WELCOMEWELCOME

Bro. Joemer AragonBro. Joemer AragonParish School Head CatechistParish School Head Catechist

PRAYER

Is he doing

private prayer

or public prayer

Key elements of Exercise (physical and spiritual)Key elements of Exercise (physical and spiritual)► IntensityIntensity► DurationDuration► FrequencyFrequency

Benefits of Exercise (physical and spiritual)Benefits of Exercise (physical and spiritual)► FlexibilityFlexibility► StrengthStrength► EnduranceEndurance► BeautyBeautyLIGHT, MIGHT, DELIGHTLIGHT, MIGHT, DELIGHT

Two essential types of Two essential types of prayerprayer

Liturgical prayer (the public prayer of the church) Liturgical prayer (the public prayer of the church) ► Eucharist, Prayer of the Church or the Office of the Eucharist, Prayer of the Church or the Office of the

Church (Lauds and Vespers)Church (Lauds and Vespers)► priestly prayer: the prayer of Christ through the priestly prayer: the prayer of Christ through the

church for the world. church for the world. ► Christ is still gathering us together around his wordChrist is still gathering us together around his word► Christ still offering an eternal act of love for the world. Christ still offering an eternal act of love for the world. ► Christ's prayer, not ours. Christ's prayer, not ours. ► whether in community or in privatewhether in community or in private► not only for ordained clergy (all are priests by baptism)not only for ordained clergy (all are priests by baptism)► strictly speaking, for the world, not for the churchstrictly speaking, for the world, not for the church► church does not exist for itself, but to save the worldchurch does not exist for itself, but to save the world► we pray with Christ, through the church, but for the we pray with Christ, through the church, but for the

world.world.

Two essential types of Two essential types of prayerprayer

Affective prayer (devotional prayer)Affective prayer (devotional prayer)► meditation, centering prayer, rosary, devotionsmeditation, centering prayer, rosary, devotions► single aim, to draw us into deeper intimacy with Christsingle aim, to draw us into deeper intimacy with Christ► private, even when it is done in a large groupprivate, even when it is done in a large group► Prayer opens us up so that we can hear God say to us: "I love Prayer opens us up so that we can hear God say to us: "I love

you!“you!“► ““raising the mind and heart to God”raising the mind and heart to God”► ProblemProblem: we raise our minds but not our hearts. tend to be : we raise our minds but not our hearts. tend to be

intellectual, for gaining insightintellectual, for gaining insight► But purpose is increase in love, to establish But purpose is increase in love, to establish friendshipfriendship..► To touch each other in affection and understanding.To touch each other in affection and understanding.► John of the Cross: to attain “boldness with each other.”John of the Cross: to attain “boldness with each other.”► we are comfortable enough with God to ask for help, to share a we are comfortable enough with God to ask for help, to share a

feeling, to share an insight, or even to share a joke, just as we feeling, to share an insight, or even to share a joke, just as we would with a trusted friend. would with a trusted friend.

► Bigger problemBigger problem: we talk to ourselves instead of God: we talk to ourselves instead of God

Mother Teresa on SILENCEMother Teresa on SILENCE

Before you speak, Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the for God speaks in the silence of the

heart.heart.

The simple pathThe simple path!! The fruit of The fruit of silencesilence is prayer. is prayer. The fruit of The fruit of prayerprayer is faith. is faith. The fruit of The fruit of faithfaith is love. is love. The fruit of The fruit of lovelove is service. is service. The fruit of The fruit of serviceservice is peace. is peace.

CommunicationCommunication

How we communicate:How we communicate:

Words Words 10% 10%

Tone Tone 30%30%

Facial & body languageFacial & body language 60%60%