Prayer Information

About Prayer

Prayer is a conversation with God. It is how we build and grow our relationship with Him.

Prayer can be an expression of praise, thanksgiving, or deep need. We can pray at any time, day or night, and in any place, whether at home, work, or on the road.

Prayer can be:

Two words or two thousand
Prewritten or spontaneous
Spoken, sung, or silent

Video: What Is Prayer with Bishop Barron
Video: Why Do We Need to Pray with Fr. Mike
Video: The Power of Prayer with Bishop Barron

Types of Prayer

Adoration is giving glory and praise to God.
Thanksgiving is thanking God for every aspect of our lives.
Petition is asking God to help us.
Intercession is asking God to help others.
Contrition is telling God we are sorry when we disobey him.

Tips for Praying

Pray every day, in a quiet place, by ourselves.
Put God first and pray before we start our day.
Turn off distractions and focus on God.
Talk to God as we would to a good friend, sharing our joys, sorrows, anger, and needs.
Quiet our minds and listen; God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray and listen.
Throughout the day, continue to pray—ask for help, give thanks, and give praise.
There is no wrong way; just pray!

Video: 4 Tips for Praying with Fr. Mike
Video: Tips on Praying for a Busy Person with Fr. Mike
Video: How Bishop Barron Learned to Pray
Video: How to Pray from the Heart with Fr. Mark-Mary
Video: What Should We Talk to God About with Fr. Mike
Audio: Developing the Habit of Daily Prayer with Dr. Sri

Sign of the Cross

The sign of the cross is a physical action where we trace a cross on our body. The gesture is performed with either hand, moving from top to bottom, then left to right, or right to left. We do this to remember our Baptism, to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, and to profess our belief in one God in three divine persons.

Around the year 150 when Christians were baptized, a cross was traced on their forehead. This action fulfills the prophesy of Ezekiel in the Old Testament and the writings of Saints Paul and John in the New Testament. By the seventh century, Christians began to make the larger cross on their bodies as we do today.

It is common practice to make the sign of the cross before and after prayers. It is also recommended that we make the sign of the cross anytime we are in need of help or protection.

A silent or verbal prayer is often said as we make the sign of the cross. Using the words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew, we pray, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Article: A Short History of the Sign of the Cross
Video: The Sign of the Cross with Fr. Brice
Video: The Sign of the Cross with Fr. Brad

The Apostles’ Creed
and
The Nicene Creed

The Apostles’ Creed was initially known as the Old Roman Creed and was used around the year 150 for Baptisms. By 390 it was referred to as the Creed of the Apostles and by the seventh century the wording of the Apostles’ Creed was finalized into the version we have today.

The Nicene Creed was developed in 325 at the Council of Nicaea to address the heresy of Arianism. The heresy denied the Holy Trinity claiming that God created Jesus, therefore Jesus was not God. The Nicene Creed is professed by many churches including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.

Both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed are professions of our faith and either may be said at Sunday Mass. Usually, the Nicene Creed is said at Mass and the Apostles’ Creed is said as part of the Rosary and other devotional prayers.

The line in the Apostles’ Creed He descended into hell does not mean that Jesus went to hell as we call it today. The Hebrew word for hell had two meanings; the place for those eternally damned and the place for the righteous dead waiting for salvation. Jesus went to this second place to preach the good news and open the gates of heaven for these holy souls.

Also, the line in the Apostles’ Creed He rose again from the dead does not mean that Jesus died twice. Another definition of the word ‘again’ is to return to a previous place or condition. In this context, Jesus returned to the state of being alive.

Audio: 1,700 Years of the Nicene Creed with Bishop Barron

Our Father

The Our Father, also called the Lord’s Prayer, was taught by Jesus to his disciples. A longer version of the prayer appears in Matthew and a shorter version in Luke. The version we pray today is based on Matthew and was translated to English around the 1540s.

The phrase “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen” is a doxology which means it is an expression of glory or praise for God. The doxology was said after the Our Father during Catholic Mass as early as the first century.

The doxology does not appear in the earliest copies of the Bible. Monks who were making later copies of the Bible by hand, likely added the doxology due to its use in the Mass. Modern Bible translations no longer include the doxology.

Many Protestants pray the doxology as part of the Our Father. Catholics pray the doxology at Mass after the Our Father, but usually don’t include it when praying the Our Father at other times.

The words “lead us not into temptation” seem to imply that God would lead us into temptation, which he would never do. This is a modern English translation from ancient Greek which was a translation from Aramaic. “Do not let us fall into temptation” might be closer to the intent.

Video: What is the Lord’s Prayer About with Bishop Barron
Video: Dr. Scott Hahn Unpacks the Lord’s Prayer
Video: What It Really Means to Pray “Our Father”

Hail Mary

The Hail Mary prayer developed over many centuries. The first two thirds of the prayer are almost word for word from the Bible; Luke 1:28 and 42. These verses were used in Mass as early as the sixth century.

The last third of the prayer contains a factual statement about Mary based on Luke 1:43, and a petition to her. This part of the prayer developed between the 11th and 16th centuries. The full prayer we recite today was formalized in 1515.

Jesus tells us that we are to worship God alone. When we pray the Hail Mary, we are giving honor to his mother, not worship. Also we are fulfilling the biblical prophecy that all generations will call her blessed.

In Revelation 8:3-4 we see the saints in heaven offering prayers to God. Just as we ask our friends and family on earth to pray for us, we can ask our heavenly family, including Mary, to do the same.

Article: Understanding the Hail Mary Prayer
Audio: The Biblical Roots of the Hail Mary Prayer
Video: The Hail Mary Prayer Explained Line by Line
Video: Praying the Hail Mary Well

Glory Be

The Glory Be prayer is a doxology which means it is an expression of glory or praise for God. Various doxologies have been recited throughout time. Saints Peter and Paul often included expressions of praise to God in their letters in the Bible.

A version of the Glory Be was recited in the fourth century to affirm the Trinity, during a time when some didn’t believe Jesus was God. By the seventh century, the prayer was formalized into what we recite today.

The Glory Be is most often recited in the Rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Article: Glory Be (Doxology)

About Guardian Angels

We learn about guardian angels in the Bible. Here are a couple of verses:

“For he commands his angels with regard to you,
to guard you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11 NABRE).

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:10 NABRE).

The primary purpose of our guardian angel is to protect our soul and to guide us to God. Our guardian angel cannot protect us from all physical harm, because they cannot interfere with free will.

God gives us the free will to choose. He wants us to choose love, but we are free to choose evil. If God took away our free will and prevented all humans from doing bad things, then we would not be free to choose love.

Guardian angels guide us towards God at all times, but especially when bad things happen. They can help us turn away from anger and hate and be open to God’s love—the choice is ours.

Video: How Guardian Angels Actually Work with Fr. Mike
Video: What Your Guardian Angel Does at Night with Ana Munley

St. Michael Prayer

In 1884 Pope Leo XIII had a vision of Satan claiming he could destroy the Church. The Pope was moved to compose the St. Michael Prayer, which draws from Revelation 12 and other books of the Bible. The prayer was included at the end of most Masses until 1964.

Attacks on all Christians have been increasing over the past few decades. Many parishes have brought back the practice of reciting this prayer at Mass. Individuals are also encouraged to recite the prayer daily for personal protection.

Video: History of the Prayer to St. Michael
Video: About the St. Michael the Archangel Prayer
Article: Meaning of the St. Michael the Archangel Prayer
Article: The St. Michael Prayer

Soul of Christ Prayer

The author of this prayer is unknown but it is believed to have been written in the 14th century. St. Ignatius of Loyola popularized this prayer in the 16th century by including it in his spiritual exercises. Those exercises included prayers and meditations aimed to help people deepen their relationship with God. The line below, highlighted in red and italics, has been removed to enhance the poetic flow.

…
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me,
…

Family Prayer

In 1947, Fr. Patrick Peyton used the slogan “A family that prays together, stays together” as part of his Family Rosary Crusade which encouraged families to pray the Rosary together.

The Family Prayer appeared around the time of the Family Rosary Crusade. Many versions of the Family Prayer were printed on various prayer cards and in devotional booklets. This version of the prayer was derived from my memory of one of the prayer cards received decades ago.

Prayer for Fathers

This prayer includes the four cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and self-control. Cardinal is derived from the Latin word cardo which means hinge. All moral virtues hinge off these four.

Wisdom (Prudence): Seeing things from God’s perspective and making decisions that align with God’s will.
Justice: Respecting the rights of others by treating them fairly and with dignity.
Courage(Fortitude): Doing what is right even when faced with challenges and persecution.
Self-control(Temperance): Moderating one’s speech, emotions, and actions over the impulses and desires of the body.

The Seven Deadly Sins

Sin is when we deliberately disobey God. God is love and God wants us to love him, love others, and love ourselves. God wants us to be virtuous.

These seven sins are called deadly because they can lead to the destruction of our soul. In the fourth century a list of deadly sins was compiled. Pope Gregory the Great refined the list to these seven deadly sins in the sixth century.

Video: What is Sin? with Bishop Barron
Video: Mortal vs Venial Sin with Fr. Mike
Article: The Seven Deadly Sins – Catholic Answers
Audio: 3 Signs We Struggle with Pride with Dr. Sri
Audio: The Bible Commands Us to be Angry? with Dr. Sri

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. There are actually 11 ‘you shall not’ commandments and two positively stated commandments. So how does 13 become 10?

In the third century Origen summarized and grouped the 13 commandments into a list of 10 that could be memorized. In the fifth century Augustine refined the list by changing some of the grouping.

Protestant, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches use Origen’s list while Catholic and Lutheran churches use Augustine’s list. Both lists include all 13 commandments. The only difference is how they are grouped.

Augustine’s list
- Combines “no other gods” and “no idols/images” into the first commandment.
- Keeps “coveting your neighbor’s spouse” and “coveting your neighbor’s goods” as the ninth and tenth commandments.
Origen’s list
- Keeps “no other gods” and “no idols/images” as the first and second commandment.
- Combines “coveting your neighbor’s spouse” and “coveting your neighbor’s goods” into the tenth commandment.

Video: The Greatest Commandment and The Ten Commandments
Video: A Tour of the Ten Commandments with Bishop Barron

The Jesus Prayer

The Jesus Prayer originated from monasteries in the fourth century and is rooted in the following biblical passages:

“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me” (Mark 10:47 NABRE).
“O God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13 NABRE).
“Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 NABRE).

One version of the Jesus Prayer has the line Son of God and another version has the line Son of the living God.

Video: The Jesus Prayer Explained
Video: The Jesus Prayer Might Radically Change Your Prayer Life
Video: John Michael Talbot – The Jesus Prayer – Part 1: Breath

Act of Contrition

The author of this prayer is unknown.

Contrition is a deep feeling of sorrow for having sinned. Instead of just feeling sorry, we take action by praying.

The Act of Contrition prayer has its roots in the Bible, particularly several of the Psalms. Early Christians were urged to be genuine in their sorrow, and not just go through the motions and perform their assigned penance.

In the 16th century, the Council of Trent established that we must pray an act of contrition as part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Confession or Penance). The prayer should include sorrow for having sinned and a resolve not to sin.

To help Christians pray a proper act of contrition, formal prayers were established and then evolved over the centuries. We can pray one of the formal prayers or a spontaneous act of contrition.

Praying an act of contrition at home, often in conjunction with an examination of conscience, is a good practice and helps us grow our relationship with God. However, we still need the Sacrament of Reconciliation to have our sins forgiven.

Video: The Act of Contrition Prayer and Meaning
Text: Sacrament of Reconciliation
Text: Examination of Conscience