Course name: Prayers. Topic 2

Course 4.

Prayer. 

Topic 2.

Types of Prayer. 

Four (4) basic 💡 forms of prayer?

The 4 basic forms of prayer are Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, abbreviated as A.C.T.S.

Adoration:

Adoration and Worship:

In prayers of adoration or worship, we exalt the greatness of God, and we acknowledge our dependence on Him in all things. The Mass and the other liturgies of the Church are the most perfect form of Adoration any human being can give to God. They are full of prayers of adoration or worship, such as the Gloria (the Glory to God).

However Special Liturgical Adoration are organized once in a while by priests to create a special quiet time for both clergy and laity alike before the Lord Jesus present in the Eucharist. In this form of Adoration, Consecrated Host is placed in the center of a sacred vessel called a Monstrance The word Monstrance means "to show." or to expose. The Monstrance is then set in a very special place for all to see during the worship. People can also worship God anywhere and anytime even outside the premises of the Church. I.e. Their home 🏡 , their offices 🏢, their business premises, open field etc without the Monstrance or presence of any priest. In the Catholic Divine Project, the Adoration Chaplet known as the Chaplet of the Holy Trinity or Chaplet of Love of God is best prayed 🙏 before the Tarbanacle at the appropriate hour (5am and 5pm) but must be prayed anywhere in absence of the Tarbanacle.

Contrition:

An Act of Contrition is a Christian prayer genre that expresses sorrow for sins. It may be used in a liturgical service or be used privately, especially in connection with an examination of conscience.

What do prayers of contrition Express?

Contrition is a heartfelt sorrow for our sins and our desire to sin no more. An Act of Contrition, therefore, is a prayer that Catholics pray to express this contrition. An Act of Contrition is prayed in many circumstances, particularly preparation for and during the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (see also CDP Chaplet of Purification)

Thanksgiving:

What is thanksgiving?

The act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God. It is also an expression of thanks, especially to God. A public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness. A day set apart for giving thanks to God. (See also CDP Post Novena Envelope Offertory) 

Supplication:

Supplication (also known as petitioning) is a form of prayer, wherein one party humbly or earnestly asks another party to provide something, either for the party who is doing the supplicating (e.g., "Please spare my life.") or on behalf of someone else. (See also CDP Special Operation Prayers e.g Operations Face Nigeria, Roll-Back-the-Devil, Discuss Flow etc)

Prayers can also be categorized as below:

Type 1 – Worship and Praise. This prayer acknowledges God for what He is. The expression of respect and gratitude as an act of worship.

Praise, in the original Greek, means to sing, to tell of, to give, or to confess. * In simpler terms, it means to be thankful for God's blessings, and to declare that good news to God and to others.

Type 2 – Petition and Intercession.

Type 3 – Supplication.

Type 4 – Thanksgiving.

Type 5 – Spiritual Warfare.

Note: All the Above are always taken care of in a single Holy Mass. This we must discuss later.In Catholic Divine Project prayer is classified into two:

1. Liturgical prayer.

2. Non Liturgical Prayer.

While the former takes the pattern of a public rite officiated by an ordained pastor (Priest or Bishop) the latter takes the form of private worship which can be led by :

A. An Official, Messenger, Councilor or a Pillar of the Project if it is a basic prayer.

B. Any appointed person (lesser, aspirant or regular Project who need not to be in any position of leadership in the project) if it is a Detachmental or Beach-Head prayer. 

Liturgical Prayers Explained:

These are:

A. Holy Mass

B. Eucharistic/Liturgical Adoration

C. Most rarely understood, reconciliation/absolution.

Surprisingly to some of us, reconciliation/absolution which falls under Eucharistic prayer is most at times neglected by most Christians due to either lack of unbelief or lack of understanding. This is what makes some of us not to understand that this sacrament popularly known as sacrament of penance is part and parcel of christian prayer and should not be received or visited rarely or once in a year as the case may be especially in this generation, and this part of the world where every kilometer is another Parish sited and every Sunday if not daily is another holy mass celebrated. Most Parishes in the city now celebrates up to 3 masses daily not even on Sundays alone due to availability of priests and this priests are also ready to hear our confession when approached. 

If we understand reconciliation as part of prayer then what are we waiting for when a Holy man can sin up to 7 times a day?

Why can't we visit and received the sacrament of reconciliation and penance once every week?

The sacrament of penance and reconciliation is no doubt an important part of our prayer life and when sincerely received we are prepared in a state of grace to carry out our daily prayers, programs and activities.

To do this properly, there are 3 CDP steps which includes:

1. Extreme examination. 

2. Contrite confession. 

Finally, perfect penance.

Others will be discussed in other segments of this course.