The Different Forms of Prayer

Actually, there are as many forms of prayer as there are souls, since every prayer establishes a dialogue with God. Prayer can be for praising, worshipping, petitioning, thanking God etc. We can draw a line of distinction between private and public prayer, and within these two large categories, specify various forms of prayer. Clearly each intimate prayer to God is unique.

Under the heading of public prayers let us mention:

- Liturgical prayer (the public cult offered to God), which is fixed according to norms that everyone must follow attentively (e.g. prayers of Holy Mass, sacramental rites, and the Divine Office or Office of the Hours).

- Eucharistic adoration, a form of devotion that has been known and practiced in the Church since the beginning. This form of prayer can be done either as a community or alone, since many parishes tend to offer it as a time of personal and quiet prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar

- Prayers of exorcisms, reserved to priests who have received the power to discern in this matter from God.

- All forms of popular devotion that can vary a great deal from region to region, depending on the local traditions and culture, the most universal of which being undoubtedly the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Novenas and personal consecration fits into this category.

Likewise, depending on the state of life (religious life, consecrated lay life, marriage, etc.) there are different forms of prayers and of public and private vows specific to those states of life. But in the end, prayer being the very breathing of the created soul who is attached to her Creator, her God and Father, from whom she receives her very life, all prayer is first and foremost an intimate and trusting intercourse of hearts with the Lord our Father.

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MDN Team