On-Line with God: How to Pray

Do not heap up Empty Phrases

In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words (Mt. 6:7). When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise (Prv. 10:19). As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words (Eccl. 5:3). Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God (Eccl. 5:7).

When one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination (Prv. 28:9). Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few (Eccl. 5:2).

A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered (Prv. 17:27). It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows (Prv. 20:25).

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated (Job 11:2)?

The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk (Isa. 58:9).

Your Father knows what you Need
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matthew 6:8).

How to Pray:
Pray then like this:

"Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

And forgive us our debts,

As we also have forgiven our debtors;

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil."

Matthew 6:9-13

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).

God's Message

The LORD will build up Zion, he will appear in his glory; he will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their supplication. Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD. (Psalm 102:17-19)

Take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.

But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21: 34 - 36).

It is necessary, too, that we shun the occasions which have been the cause of sin. We must have recourse to fervent prayer, receive frequently and worthily the sacraments. He who does this will be sure to persevere (St John Vianney).

God Speaks to you

Read some chapter of a devout book....It is very easy and most necessary, for just as you speak to God when at prayer, God speaks to you when you read. -- St. Vincent de Paul

Help yourself during this troubled period by reading holy books. This reading provides excellent food for the soul and conduces to great progress along the path of perfection. By no means is it inferior to what we obtain through prayer and holy meditation. In prayer and meditation it is ourselves who speak to the Lord, while in holy reading it is God who speaks to us. Before beginning to read, raise your mind to the Lord and implore Him to guide your mind Himself, to speak to your heart and move your will. -- Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

The field of battle between God and Satan is the human soul. It is in the soul that the battle rages every moment of life. The soul must give free access to the Lord so that it may be fortified by Him in every repect and with all kinds of weapons; that His light may enlighten it to combat the darkness of error; that it may be clothed with Jesus Christ. To be clothed with Jesus Christ it is necessary to die to oneself. That which comes from Satan begins with calmness and ends in storm, indifference, and apathy. In the spiritual life he who does not advance goes backward. It happens as with a boat which always must go ahead. If it stands still the wind blows it back. Fix the time, the length of your meditation, and do not rise from your place until you have finished even at the cost of being crucified. -- Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Quotes

What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips? (St. John Chrysostom)

He causes his prayers to be of more avail to himself, who offers them also for others (Pope St. Gregory the Great)

We should not bear it with bad grace if the answer to our prayer is long delayed. Rather let us because of this show great patience and resignation. For He delays for this reason: that we may offer Him a fitting occasion of honoring us through His divine providence. Whether, therefore, we receive what we ask for, or do not recieve it, let us still continue steadfast in prayer. For to fail in obtaining the desires of our heart, when God so wills it, is not worse than to receive it ; for we know not as He does, what is profitable to us (St. John Chrysostom).

The air which we breathe, the bread which we eat, the heart which throbs in our bosoms, are not more necessary for man that he may live as a human being, than is prayer for the Christian that he may live as a Christian (St. John Eudes).

The most astonishing thing was that there were actually saints there, even ones who were beatified, who were passing through Purgatory. St. Severinus, Archbishop of Cologne, appeared to one of his friends a long time after his death and told him that he had been in Purgatory for having deferred to the evening the prayers he should have said in the morning. Oh! What years of Purgatory will there be for those Christians who have no difficulty at all in deferring their prayers to another time on the excuse of having to do some pressing work! If we really desired the happiness of possessing God, we should avoid the little faults as well as the big ones, since separation from God is so frightful a torment to all these poor souls! (Sermon on Purgatory by Saint John Vianney).

We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the Spirit of God (St Vincent de Paul).

You go to pray; to become a bonfire, a living flame, giving light and heat ( St Josemaria Escriva).

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How to Pray