The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines prayer. in numeral 2559 says. “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God… “Man is a beggar before God.” Prayer is how we communicate with God—in the garden of Getsemani, Jesus taught us how to raise our heart to the Father with the Our Father prayer. The fruit of prayer is peace and hope. As we put ourselves in the presence of God, we receive the grace of peace and elevate our petitions in hopeful expectation of the will of the Father.
Prayer is done in two different ways, through Personal Prayer or Group prayer. Both types are essential to living out the Catholic faith.
Personal Prayer
This type of prayer only requires yourself. Throughout the day, you can talk to God at specific moments and pray for specific things as you go. When praying on our own, we can be more vulnerable to God. Visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament daily has helped me create a habit of talking to Him in a more open and friendly way. I can open my heart fully and express all of what is going on in my life and soul. Through personal prayer, I can organize my day, surrender what is burdening me, and receive His healing.
You can say just like Samuel “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10
Communal Prayer
Praying with another person, your friends, or family is communal prayer. This type of worship has a promise attached to it. The Lord shares in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” In this passage, the Lord reminds us that He not only hears our prayer but also joins us and shares his graces by the power of the Holy Spirit. The dynamic when praying in a group entails sharing individual intentions aloud, and the participants pray to God for these intentions. At times, when the Holy Spirit is present, the Lord can speak to us through one another by the words that come from our hearts as we pray for each intention or intention.
This type of prayer is how we pray at Mass; the Eucharist is communal prayer.
No matter which way we like to pray, the Lord hears us every time. He is omnipresent and powerful. He is always journeying with us, and He cares for us.
“Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12–13