Chapter I — On prayer in general

1. What is treated of in the second part of Christian Doctrine?

In the second part of Christian Doctrine, prayer in general and the Pater Noster in particular are treated.

2. What is prayer?

Prayer is a raising of the mind to God to adore Him, to thank Him, and to ask Him for what we need.

3. How is prayer distinguished?

Prayer is distinguished into mental and vocal. Mental prayer is that which is made with the mind alone; vocal prayer is that which is made with words accompanied by the attention of the mind and the devotion of the heart.

4. Can prayer be distinguished in another way?

Prayer can also be distinguished into private and public.

5. What is private prayer?

Private prayer is that which each one makes in particular for himself or for others.

6. What is public prayer?

Public prayer is that which is made by the sacred ministers, in the name of the Church, and for the salvation of the faithful people. The prayer made in common and publicly by the faithful, as in processions, pilgrimages, and in the temple, may also be called public.

7. Have we well-founded hope of obtaining through prayer the helps and graces we need?

The hope of obtaining from God the graces we need is founded on the promises of the Almighty, merciful, and most faithful God, and on the merits of Jesus Christ.

8. In whose name must we ask of God the graces we need?

We must ask of God the graces we need in the name of Jesus Christ, as He Himself has taught us and as the Church practices, who always ends her prayers with these words: per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, that is: through our Lord Jesus Christ.

9. Why must we ask of God graces in the name of Jesus Christ?

We must ask graces in the name of Jesus Christ because, being our mediator, it is only through Him that we can approach the throne of God.

10. If prayer has so much power, what is the reason why many times our prayers are not granted?

Many times our prayers are not granted, either because we ask for things that are not suited to our eternal salvation, or because we do not pray as we should.

11. What are the things we must principally ask of God?

We must principally ask of God His glory, our eternal salvation, and the means to attain it.

12. Is it not lawful also to ask for temporal goods?

Yes, it is lawful to ask of God also temporal goods, but always with the condition that they be in conformity with His most holy will and not be an impediment to our eternal salvation.

13. If God knows all that is necessary for us, why must we pray?

Although God knows all that is necessary for us, yet He wills that we should pray to Him, that we may acknowledge Him as the giver of every good, attest to Him our humble submission, and merit His favors.

14. What is the first and best disposition for making our prayers effective?

The first and best disposition for making our prayers effective is to be in the state of grace, or, if we are not, at least to desire to be restored to that state.

15. What other dispositions are required for praying well?

For praying well there are especially required recollection, humility, confidence, perseverance, and resignation.

16. What does it mean to pray with recollection?

It means to think that we are speaking with God, and therefore to pray with all reverence and devotion, avoiding as far as possible distractions, that is, every thought foreign to prayer.

17. Do distractions diminish the merit of prayer?

Yes, when we ourselves cause them, or do not diligently put them away. But if we do all we can to be recollected in God, then distractions do not diminish the merit of our prayer, but on the contrary may even increase it.

18. What is required for praying with recollection?

We must, before prayer, remove all the occasions of distraction; and during prayer we must think that we are in the presence of God, who sees and hears us.

19. What does it mean to pray with humility?

It means to acknowledge sincerely one's own unworthiness, helplessness, and misery, accompanying prayer with the composure of the body.

20. What does it mean to pray with confidence?

It means that we must have firm hope of being heard, if from this there derives the glory of God and our true good.

21. What does it mean to pray with perseverance?

It means that we must not grow weary of praying if God does not at once hear us, but rather that we should continue praying with greater fervor.

22. What does it mean to pray with resignation?

It means that we must conform to the will of God, who knows better than we what is necessary for our eternal salvation, even in the case when our prayers should not be granted.

23. Does God always hear well-made prayers?

Yes, God always hears well-made prayers; but in the way that He knows to be most useful for our eternal salvation, and not always according to our will.

24. What effects does prayer produce in us?

Prayer makes us acknowledge our dependence on God, the supreme Lord, in all things; makes us think of heavenly things; makes us progress in virtue; obtains for us mercy from God; strengthens us against temptations; comforts us in tribulations; helps us in our needs; and obtains for us the grace of final perseverance.

25. When must we especially pray?

We must especially pray in dangers, in temptations, and at the point of death; further, we must pray frequently, and it is well that this should be done in the morning and in the evening and at the beginning of the important actions of the day.

26. For whom must we pray?

We must pray for all; that is, for ourselves, for our relatives, superiors, benefactors, friends, and enemies; for the conversion of poor sinners, of those who are outside the true Church, and for the holy souls of purgatory.