GUIDELINES

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• Login should be with Student Name and Surname. No logging in from Multiple devices (Just one ID per student).

• Log in at the scheduled time - please avoid entering the classroom late.

• Our class session will include prayer, presentation, discussions, audio-visuals and question-answer session towards the end of class.

• Attendance is mandatory. However, we appreciate if the parent/student informs us in advance his/her inability to attend the class only for valid and emergent reasons.

• All children should revise the prayers at home and make it a practice to recite the prayers during the daily rosary.

• Due to limited online class duration, parents may read the Acts of the Apostles chapters/verses after the holy rosary as this is an integral part of our faith formation.

PRAYER –LIFEBLOOD OF A

GROWING DISCIPLE

CONFIRMATION CLASS 8

LESSON 11

OBJECTIVE

Till date in this process of preparation, we have experienced a wide variety of prayer forms and styles and most of these have involved Communal Prayer.

In this session, we are going to look especially at our common understanding and experience of Personal Prayer.

For a Christian, both dimensions of prayer – communal and private or personal – are essential, if we hope to follow in the way of Jesus.

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WHAT IS PRAYER

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PRAYER IS COMMUNICATING WITH GOD IN A

RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE

Prayer is Communicating with God…

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Let us ponder on the first part of the definition. Most of the times, when we communicatewith God, we find ourselves involved in ‘communal prayer’ - Prayer that is designed to beshared with others. Most notable examples include:

The Stations of the Cross

Frequently, communal prayers include some of the treasured prayers of the Catholic Tradition,

especially, the Our Farther, the Hail Mary, the Rosary and prayers to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer is an open Communication with our Heavenly Father.

Communicating includes talking and listening.

At the start of any relationship, we spend a lot of time talking and listening as we get to know eachother.

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TALKING

LISTENING

Prayer is Communicating with God…

Communicating Love

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Encouraging, affirming,

appreciating,–just be sending a

note, text or a card

Spending a one-on-one time with

each other –taking walks, riding a bike,

cooking together

Acts of help and care – helping

with household chores – getting breakfast ready…

Giving thoughtful gifts and gestures,

remembering special occasions. Express gratitude when receiving

gifts.

Physical affection – hugs, kisses,

holding hands…

When we communicate with each other, we express our love either through verbal or non-

verbal communication. We communicate our love to others through:

There are parallel experiences for all these forms of communication in a love relationship

with God, and each one of them reflects a different kind of personal prayer.

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Some of you may be wondering, “How did JesusCommunicate?”

Jesus loved His Father and communicated with Him often.He prayed with PASSION AND PERSISTENCE.

Just like you and me, Jesus needed a break from the demands ofhis busy life to recharge his batteries and spend time with hisHeavenly Father.

When he was exhausted or burdened or in need of spiritualrefreshment, he would “slip away” to pray — plugging into thepower, perception, and purpose that can only be found in God’spresence.

…Relationship of Love with God

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Activity

Below are a few events and times that the Bible describes Jesus praying to His Father in Heaven.

Identify the verses in the bible and read it out loud.

1. (Mark 1:35) Jesus prayed for guidance in places of quiet solitude

2. (Matthew 26:39) Jesus prayed in a posture and with an attitude of reverent submission

3. (Luke 10:21) Jesus prayed in praise to God, the Father

4. (John 17:11) Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all believers

5. (Mark 14:22) Jesus prayed prayers of thanksgiving

6. (Luke 22:44) Jesus prayed in times of anguish

Sermon on the Mount

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The Sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most significant spoken communication

ever given by Jesus to his people. It was and still is revolutionary in its teachings and

messages.

One day when Jesus was praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him,

"Lord, teach us to pray

Let is see this short video clip on what Jesus has to say:

https://youtu.be/YzmbLWIqUBk

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What are the 5 c’s in Communication

• Completeness

• Conciseness

• Courtesy

• Clarity

• Consideration

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What is the Lord’s Prayer?

The Lord’s Prayer is the most perfect ofprayers, because it comes to us fromJesus Christ the model and master ofprayer.

It is the prayer of the whole Church andis an essential part of our liturgicalprayer.

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Prayer is the expression of our inner spiritual needs. Through our personal prayer, we can find strength of spirit, guidance, wisdom, joy and inner peace.

Prayer is a Powerful Weapon - Find Your War Room

A Guide to Personal Prayer - Forms of Prayer

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The Church has traditionally recognized five forms of prayer, each representing a differentreason for communicating with God.

Blessing and adoration : We acknowledge God to be the source of everything in our lives and thatwe are children of God. As God blesses us, we respond to God in blessing and adoration.

Petition and contrition : We acknowledge our relationship with God. We ask for forgiveness and for the graces to make our pilgrimage successfully to the Kingdom of God

Intercession : We acknowledge our relationship with all other people. We pray for others as Jesusdid, including those who do us harm.

Thanksgiving : We acknowledge that all life is a gift. We give thanks to God ‘for this is the will ofGod in Christ Jesus’

Praise : We acknowledge God alone to be God, from whom all things exist and for whom we exist. Wehonor God because HE IS.

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Holy God, you are all that is good; I praise your name ( ).

I thank you for today, and for yesterday ( ).

I am sorry for the things that I have done or said that have made life

more difficult for me and for others ( ).

I ask that you bless me with the gifts of faith, hope, and love ( ).

I also ask that you make me aware of your presence all through the day.

Help me to know that you are always with me, to love me and to guide

me ( ), and bless those who do not feel your loving

presence in their life ( ) Amen.

Praise

Thanksgiving

Contrition

Petition

Blessing & Adoration

Intercession

Activity – Identify the Forms of Prayer

Questions and Answers

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What is Prayer?Prayer is communicating with God in a Relationship of Love. Jesus wants us to talk to him regularlyas we do with our friends. Prayer is a direct line to heaven. It is a communication process.

Which are the 2 dimensions of Prayer? Communal Prayer Private Prayer

Name and explain the different Forms of Prayer? Blessing and adoration : Proclaiming joyfully the greatness of God and responding

enthusiastically to God’s gifts (the word enthusiasm comes from the Greek words En Theos,meaning “in God”.

Petition and contrition : Presenting our needs or asking for forgiveness Intercession : Praying on behalf of others, including our enemies Thanksgiving : Expressing gratitude for all that God has given us and done for us. Praise : Recognizing that God is God and giving glory just because God is.

E.g. - The Glory be is a simple prayer of praise.- The Lord’s prayer – has a mixture of a variety of forms.

Homework

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• Read Acts of the Apostles – Chapter 17

• Prayer – The Beatitudes