Praying Under the Catholic Umbrella

Facilitated Discussion at 2008 NCCYM in Cleveland

With Cindee Case

Introduction

Ground rules:• Respect the person

speaking• Invite participation of

everyone in your group

• Allow the mic to pick up your comments

Objectives:

--identify a variety of religious expressions accepted in the Roman Catholic Church

--Consider benefits of presenting teens with a number of prayer options

--Reflect on how the minister’s personal spirituality impacts the ministry

Your Starting Point

• How would you describe your preferred prayer style(s)?

• What is your favorite way to pray? • Where are your favorite places to

pray? • When are your favorite times to

pray?

Remembering your Teen Years• List prayer experiences you recall from your youth (consider the ages of the young people with whom you serve)

• What were they?

• Where were they?

• Did you like or dislike? • Why?

Consider JUST music…

• Country• Rap• Opera• Gospel• Top 40• Alternative• Hip hop• Disco

Folk

Classical

Bluegrass

Techno

Grunge

Do Wop

80’sWhat styles feed your soul?

1st small group

Quickly introduce yourself (name, parish/school/agency, and diocese)

• Start brainstorming prayer styles on newsprint

• Feel free to pull from your personal prayer styles from now and your experiences as a teen.

            Gregorian chant 

Journaling CCM Nature Walks Praise

Taize’Meditation Petition

Busy-Person’s retreat Grace Before Meals

Stations of the Cross Centering Prayer Eucharistic Liturgy Holy Hours Penance Services  

Rosary Liturgy of the Hours Prayer & Praise Nights 

Small Christian Communities Charismatic Prayer Group Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Online Prayer Boards Spiritual Reading 

Monastic retreats Campus Prayer Rallies Labyrinth Walks Contemplation Live of the Saints Music Ministry Online retreats Prayer Partners Novenas 

Adoration Liturgical Movement Pilgrimage Lectio Dainvia Bible Studies Readings of the Day Witnessing Parish Mission 

(Created by Cindee Case 2005)

A Variety of Prayer Styles under the Catholic Umbrella

“The Gospels message is too rich to be contained within one paradigm.” (E. Schillebeeckx)

More reflection• How are you currently praying with

young people?• What are you teaching them about

spirituality?• Looking back on the first reflection

questions, as you described your prayer style – what things are the teens learning from you?

• Are there other styles that you may need to invite other people in to lead?

Prayer and the Catechism

• Part 4 of the CCC is all on prayer, sections 2558 – 2865.

• Lists and describes 5 forms of prayer:– Blessing and Adoration (2626 - 2628)– Petition (2629 – 2633)– Intercession (2634 – 2636)– Thanksgiving (2637 – 2638)– Praise (2639 – 2643)

Catechism and Prayer continued

• Gives examples of the Way of Prayer:– To the Father– To Jesus– To the Holy Spirit– In Communion with Mary

– (sect. 2664 – 2679)

Catechism and Prayer continued• 3 Expressions of Prayer

– Vocal: We are body and spirit, and we experience the need to translate our feelings externally. We mustpray with our whole being … (sect. 2702)– Meditation: The mind seeks to understand the why and

how of the Christian life, in order to adhere to what the Lord is asking… (sect. 2705)

– Contemplation: …is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and wants to respond to it by loving even more…(it is) the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the Father…(sect. 2712).

Catechism and Prayer continued

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Even addresses difficulties to prayer –

distraction dryness

lack of faith feeling as not being heard.

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“Prayer and Christian life are INSEPERABLE” (sect. 2745)

Christian Spirituality invites us to deepen our appreciation of the sacredness of ordinary

life and to see that our regular routine of work and

family life contains countless opportunities for spiritual

transformation… Wilkie Au & Noreen Cannon. Urgings of the Heart: A Spirituality of Integration.

Paulist Press, 1995.

Worship enables us to remember a God who holds us in the palm of his hands,

a God who molds and shapes us as a potter

shapes the clay…a God who never forgets so that we can always remember.

Gregory Klein & Robert Wolfe. Pastoral Foundations of the Sacraments: A Catholic Perspective. Paulist Press, 1998.

In order to sustain yourself in faith you must

regularly (most would say daily)

spend an extended period of time in private prayer…

Ronald Rolheiser. The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality. Doubleday, 1999.

“Rejoice always.

Pray without ceasing.

In all circumstances give thanks,

For this is the will of God for you

in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thes. 5: 16 – 18a)