2774. Against whom is the battle of prayer directed? (CCC 2725) The battle of prayer is directed against:
1. ourselves
2. the wiles of the Tempter.

2775. What are the sources of the most common objections to prayer? (CCC 2726-2728) The sources of the most common objections to prayer are:
1. an erroneous notion of prayer
2. the mentality of this “present world”
3. failures in prayer.

2776. What are the main erroneous notions of prayer? (CCC 2726) The main erroneous notions of prayer are prayer understood as:
1. a simple psychological activity
2. an effort of concentration to reach mental void
3. a ritual of words and postures
4. a waste of time.

2777. How can a worldly mentality be a hindrance to prayer? (CCC 2727) A worldly mentality can be a hindrance to prayer when it understands prayer according to mere reason, science, production, profit, sensuality and comfort and what it takes to be the “reality”.

2778. How is failure in prayer experienced? (CCC 2728) Failure in prayer is experienced through discouragement, dryness, sadness, pride and resistance.

2779. Why does prayer require humble vigilance of heart? (CCC 2729-2733) Prayer requires humble vigilance because of difficulties and temptations that must be faced during prayer.

2780. What is the habitual and most obvious difficulty in prayer? (CCC 2729) The habitual and most obvious difficulty in prayer is distraction.

2781. How should distractions in prayer be fought? (CCC 2729) Distractions in prayer should be fought by turning back to our hearts.

2782. Why does the battle of prayer require vigilance? (CCC 2730) The battle of prayer requires vigilance in order to fight against the possessive and dominating self that tries to hinder prayer.

2783. What is dryness in prayer? (CCC 2731) Dryness in prayer is when the heart is separated from God, with no taste for thoughts, memories and feelings, even spiritual ones.

2784. How does lack of faith manifest itself in the beginning of a prayer? (CCC 2732) Lack of faith manifests itself in the beginning of a prayer through a thousand labours or cares thought to be urgent and vieing for priority.

2785. What is acedia? (CCC 2733) Acedia is a form of depression due to lax ascetical practice, decreasing vigilance, carelessness of heart.

2786. When is filial trust put to the test? (CCC 2734) Filial trust is put to the test in tribulations, when prayer seems not to be heard.

2787. Why should we not complain when our prayers are not heard? (CCC 2735-2737) We should not complain when our prayers are not heard, because:
1. God cannot be God and at the same time a mere fulfiller of our wishes
2. we do not know how to pray as we ought
3. we may not receive, because we ask wrongly
4. God may have prepared something even greater for us.

2788. What is always the first response to our petition? (CCC 2739) The transformation of the praying heart is always the first response to our petition.

2789. How does Christ make Christian prayer an efficacious petition? (CCC 2740) Christ makes Christian prayer an efficacious petition by praying in us and with us.

2790. When does our prayer obtain all that we ask for? (CCC 2741) Our prayer obtains all that we ask for when it is resolutely united with that of Christ.

2791. Why is persevering in love important for the faithful in prayer? (CCC 2742) Persevering in love is important for the faithful in prayer, because only through love they can fulfil the precept of praying without ceasing.

2792. Who says that prayer is always possible even while cooking? (CCC 2743) It is St John Chrysostom (around AD 400) who says that prayer is always possible even while cooking.

2793. How does St Alphonsus Liguori express that prayer is a vital necessity? (CCC 2744) St Alphonsus Liguori (around AD 1750) expresses that prayer is a vital necessity by saying that those who pray are certainly saved while those who do not pray are certainly damned.

2794. Who prays without ceasing according to Origen? (CCC 2745) According to Origen († 254), he prays without ceasing who unites prayer to works and good works to prayer.