PRAYER

StillCatholic.com

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Without a prayer life, Christians will quickly grow apart from the Lord and becomes slaves to sin.

The four reasons for praying are: to adore God, to thank him for his favors, to ask him for favors for ourselves and others, and to beg forgiveness of our sins.

Great saints throughout history have taught us that the most valuable prayer comes when we are completely silent, completely focused on listening to God with our whole hearts, completely delighting in and experiencing God's presence.

WHAT TO PRAY FOR

When petitioning for favors, Christians might pray for:

Intentions of the Holy Father

Peace and Justice in the World

Peace in the Hearts of All

Healing of Sick Friends & Family

Conversion of Sinners

For those with addictions

Suffering Souls in Purgatory …. friends and relatives who have passed

Conversion of those whose hearts are hardened by sin

Cures to Cancer, AIDS, etc.

A Change of Heart for those planning an abortion

Strength to Overcome Temptation and Avoid All Sin

Willingness and Strength to Fulfill Your Mission on earth

Divine Guidance and Wisdom for World Leaders

That Foster Children will find loving Adoptive Homes

End to Poverty and Hunger

End to Hatred and Racism

The Healing of those who lost a loved one

Unity of all Christians

End to Grudges and Disputes in families and circles of friends/pray for reconciliation

The Transformation of the Entertainment Industry/ Pray that directors and writers for film & TV will be guided by God’s values and not Hollywood’s

Pray for the Pope, for all bishops and priests, that they may be good leaders and examples of Christian virtue and love

Pray that those who are called to a religious vocation answer their call

Pray for strong, loving marriages that last a lifetime

That Communist China will allow the millions of Catholics there to worship freely

Freedom of Religion in all Countries that Prohibit it

Pray we learn to hate sin, which prevents union with God, and be filled with charitable desires

That Christ’s Love and Message of Salvation is Spread all over the Globe

to be Loving, Kind and Generous at Home and in the Workplace today

To Avoid Judging Anyone/ To Avoid Gossiping Today

For victims of physical and sexual abuse

Pray for those who are dying

Pray for prisoners

Pray for those with nobody to pray for them

Pray for the spouses of people with Alzheimer’s and other debilitating diseases

Pray for those with mental ailments and their loved ones

Pray for respect for the sanctity of life and for an end to euthanasia

That holy men and women answer their call to the priesthood and religious life

For the souls and families of Americans and Iraqis who have died.

Pray for end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

For strong faith among college students and youth

Pray that those who have been hurt by Church members may respond to infidelity with radical fidelity to Christ and His Church

Pray that Catholic Bible Studies are led by faithful, knowledgeable leaders

For those who do not yet know the love of God

For the lukewarm

We are encouraged to say an act of contrition daily:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, known and unknown, not only because I dread the loss of heaven and dread the pains of hell, and not only because Thou art my Creator, my Redeemer and my Sanctifier, but most of all because my sins have offended Thee, my God, Who art all good in Thyself and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

Fasting increases the power of prayer.