor or worship
2. Thanksgiving : thanks
3. Contrition : forgiveness
4. Petition : request
G.
Characteristics of an Effective prayer.
1. Attention : mental concentration
2. Devotion : must be from the heart
3. Confidence : unshakable trust in Him
4. Perseverance : by not easily giving up
H.
Effects of Prayer.
1. It
merits graces from God.
2. Obtains
material as well as spiritual benefits from god.
3. It
brings peace of mind or spiritual refreshment of the heart.
I.
Stages of prayer.
1.
Vocal Prayer: any form of prayer
expressed in words whether written or spoken.
2.
Discursive Prayer: the application of
the mind to some supernatural truth in order to penetrate its meaning, to love
it, and carry it into practice with the assistance of grace, to attribute
things to God in the state of grace.
3.
Affective Prayer: a type of prayer in
which operations of the will predominate over the intellect. It also means
merely simplified meditation in which love predominates.
4.
Prayer of Simplicity: it is considered
as the first grade of mystical prayer, and sometimes called as a prayer of
simple gaze. It is only a question of gazing and loving experience of God.
5.
Contemplative Prayer: a kind of prayer,
which signifies knowledge, accompanied by delight and the knowledge usually
arouses admiration and captivates the soul.
6.
Prayer of Quiet (Silent Prayer): the
type of mystical prayer in which the intimate awareness of God’s presence
captivates the will and fills the soul and body with sweetness and delight.
7.
Prayer of Union (5th
Mansion): that grade of mystical prayer in which all the internal faculties are
gradually captivated and occupied by God.
8.
Prayer of Conforming Union (Ecstatic
Prayer): captivates the external senses and that of the interior faculties,
which leads the soul to be totally divinized.
9.
Prayer of Transforming Union (7th
Mansion): known as the prelude to the “beatific life of the glory of God”. It
is God Himself living in man.
J.
Difficulties in Prayer.
1. Causes
of difficulties.
a.
The mystery of God.
b.
Instability of our faculties, sickness,
pathological tendencies.
c.
Action of the devil.
2. Distraction
from within the person.
a.
Lack of spiritual nourishment.
b.
Lack of peace of mind.
c.
Lack of preparation.
d.
Lifestyle: routine
e.
Recurring distractions.
1) awareness
problem
2) thoughts
that preoccupies the mind such as
-
studies or work
-
persons or individuals
-
things
-
sex or anything related to sex
-
psychological problems
K.
Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer.
1. Our
father who art in heaven: profession of faith
2. Holy
be your name: sanctification of God’s name.
3. Your
kingdom come: the reign of God.
4. Your
will be done: obedience to the will of God.
5. Give
us this day: communion with others.
6. Our
daily bread: earthly nourishment.
7. Forgive
us our sins: begs for God’s mercy.
8.
Lead us not into temptation: asking God
to guide us through the right way and not to sin
9. Deliver
us from evil: victory of God over evil.
10. Amen:
“Fiat” means “YES” or “so be it”
On
LITURGY:
A. Meaning.
1.
Etymological:
Greek
word “leitourgia” meaning “public duty or work or a public worship”. Thus, it
pertains to the prescribed forms or ritual for public worship in the church and
in its celebrations.
2.
Definition.
Liturgy is
the official prayer of the church and the whole family of God. It is the public
worship of the church through which the priesthood of Jesus is continued, the
work of redemption is renewed to greatest glory, which is given to God through
Jesus Christ, and the grace communicated to the faithful; who unites with
Christ.
B.
Six mode of Christ’s presence in the
Liturgy.
1.
in the liturgical celebration.
2.
in the person of his ministers.
3.
under the Eucharistic species.
4. in the sacraments.
5.
in his Word ( Scripture).
6.
where the church prays and sings.
C.
Essence of the Liturgy.
1.
The prayer of the church community
headed by Christ.
2.
The summit toward which the activity of
the Church is directed.
3.
The fountain from which all the Church
power flows.
D. Role
of Liturgy.
1.
Exercise of the priestly office of
Jesus.
2.
Means by which the faithful can express
their lives and manifests to other the mystery of Jesus and the real nature of
the Church.
ON LITURGICAL CALENDAR OR SEASONS.
1.
Advent: a preparation for Christmas,
consisting of 4 weeks.
2.
Christmas Season: celebration for
Christ’s birth.
3.
Ordinary Time I: consist of the first
eight (8) weeks, recalls the words and deeds of Jesus.
4.
Lenten Season: a preparation for Holy
Week starting Ash Wednesday.
5.
Holy Week: commemoration of the Passion
and suffering of Jesus starts with Palm Sunday.
6.
Easter Season: celebration of the
Resurrection of Jesus.
7.
Ordinary Time II: commemorates the life
of the early church.
LITURGICAL COLORS:
1. Purple
or Violet: forgiveness and repentance
2. White:
means purity, fulfillment and joy.
3. Green:
hope and growth
4. Red:
love, bravery, martyrdom, fire and blood
5. Black:
sadness, mourning
IMPORTANT FEAST OR CELEBRATIONS IN THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
1.
December 8 : Immaculate Conception
2. December 25 : Birth of Jesus (Christmas Day)
3. January 1 : Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
4. Epiphany : movable feast, first Sunday after January 1
5.
Baptism : movable feast, Sunday after January 6
6.
February 2 : Presentation of the Lord
7.
March 9 : St. Joseph: husband of Mary
8.
March 25 : Annunciation
9. June 24 :
Birth of John the Baptist
10. June 29 :
Sts. Peter and Paul
11.
August 14 : Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
12.
September 8 : Birth of Mary
13. November 1 : All Saints Day
14.
November 2 : All Souls Day
PHILIPPINES LEGAL HOLIDAYS
1.
January 1 : New Year’s Day
2.
Maundy Thursday : movable date
3.
Good Friday : movable date
4.
April 9 : Araw ng Kagitingan
5.
May 1 :
Labor Day
6.
June 12 :
Independence Day
7.
National Heroes Day : last Sunday of August
8.
November 30 : Bonifacio Day
9.
December 25 : Christmas Day
10.
December 30 : Rizal day
Philippines
National Special day
1. November
1 : All Saints Day
2. December
31 : last day of the Year
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