What is Prayer?

St. John Damascene gave a classic definition of prayer: “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (CCC, no. 2559, citing St. John Damascene, De Fide Orth. 3, 24).

“Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God” (CCC, no. 2561)

The Catechism clearly defines prayer as a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC, no. 2558). Prayer is Christian “insofar as it is communion with Christ” (CCC, no. 2565), and a “covenant relationship between God and man in Christ” (CCC, no. 2564).

Descriptions of prayer are abundant throughout Christian history. “True prayer,” wrote St. Augustine, “is nothing but love.” Prayer should arise from the heart. “Prayer,” said St. John Vianney, “is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.” “Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer each day,” remarked St. Francis de Sales, “except when we are busy—then we need an hour.” Definitions of prayer are important but insufficient.

There is a huge difference between knowing about prayer and praying. On this issue, the Rule of St. Benedict is clear,  “If a man wants to pray, let him go and pray.”

The new St. Clement’s mobile app has a variety of Catholic prayers installed on it.  You can set reminders (great for Lent, or reviving your spiritual journey) to pray certain prayers at certain times or days!

Download the app at myParishapp.com. To link it to St. Clement’s parish, press the 3 line button in the upper left (the hamburger) and put in our zip code – 12866.

Contact me: Email me here if you have any problems.

Come Pray with the Saint Clement’s Community. 

These are the opportunities that we offer: