Part Four: Christian Prayer › Section One of Part Four: Prayer in the Christian Life ›› CHAPTER 1: The Revelation of Prayer: The Universal Call to Prayer ››› Article 3: In the Age of the Church

› IN BRIEF

Questions and Answers

2687. When did the Spirit appear that teaches the Church how to pray? (CCC 2623) The Spirit that teaches the Church how to pray appeared on the day of Pentecost.
2688. What sequence is characteristic of the Church’s prayer? (CCC 2624) The sequence characteristic of the Church’s prayer is:
1. founded on the apostolic faith
2. authenticated by charity
3. nourished in the Eucharist.
2689. What forms of prayer remain normative for Christian prayer? (CCC 2625) The forms of prayer revealed in the Scriptures remain normative for Christian prayer.
These forms are: blessing, adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise.
2690. What is the prayer of blessing? (CCC 2626) The prayer of blessing is man’s response to God’s gifts.
2691. What are the two fundamental forms of the prayer of blessing? (CCC 2627) The two fundamental forms of the prayer of blessing are:
1. our prayer ascending to the Father
2. grace descending from the Father.
2692. What is adoration? (CCC 2628) Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator.
2693. What New Testament vocabulary indicates the prayer of petition? (CCC 2629) The following New Testament vocabulary indicates the prayer of petition: ask, beseech, plead, invoke, entreat, cry out, even “struggle in prayer”.
2694. What is the first movement of the prayer of petition? (CCC 2631) The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking for forgiveness.
2695. On what is Christian petition centred? (CCC 2632) Christian petition is centred on the desire and search for the Kingdom to come.
2696. What is the hierarchy in Christian petitions? (CCC 2632) The hierarchy in Christian petitions is to pray first for the Kingdom and then for what is necessary to welcome it.
2697. What is intercessory prayer? (CCC 2634) Intercessory prayer is prayer of petition on behalf of others.
2698. Who is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men? (CCC 2634) The one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men is Christ.
2699. What shows the importance of the prayer of thanksgiving? (CCC 2637) The fact that the Eucharist is a prayer of thanksgiving shows the importance of the prayer of thanksgiving.
Eucharist comes from Greek eucharistein which means “to give thanks”.
2700. Where in the New Testament is thanksgiving especially present? (CCC 2638) Thanksgiving is especially present in the beginning and end of the letters of St Paul.
2701. What is the prayer of praise? (CCC 2639) The prayer of praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God.
2702. How are prayers of praise expressed in the New Testament? (CCC 2641) Prayers of praise are expressed in the New Testament in hymns and canticles.
2703. What prayer is called the Sacrifice of Praise? (CCC 2643) The Eucharist is called the Sacrifice of Praise”.