“In these days [Jesus] went out into the hills to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’” (Luke 6:12; 11:1).
Jesus is our Master in prayer. He not only teaches us how to pray, he is himself the way of Christian prayer since our prayers have access to God the Father “only if we pray ‘in the name’ of Jesus” (CCC 2664).
Prayer is itself an infinite and boundless mystery that wells up from the heart in our desire for God—a desire God himself has placed there out of love. St. Thérèse de Lisieux described it this way: “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.”
Prayer is of vital importance because it brings us into a saving relationship with the One whom our heart desires. As faith in Christ is required for salvation, so too is prayer since it brings us into contact with God.
But what does it mean to pray as a Christian in the heart of the Church? In this section of the program titled “Christian Prayer,” we explore the depths of prayer, including what prayer is, what it means to pray, and how we ought to pray as Christians.
In this series of lessons, you’ll learn about the fourth pillar of the faith as it’s presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Here are some of the topics covered:
- Prayer in the Old Testament
- The prayer of Jesus and what Jesus teaches us about prayer
- Prayer in the Church and praying in communion with the Virgin Mary
- Expressions of prayer
- Lectio Divina and the Liturgy of the Hours
- The battle of prayer
- Praying for deliverance from evil spirits
- Stages in the life of prayer according to the Catholic tradition
- Praying the Lord’s prayer and the meaning of its seven petitions
From all of us at Catholic Online School: May Christ bless you on your journey of faith.
“Christian Prayer" is broken up into different chapters.
In this course, students will work through Chapter 2.
Students will cover -
- Course 4 - The Way of Prayer
- Course 5 - Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition
- Course 6 - The Lord's Prayer
Earning a certificate of completion in this online course is not a substitute for completing a parish-based RCIA program. The Sacraments of Initiation can only be conferred by a bishop or priest. This certificate means you have successfully completed a course of study that is intended to supplement your parish RCIA program.