The Catechism of the Catholic Church The Faith and Moral Teachings of the Church divided into 4 Parts: Part of the Catechism Main Theme Dimension of Faith 1. The Profession of Faith the Creed Faith believed 2. Celebration of the Christian the Sacraments Faith celebrated Mystery the Beatitudes & 10 3. Life in Christ Faith lived Commandments 4. Christian Prayer the Our Father Faith nourished Mother Teresa proclaims “A Simple Path” to Holiness. The fruit of silence is prayer The fruit of prayer is faith The fruit of faith is love The fruit of love is service The fruit of service is peace Progress depends on God and me, on God’s grace and my cooperation. If you take care of your Prayer Life ... your Prayer Life will take care of you. Life is fragile ... handle with Prayer RCIA Session #25 – Prayer 1 Fr. Michael Deering – March 23, 2021 Types of Prayer (ACTS): • Adoration: awe & wonder • Contrition : true sorrow • Thanksgiving : true gratitude • Supplication: request Motives for Prayer: • To give • To receive Forms of Prayer 1. Vocal Prayer we actively pray formal or spontaneous prayers alone or in community. 2. Meditation (La. meditatio, a thinking over) a reflective prayer. 3. Contemplation (La. Contemplation, a simple gazing) of the mind at manifest truth. 4. Lectio Divina a prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture or the Fathers of the Church along with spiritual reflection undertaken as a pathway to prayer. Spiritualties of Prayer • Carmelite O.L. Mt. Carmel – St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa, St. Teresa, Edith Stein • Benedictine St. Benedict – Pray & Work(Ora et Labora) Monastic Rule - St. Bernard • Dominican St. Dominic – Order of Preachers (Thomistic theology) St. Rose Academy • Franciscan St. Francis of Assisi – EWTN Friary • Jesuit St. Ignatius of Loyola - Scholars, Ignatian Retreats Why are we praying? Why do we need to pray? What is our purpose for being here? • On the first page of the Catechism we find our purpose: “God in His infinite goodness freely made us to know him and love him so that we could come to share in His own blessed life.” RCIA Session #25 – Prayer 2 Fr. Michael Deering – March 23, 2021 Suggested Prayer Resources 1. The New American Bible. [The New Catholic Answer Bible (ISBN: 1-59276-140-2)] 2. The Catholic Bible Dictionary by Scott Hahn ( ISBN: 978-0-385-51229-9) 3. The New World Dictionary Concordance (ISBN: 0-27596-04540-6) 4. The Liturgy of the Hours. (St. Joseph or St. Paul version; single or 4 volume set) 5. Prayers for all occasions. The National Shrine, Wash., DC (www.nationalshrine.com) 6. The Essential Catholic Prayer Book, a Redemptorist Pub. (ISBN: 076480488X) 7. Our Wonderful Catholic Faith. Fr. Bryan Jerabek (ISBN: 5 800109 230910) 8. A Simple Path by Mother Teresa (ISBN: 0345397452) 9. Opening to God by Thomas Green S.J. (ISBN: 0877931364) 10. Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom (ISBN: 0809115093) 11. Appointment with God by Fr. Michael Scanlon (ISBN: 0949535076) 12. Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft (ISBN: 0898707757) 13. Magnificat Monthly Guide to the Daily Mass Readings (www.magnificat.com) 14. The WORD among Us Monthly Mass Readings and Daily Reflection (wau.org) 15. Living Faith Daily Catholic Devotions 16. Blue Pieta Prayer Book published by Caritas of Birmingham. 17. He and I by Gabrielle Bossis (ISBN: 2890398072) 18. To the Priests by Fr. Don Stephano Gobbi (Tel: 207-398-3375) 19. Prayer Works! by Matthew Leonard (ISBN: 978-1-61278-780-0) 20. Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life by Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J. (978-1-58617-201-5) RCIA Session #25 – Prayer 3 Fr. Michael Deering – March 23, 2021 Catholic Book Stores Alpha Church Supply and Gifts 121 West Valley Avenue Homewood, AL 35209 205- 942-5750 EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) Gift Shop 5817 Old Leeds Road Irondale, AL 35210 205-271-2900 Castle of San Miguel at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Exit# 291off I-65) 3222 County Road 548 Hanceville, AL 35077 256-362-6267 Ave Maria Gift Shop at St. Bernard Abbey (Exit# 308 off I-65) 1600 St. Bernard Drive Cullman, AL 35055 256-734-3946 RCIA Session #25 – Prayer 4 Fr. Michael Deering – March 23, 2021 .