An Apologetical Explanation of

Forms of Prayer

What are the five main forms of prayer?

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  (Phil 4:6-8)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kins and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.  This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (1 Tm 2:1-4)

In Christian tradition the five normative forms of prayer are blessing and adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.  All of these are represented in the prayers of the Eucharistic celebration: the Mass, or Divine Liturgy.  (Cf. CCC 2643)

Blessing is a bidirectional between God and us: we pray, God blesses us, and we bless him in return for his blessings.  In adoration we acknowledge the greatness and power of God and stand humble in his presence as his creatures.  (Cf. CCC 2626-2628)

In petition we cry out to God with our needs, particularly our need for forgiveness of sins.  We experience separation from God through sin and unhealthy attachments, and we long for his presence and for the fulfillment of our needs in his kingdom.  (Cf. CCC 2629-2633)

Prayers of intercession are petitions that beseech God on behalf of others—for example, the family, the Church, the community, the nation, the world, or any specific group of persons, even our enemies and persecutors.  We are at once participants in Christ’s role as our true Intercessor as well as acting as members of the Communion of Saints.  (Cf. CCC 2634-2636)

Prayers of thanksgiving can be offered in all circumstances: joy and suffering, plenty and want.  The very word eucharist means “thanksgiving,” so our entire life of prayer centers on thanking God for his great gift of salvation and for his creation, the very gift of life.  (Cf. CCC 2637-2638, 2648)

Praise is prayer that recognizes God for his own sake, for the very fact that he is God.  We praise him for his divine attributes, his perfect glory, his perfection indeed in all good things—even apart from anything he has done for us.  (Cf. CCC 2639-2643, 2649)

The Catechism answers this question in paragraph 2644.

The contents of this page are Copyright © 2014 Rev. James Socias (of the Midwest Theological Forum). These apologetics are reproduced with written consent of said copyright holder for St Patricks Parish, Jaffrey, NH website only. Reproduction of any sort must be approved directly by said copyright holder.

To get a hardcopy of these Apologetics or the Didache Bible please visit the Midwest Theological Forum (publisher) at: http://www.theologicalforum.org