Prayer – Study Notes (St. James Academy)

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Participit

• Latin phrase indicating that the way we pray (lex orandi) expresses and shapes what we profess (lex credendi); participation in prayer reflects belief and practice.
• Slide shows: "LEX ORANDI LEXICREDENDI A PARTICIT" (note: OCR/typo artifacts appear as A PARTICIT).
• Core idea: prayer and belief are intimately connected; active participation in prayer shapes faith and practice.

What is Prayer?

• Prayer is the lifting of minds and hearts to God.
• Prayer is communicating to God.
• Prayer is talking to God.

Prayer as the life-blood of the Christian Faith

• Prayer is described as the life blood of Christian faith.
• Meaning: prayer strengthens our faith in God.

Amen

• Amen means, in this context, “I believe.”

Why do we pray?

• We pray to adore God.
• We pray to obtain forgiveness.
• We pray to thank Him.
• We pray to lift to Him everything and to petition or ask Him for our needs.
• Source reference: CCC 560.

How should we pray?

• Step 1: With attention (focus on what you are doing).
• Step 2: With conviction (the need or dependence on God).
• Step 3: With a great desire for the graces we beg for Him.
• Step 4: With loving trust in His goodness.
• Step 5: With perseverance.
• Source reference: CCC 561.

Reflective prompts (Prompts from slides 12–15)

• What is your understanding about the article below?
• If I answer your prayer at once, it is because I am testing your faith? Why does God test our faith even though He has already answered our prayers?
• If I do not answer your prayer at once, it is because I am testing your patience. Why is patience important in praying?
• If I do not answer your prayer, it is because I have better plans for you. How will you know God's plan for you? What will you do to fulfill God's plan for you?

Jesus prayed 25 times in the Bible

• FYI: Jesus prayed 25 times in the Bible.
• This underscores the importance of prayer in Jesus’ life and example for believers.

Church Teachings

• CCC 2600: Jesus prays before the decisive moments of His mission: before His Father’s witness to Him during His baptism and transfiguration, and before His own fulfillment of the Father’s plan.
  • Note: The slide text ends with an incomplete phrase, but the intended idea is Jesus praying at key moments (baptism, transfiguration, and fulfillment of the Father’s plan).
• CFC 1480: The Church teaches us that when our prayer is rooted in the heart; one cannot turn away from the needs of his neighbor in loving compassion and service.
  • Practical implication: prayer inherently leads to action and charitable works toward others.

Etymology and scope of prayer

• Prayer comes from the Latin word
  • • precari, meaning to ask earnestly, to beg, to entreat.
• It is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication.

Nature and scope of prayer

• Prayer can be a form of religious practice, may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private.
• It may involve the use of words, songs, or complete silence.
• When language is used, prayers may take the form of:
  • hymns
  • incantations
  • formal creedal statements
  • spontaneous utterances by the praying person

Purposes of prayer

• People pray for many reasons such as:
  • personal benefit
  • asking for divine grace
  • spiritual connection
  • prayer for the sake of others

Historical attestation of prayer

• The act of prayer is attested in written sources as early as about $5000\text{ years ago}$.

How is prayer being done?

• A variety of body postures may be assumed, often with specific meaning (mainly respect or adoration) associated with them:
  • standing
  • sitting
  • kneeling
  • prostrate on the floor
  • eyes opened
  • eyes closed
  • hands folded or clasped
  • hands upraised
  • holding hands with others
  • laying on of hands
  • and other postures

Levels of Worship

1) Latria

• An act of adoration or worship due to God alone.
• Biblical reference: $Exodus\ 20:1-5$

2) Hyperdulia

• An act of respect towards the Blessed Virgin Mary (veneration).
• Biblical reference: $Luke\ 1:48$

3) Proto-Dulia

• An act of respect towards St. Joseph (veneration).

4) Dulia

• An act of respect towards the saints (veneration).
• Biblical reference: $Romans\ 13:7$

Types of Prayer

• Adoration
  • A praise and worship of God.
• Contrition
  • Asking for forgiveness.
• Thanksgiving
  • Showing gratitude, saying thank you.
• Offering
  • Lifting up to God all our needs and desires.
• Supplication
  • Asking God, begging for our needs.

Summary of key numerical and factual references

• Church references: $CCC\,560$, $CCC\,561$ for the ideas on why and how to pray.
• Prayers of Jesus: $25$ times mentioned in the Bible as an example to follow.
• Biblical allusions in Levels of Worship: $Exodus\ 20:1-5$, $Luke\ 1:48$, $Romans\ 13:7$.
• Historical attestation: prayer found in sources as early as $5000$ years ago.

Practical implications and connections

• Prayer as a practice that shapes belief (lex orandi) and belief shapes practice (lex credendi).
• Prayer should lead to action: rooted in the heart, it compels care and service toward neighbors (CFC 1480).
• Patience and timing in prayer reflect trust in God’s plan, not merely instant gratification.
• The different postures and forms of prayer reflect respect, humility, and communal or private devotion.

Quick-reference glossary

• Latria: worship due to God alone.
• Hyperdulia: highest veneration given to Mary.
• Proto-Dulia: level of veneration for St. Joseph.
• Dulia: veneration of saints.
• Precari: to beg, entreat, earnestly ask in prayer.
• CCC: Catechism of the Catholic Church (church teaching references).

End of notes