Repetitive Prayer for the New Year: What's Up With That?

by Brandon Jubar

You want to ring in the New Year on a positive note, so you start by making resolutions and praying for God's help in keeping them. But rather than focusing on the resolution part of that equation, let's spend a little time discussing the second part -- prayer. For if we don't know how to pray, how in the world are we going to lose all that weight?

Prayer is the lifting of the mind and heart to God. It is our way of communicating with our heavenly Father, and it helps bring us in communion with the Triune God and Jesus' body -- the Church. But can't anyone do this, then? Can't anyone simply talk to God, and thus become one with the Lord and His people? And if so, then why are we Catholics so repetitive in our prayers, saying endless Our Father's and Hail Mary's? What's up with that?

Recognize the Essential Role of Prayer

"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." --St. Therese of Lisieux

First and foremost, Catholics must understand what prayer is, and then recognize the essential role it plays in our lives as Christians. As the Catechism tells us, if we do not have a life of prayer, we risk losing the life of grace in our souls. This grace is possible by our baptism, through which we have already been united with Christ. Yet it is through the other sacraments and through prayer that we maintain that unity (CCC 2565).

Most personal prayer is spontaneous. It is an outpouring of thoughts and emotions, and it general involves petitions to the Lord. We recall our woes and beg the Lord for mercy and help. Sometimes we read Scripture, and seek to understand the meaning of the Word as applied to our lives and situations. Generally, we try to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and hope for divine revelation.

This is fine, for what it's worth. But the Church understands that prayer cannot be reduced to a simple outpouring of our interior stuff. Prayer is much more than that.

Acknowledge That We Don't Know How To Pray

The fact that I feel comfortable talking to God does not mean that I know how to pray. If I understand what Scripture says about prayer, that still does not mean that I know how to pray. And this fact is where I need to begin. Once I am ready to pray, I must humbly acknowledge that I don't truly know how to pray!

And that is where the Church comes in.

Working through the Church, the Holy Spirit teaches us how to pray. By studying the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Sacred Scripture; by listening to the wisdom of the Saints and the Church Fathers; and by letting the Holy Spirit guide the creation of Sacred Tradition, the Church is able to teach us how to pray.

And though prayer is not a practice unique to Catholics -- or to Christians, for that matter -- the prayers that can truly be called "Catholic" are almost always based on a pattern or formula. That is because the Church has set forth many standard prayers that we, as Catholics, should know. It is from these standard prayers that our informal, spontaneous prayers should begin. The prayers given to us by the Church are thus the creative fuel that feeds the fire of our personal prayers.

Prayer is More Powerful in a Community

Prayer, for a Catholic, should not be a strictly personal thing. The Church teaches, and the prayers themselves reveal, that there is a strong communal aspect of prayer. Many of the standard Catholic prayers demonstrate that prayer is often meant to be prayed in the company of others. If you remember, Jesus even encouraged us to pray together: "For wherever two or more are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).

As you read the prayers below, keep in mind the communal nature of many of them. These are all prayers you know, but take a moment to read them again. Pay attention to the words and really think about what they mean. And as you do so, keep in mind that these prayers can form the foundation for an incredible prayer-life.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the prayers below will give you an excellent start toward a prayer-life that will help your faith take shape and grow!

Copyright 2002 by Brandon Jubar 
All rights reserved. Distributed by ParishWebmaster.com

A Basic List of Catholic Prayers

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend thee, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

Prayer to Our Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Prayer Before Meals

Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.