What is prayer?

To properly view this site, javascript must be enabled and Flash version 9 or higher must be installed.
Get the latest Flash player

What is prayer?

In this video, Spiritual Director Joe McCloskey, S.J. answers questions about the techniques and the mechanics that can be part of a good prayer life. This video is designed for anyone of any faith who has question about ways to go in deepening a relationship to God by prayer. It would be useful to anyone who is checking up on how they pray and interested in seeing other ways to pray. It is directed at anyone who prays and is not afraid of trying out something different that might be a better fit to style of relating to God. The golden rule is that the form one uses is the best. But it is always possible to be better.

This expert: 39,900 views

This series: 24,432 views

Print

Transcripts

Host: What is prayer?

Rev. Joseph McCloskey: If I knew what prayer was I would already be in heaven. Prayer is the reality, a contact and an intimacy with God that allows you to be more than you could ever be by yourself because you are now in that moment of prayer a son or daughter of God. Prayer is the richness of knowing how to talk to number one, my mother once was so trapped in her devotions, she had a stack of prayers she used to say and I told her prayer can also be using the hotline to God. For the catholic the hotline to God is to offer their prayer through Jesus Christ. But prayer is being able to speak in your own words finally after all of the years of repeating what someone else told you. Prayer is the wonder of knowing that you have something to say that God is willing to listen to and it's even those moments of life when you suddenly realize God have answered my prayer. Prayer is the raising of the mind and the heart to God and the richness of prayer when it becomes personalized is that it is your love affair with God. It is how you can be most true to yourself because you are his child.

Other Videos