Lent #15 - Teach Me To Pray

One of the most common comments from those who have newly started to develop a spiritual life - have entered catechism classes - preparing for baptism - confirmation - Holy Communion - please - teach me how to pray.  Most often various prayer books placed in their hands - told to read - learn - an assortment of prepared prayers.  This gives them approved - popular - prayers recited by many.  Adding common prayers normally prayed during Holy Mass - adds an additional assortment of common prayer.  Once comfortable with these - next step - teaching how to create - pray their own words - directly from their heart - free form - personal words - spoken to God.

When Jesus' disciples felt comfortable journeying with Him - as their personal relationships  developed to a deeper level - finally  they asked Him - teach us how to pray.  This obviously something people have been seeking ever since prayer - talking with God was discovered. For Jesus - taught as we do - starting with the Lord's Prayer - not in a booklet - rather straight from  His heart - now the most common prayer known to Christians.  In Lent our daily exercises - observances - always must include prayer.

Deacon Dale