Upload
sfx-pj-rcia
View
2.106
Download
5
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Session 1
Prayer - an Introduction
RCIA Day of Prayer & Fellowship
Welcome!
Prayer is the Lifeblood of our Relationship with
God…
A religious activity - rituals.
To get out of a dangerous, desperate situation.
Help
God
What is Prayer?
“Prayer is turning the heart toward God - when a person prays, he enters into a living relationship with God” (CCC 2558-2565)
God
““Prayer is the path to increased awareness of our oneness with God, with one another, and with the world.” ”
What is Prayer?
“Prayer is turning the heart toward God - when a person prays, he enters into a living relationship with God” (CCC 2558-2565)
God
What is Prayer?
2. Relationship with God
1. God is the object
3. Relationship with other people
What Prompts a Person to Pray?
•He seeks us; He calls for us;
•There is an infinite longing for God St Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God”
•We always need help: Blessed Mother Teresa: “Because I cannot rely on myself, I rely on Him 24 hours a day.”
Yes, Prayer is a Gift of God.
Turn your heart toward God
and ask Him to teach you how to pray
The 5 types of Prayer
1.Prayer of Blessing and Adoration. We recognise God’s greatness, omnipotence, holiness and love.
• We kneel, we prostrate ourselves in humble adoration;
•Calling down God’s blessings upon us, upon each other, a simple
“God bless you!’ •Priests bless in the name of Jesus and the church.
2. Prayer of Petition – prayers that cry out, implore,
lament, call upon God for help. Someone who asks:•Opens himself and returns to the Author of all good•Brings him into a right relationship with God.
The 5 types of Prayer…
3. Prayer of Intercession – we pray for other people - just as we ask others to pray for us.
4. Prayer of Thanksgiving – being grateful to God
• Eucharist (Mass) – the greatest prayer of thanks.• A simple “Thank God!”
5. Prayer of Praise - joyful wonder at God’s greatness and goodness:
• We join the angels and saints in heaven in praising God;• Praise & Worship• A simple “Praise the Lord!”
The Tradition of Prayer
The Holy Spirit teaches the Church how to pray:
•We pray to the Father through Jesus – “We make this prayer through Christ our Lord…”
•We pray to Jesus – “God saves.”
•We pray to the Holy Spirit.
•We pray in communion with Mary and the Saints.
•We pray with the rest of the Church.
Praying as a Church We gather as a believing and praying community,
•Holy Mass
•Liturgy of the Hour
•Novena’s and popular devotions
•In our faith community – BECs, Prayer
groups.
How We Pray
1. Vocal Prayers•Psalms, Prepared Prayers, Rosary•In song and in dances.•Spontaneous
2. Silent Meditation•Meditating on the Scripture•Centering Prayer•Contemplation
Prayer is an Encounter (not a Performance)
Talk – communicate with God
Listen – surprise discovery Respond – living it out
RCIA Day of Prayer & FellowshipWe now invite you to spend the rest of the day not just to learn more about prayers, but also,
to know each other – that’s one way to know God!
““Prayer is the path to increased awareness of our oneness with God, with one another, and with the world.” ”