{"id":7362,"date":"2011-05-23T01:01:38","date_gmt":"2011-05-23T05:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/?p=7362"},"modified":"2011-04-08T07:21:08","modified_gmt":"2011-04-08T11:21:08","slug":"why-pray-the-effects-of-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/2011\/05\/23\/why-pray-the-effects-of-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Pray? The Effects of Prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>“God has\u00a0established<\/strong> (the human being)\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0friendship<\/strong>”\u00a0(Catechism\u00a0of the Catholic Church, art.\u00a0No.\u00a0355).\u00a0Therefore,\u00a0the\u00a0Lord will\u00a0entertain\u00a0and\u00a0communicate\u00a0with us.<\/p>\n

In this\u00a0relationship\u00a0of\u00a0friendship, the\u00a0answer\u00a0we give\u00a0to God’s love\u00a0is\u00a0through\u00a0our\u00a0prayers.<\/p>\n

Prayer\u00a0is being in touch\u00a0with\u00a0the Trinity.\u00a0Establishing\u00a0a\u00a0pathway\u00a0capable of\u00a0penetrating the\u00a0heart of the Lord,\u00a0seeking\u00a0to know Him\u00a0and returning to Him, albeit\u00a0in\u00a0limited form,the\u00a0infinite\u00a0love we receive.<\/p>\n

It is no\u00a0great oratory power that\u00a0makes\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0prayer: “In\u00a0praying,\u00a0do not\u00a0say many words,\u00a0like the pagans\u00a0who\u00a0think\u00a0they will be heard\u00a0for their much speaking<\/strong>“(Matthew\u00a06, 7).<\/p>\n

It is\u00a0with simplicity\u00a0that\u00a0we turn\u00a0to the Lord,\u00a0the prayer\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0sincere expression\u00a0of what\u00a0we feel\u00a0and are.<\/p>\n

Prayer\u00a0can not\u00a0bring\u00a0any\u00a0hint of\u00a0hypocrisy\u00a0“do not do\u00a0as the\u00a0hypocrites, who love\u00a0to\u00a0pray standing\u00a0in the synagogues\u00a0and\u00a0on street corners\u00a0to\u00a0be seen by\u00a0men<\/strong>”\u00a0(Mt\u00a06, 5),\u00a0nor Pharisaism\u00a0which is interpreted as\u00a0merit: everything\u00a0the\u00a0person\u00a0does that is positive\u00a0(cf.\u00a0Lk18,\u00a010SS).\u00a0The search for\u00a0the\u00a0consideration\u00a0of\u00a0men\u00a0and their favor that they attribute to us for\u00a0our\u00a0devotions, will be our recompense.<\/p>\n

Prayer should\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0sincere\u00a0gesture\u00a0of\u00a0friendship\u00a0and\u00a0love for\u00a0the\u00a0Lord.\u00a0If\u00a0this\u00a0principle does not\u00a0contain\u00a0the\u00a0essence\u00a0of\u00a0your\u00a0intention,\u00a0it is worth nothing.\u00a0“When you\u00a0pray, go into\u00a0your room and\u00a0shut\u00a0the\u00a0door, pray to\u00a0your Father in\u00a0secret: and\u00a0thy\u00a0Father\u00a0which\u00a0seeth in\u00a0secret,\u00a0will\u00a0reward\u00a0you<\/strong>”\u00a0(Mt\u00a06, 6).<\/p>\n

If\u00a0from men\u00a0we hide\u00a0our\u00a0good deeds\u00a0and intentions,\u00a0as well \u00a0reserve \u00a0this from even our friends,\u00a0the\u00a0Father who\u00a0knows\u00a0our\u00a0heart\u00a0and\u00a0also\u00a0draws near to us\u00a0us will communicate to us in a form that is merited,\u00a0answering the\u00a0prayers\u00a0and\u00a0prayer practices. Because\u00a0He knows\u00a0our heart.<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0form\u00a0of praise\u00a0or\u00a0request, nonconformity or gratitude,\u00a0doubt,\u00a0certainty or intercession, all\u00a0that\u00a0is part\u00a0of\u00a0our\u00a0humanity, we can\u00a0lift\u00a0with\u00a0confidence\u00a0to the Person\u00a0of God.<\/p>\n

He\u00a0delights\u00a0when\u00a0we admit\u00a0to\u00a0ourselves\u00a0and to\u00a0Him,\u00a0both\u00a0the\u00a0misery\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0riches\u00a0we have and\u00a0turn to\u00a0His\u00a0eternal\u00a0omnipotence.\u00a0In\u00a0Sacred\u00a0Scripture,\u00a0we have\u00a0testimonies from\u00a0people\u00a0who were praying\u00a0in\u00a0their\u00a0sorrows\u00a0and\u00a0joys, to\u00a0ask for\u00a0insight\u00a0on what to doand\u00a0even\u00a0had\u00a0occasions\u00a0when\u00a0a\u00a0complainant\u00a0to\u00a0God\u00a0-calling for\u00a0divine justice\u00a0–\u00a0for\u00a0yourcondition\u00a0suffered.\u00a0(cf.\u00a0Job\u00a03,\u00a016, cf.\u00a0Jonah\u00a04,\u00a01,\u00a0cf\u00a0Jeremiah\u00a020, 14-18).<\/p>\n

So,\u00a0tell\u00a0God\u00a0about\u00a0your\u00a0regrets,\u00a0including\u00a0the promises He\u00a0made to \u200b\u200byou that have not been fulfilled.\u00a0But,\u00a0be\u00a0open to the responses and patient to\u00a0the process\u00a0required,\u00a0as\u00a0these same men\u00a0of the Bible.True prayer\u00a0is one\u00a0in which, despite\u00a0the\u00a0Lord’s\u00a0omniscience\u00a0(He\u00a0knows everything), the person says\u00a0to him\u00a0without\u00a0reservation –\u00a0now\u00a0in full\u00a0–\u00a0what\u00a0is happening with him.<\/p>\n

I think\u00a0that\u00a0one\u00a0of the most beautiful\u00a0translations\u00a0of what is\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0prayer\u00a0in\u00a0the Old Testament\u00a0is\u00a0on the lips of\u00a0Anna,\u00a0mother\u00a0of\u00a0Samuel\u00a0“pour out my\u00a0soul\u00a0in the presence of the Lord<\/strong>“(I\u00a0Samuel\u00a01, 15).\u00a0What a\u00a0beautiful\u00a0example\u00a0of what \u00a0prayer should become!<\/p>\n

The\u00a0prayer\u00a0fits\u00a0in\u00a0any\u00a0circumstance\u00a0“Pray\u00a0in all\u00a0circumstances<\/strong>”\u00a0(Eph 6:\u00a018).<\/p>\n

If\u00a0something\u00a0takes away\u00a0peace, pray.\u00a0“Do not\u00a0be anxious\u00a0about anything!\u00a0In\u00a0all the circumstances\u00a0made \u200b\u200bknown\u00a0to God\u00a0your concerns,\u00a0through\u00a0prayer\u00a0and\u00a0supplication\u00a0with thanksgiving <\/strong>“(Philippians\u00a04: 6).<\/p>\n

Another\u00a0aspect\u00a0of\u00a0prayer\u00a0is that it\u00a0brings.\u00a0Hence\u00a0the\u00a0importance\u00a0of having\u00a0a\u00a0personal prayer life\u00a0and\u00a0communal one as well.<\/p>\n

Prayer\u00a0puts us\u00a0closer to God, alone,\u00a0in private\u00a0with\u00a0him “But he\u00a0(Jesus)\u00a0used to\u00a0withdrawto\u00a0lonely places\u00a0to\u00a0pray<\/strong>“((Lk\u00a05, 16).<\/p>\n

And\u00a0with brothers.\u00a0When\u00a0we pray\u00a0in\u00a0community,\u00a0we assume\u00a0“being”\u00a0Mystical Body\u00a0of Christ,\u00a0we form\u00a0His Church.\u00a0“If\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0you agree\u00a0on earth\u00a0for which you are to pray, it will be granted to you<\/strong>”\u00a0(cf Mt\u00a018,19).<\/p>\n

The\u00a0early Christians\u00a0were with one heart, therefore they were together\u00a0in prayer.\u00a0“All these were persevering\u00a0in prayer<\/strong>”\u00a0(Acts\u00a01,\u00a014).<\/p>\n

Deus o aben\u00e7oe! [God Bless You!]<\/p>\n

Sandro Arquejada<\/p>\n

translated from portuguese<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“God has\u00a0established (the human being)\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0friendship”\u00a0(Catechism\u00a0of the Catholic Church, art.\u00a0No.\u00a0355).\u00a0Therefore,\u00a0the\u00a0Lord will\u00a0entertain\u00a0and\u00a0communicate\u00a0with us. In this\u00a0relationship\u00a0of\u00a0friendship, the\u00a0answer\u00a0we give\u00a0to God’s love\u00a0is\u00a0through\u00a0our\u00a0prayers. Prayer\u00a0is being in touch\u00a0with\u00a0the Trinity.\u00a0Establishing\u00a0a\u00a0pathway\u00a0capable of\u00a0penetrating the\u00a0heart of the Lord,\u00a0seeking\u00a0to know Him\u00a0and returning to Him, albeit\u00a0in\u00a0limited form,the\u00a0infinite\u00a0love we receive. It is no\u00a0great oratory…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25555,25556],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7362"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1121"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7362"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7369,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7362\/revisions\/7369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cancaonova.com\/catholicismanew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}