The Church calls us to practice four types of prayer, so it is no wonder that all four are incorporated into the Mass: prayers of adoration and praise (such as the Gloria and Holy, Holy, Holy Lord), prayers of petition (praying for our own needs), prayers of intercession (praying for the needs of others) (both are incorporated into the Universal Prayer [also known as the Prayer of the Faithful] and the Eucharistic prayer), and thanksgiving (the very meaning of “Eucharist.”) Our daily prayer should also include all four types.
I’d like to share one of my favorite passages from the Catholic tradition, from a sermon by the 4th century archbishop St. Gregory of Nazianzen. His words shed light not so much on prayer, but on the fruit our prayer is supposed to produce.
Prayer of Adoration and Praise
Why should we adore and praise God? St. Gregory puts it succinctly:
“Recognize to whom you owe the fact that you exist, that you breathe, that you understand, that you are wise, and, above all, that you know God and hope for the kingdom of heaven and the vision of glory, now darkly as in a mirror but then with greater fullness and purity. You have been made a son of God, co-heir with Christ. Where did you get all this, and from whom?”
Prayer of Petition
“What benefactor has enabled you to look out upon the beauty of the sky, the sun in its course, the circle of the moon, the countless number of stars, with the harmony and order that are theirs, like the music of a harp? Who has blessed you with rain, with the art of husbandry, with different kinds of food, with the arts, with houses, with laws, with states, with a life of humanity and culture, with friendship and the easy familiarity of kinship?”
Given that God is the source of all good things, we need to ask him for what we need. One may argue that this type of prayer is not necessary, that God already knows what we need, and often he provides it without us having to ask. While this is certainly true, asking God for what he already knows we need reinforces within us our utter dependence upon him, so we don’t live under the illusion that we are self-sufficient. Our prayer adds nothing to God, it does not benefit him--it is for our own growth and for our acceptance of total dependence on him.
Prayer of Intercession
“Is it not God who asks you now in your turn to show yourself generous above all other creatures and for the sake of all other creatures? Because we have received from him so many wonderful gifts, will we not be ashamed to refuse him this one thing only, our generosity? Though he is God and Lord he is not afraid to be known as our Father. Shall we for our part repudiate those who are our kith and kin?”
Intercessory prayer both flows from and back toward a generous heart. Our asking for good things for other people deepens our love for them. Once again, God knows what our neighbors need, and he will provide for all according to his holy will. But praying for others draws us closer to them, establishing a deeper bond in the Body of Christ, and pleases God as an act of love.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
“Brethren and friends, let us never allow ourselves to misuse what has been given us by God’s gift. If we do, we shall hear Saint Peter say: Be ashamed of yourselves for holding on to what belongs to someone else. Resolve to imitate God’s justice, and no one will be poor. Let us not labor to heap up and hoard riches while others remain in need. If we do, the prophet Amos will speak out against us with sharp and threatening words: Come now, you that say: When will the new moon be over, so that we may start selling? When will the Sabbath be over, so that we may start opening our treasures?”
Thanksgiving occurs not in words alone, but through action. We show God that we are thankful for his gifts by sharing them with others. As Eucharistic people--thankful people--we give away what we have received, what we are thankful for: the love of our Heavenly Father.
I’d like to share one of my favorite passages from the Catholic tradition, from a sermon by the 4th century archbishop St. Gregory of Nazianzen. His words shed light not so much on prayer, but on the fruit our prayer is supposed to produce.
Prayer of Adoration and Praise
Why should we adore and praise God? St. Gregory puts it succinctly:
“Recognize to whom you owe the fact that you exist, that you breathe, that you understand, that you are wise, and, above all, that you know God and hope for the kingdom of heaven and the vision of glory, now darkly as in a mirror but then with greater fullness and purity. You have been made a son of God, co-heir with Christ. Where did you get all this, and from whom?”
Prayer of Petition
“What benefactor has enabled you to look out upon the beauty of the sky, the sun in its course, the circle of the moon, the countless number of stars, with the harmony and order that are theirs, like the music of a harp? Who has blessed you with rain, with the art of husbandry, with different kinds of food, with the arts, with houses, with laws, with states, with a life of humanity and culture, with friendship and the easy familiarity of kinship?”
Given that God is the source of all good things, we need to ask him for what we need. One may argue that this type of prayer is not necessary, that God already knows what we need, and often he provides it without us having to ask. While this is certainly true, asking God for what he already knows we need reinforces within us our utter dependence upon him, so we don’t live under the illusion that we are self-sufficient. Our prayer adds nothing to God, it does not benefit him--it is for our own growth and for our acceptance of total dependence on him.
Prayer of Intercession
“Is it not God who asks you now in your turn to show yourself generous above all other creatures and for the sake of all other creatures? Because we have received from him so many wonderful gifts, will we not be ashamed to refuse him this one thing only, our generosity? Though he is God and Lord he is not afraid to be known as our Father. Shall we for our part repudiate those who are our kith and kin?”
Intercessory prayer both flows from and back toward a generous heart. Our asking for good things for other people deepens our love for them. Once again, God knows what our neighbors need, and he will provide for all according to his holy will. But praying for others draws us closer to them, establishing a deeper bond in the Body of Christ, and pleases God as an act of love.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
“Brethren and friends, let us never allow ourselves to misuse what has been given us by God’s gift. If we do, we shall hear Saint Peter say: Be ashamed of yourselves for holding on to what belongs to someone else. Resolve to imitate God’s justice, and no one will be poor. Let us not labor to heap up and hoard riches while others remain in need. If we do, the prophet Amos will speak out against us with sharp and threatening words: Come now, you that say: When will the new moon be over, so that we may start selling? When will the Sabbath be over, so that we may start opening our treasures?”
Thanksgiving occurs not in words alone, but through action. We show God that we are thankful for his gifts by sharing them with others. As Eucharistic people--thankful people--we give away what we have received, what we are thankful for: the love of our Heavenly Father.