Where does prayer come from?
Catechism Meditation:
Where does prayer come from? Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays. But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times). According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain. ―No. 2562
REFLECTION. St. Thomas Aquinas explains prayer is not for God, but for us: We need to pray to God, not in order to make known to him our needs or desires but that we ourselves may be reminded of the necessity of having recourse to God’s help in these matters. Prayer is a process of continual inner conversion that involves gently trying to turn, open and surrender the heart to God. As the process is practiced, the heart of man is made accessible to the heart of God and his love shafts down to purify and empty it so that Christ can come to birth again in all of us.
When we pray our simple vocal prayers well, we begin to feel a tug toward something deeper, a more heartfelt conversation with God. We desire to address Him in our own words, in a more personal and particular way. Traditionally, this prayer from the heart has been called “mental prayer.” Unlike the vocal prayer that we frequently pray with others, mental prayer is prayed in solitude, often without our saying anything aloud.
PRAYER. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Send your Holy Spirit into my heart.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“God speaks in the silence of the heart.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen