Prayer

Forming People of Prayer

What is prayer? For a Catholic, prayer is simply talking with God.

St. Teresa of Avila sums up prayer in a simple but powerful definition: “Prayer is nothing else but being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with him.”

Prayer is a conversation to God from the heart. And as a conversation, prayer comes from both sides—we talk to God, and we listen as he talks to us. Prayer is “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (CCC 2559).

While the Mass is the greatest prayer we can participate in, prayer does not happen only when we go to church, or kneel before the tabernacle, or pray the Rosary with our families. You can pray in our actions, in quiet moments sandwiched between errands, and in all of our activities and daily tasks. When you are cleaning your house, or making a meal, you can say, from the bottom of your heart, “Jesus, I offer this out of love for you,” and in that moment, you have made a beautiful prayer.

We support prayer as a priority through our departments that provide resources to parishes, through events and through individual support to help you develop your friendship with God.

Looking to join us in prayer? Click here to submit a prayer on our digital prayer wall — your intention will be remembered in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gomez at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center.

The Archbishop on Prayer

“Prayer is not an escape, it does not withdraw us from life. Prayer draws us more deeply into the mystery of God’s plan for history. Prayer compels us to seek the face of God in the faces of our brothers and sisters.”