To pray is human

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Anders_Zorn_-_The_Prayer_(etching)_1911
Since starting my new website Is Centering Prayer Catholic?, I’ve been pondering why certain errors about prayer are so common. I think I’ve hit on a root misunderstanding that’s at the bottom of many of these errors: ignoring the distinction between the natural and the supernatural in prayer.
The Catechism quotes St. John Damascene in saying:
“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (No. 2559)
This indicates prayer is a human activity. One raises one’s own mind and heart to God. Note that this is not true of contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer is a divine activity. As St. Paul says, “We do not know how to pray as we ought” (Rom 8:26), so God steps in to help us.

Continue reading at Contemplative Homeschool

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