Saint Gregory of Nazianzus had an expression that should make us think: “We must remember God more often than we draw breath.”

    This sentence may seem radical, but it reflects Jesus’ example and teaching regarding prayer: praying is not a “duty” that we have to “fulfill,” it is above all a need of the human spirit, which needs prayer just as the body needs food: without it, the soul dies of starvation.

    The Catechism reminds us that prayer is “the personal, living relationship of the children of God with their infinitely good Father, with His Son, Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit, which dwells in their hearts.”

    The example of how important is prayer was shown to us by our Lord Jesus Christ: although he was God himself, he often withdrew in solitude to pray, especially before decisive moments in his mission.

    There are various forms of Christian prayer: blessing, worship, the prayer of petition — whereby we ask forgiveness or we also ask for spiritual and material needs, prayer of thanksgiving and of praise.
Praise is the form of prayer that directly acknowledges that God is God and therefore, is totally unselfish: glorifying God simply for being who He is.

    The Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney, left us a beautiful example of this prayer: “I love you, Lord, and the only grace I ask of you is to love you eternally. My God, if my tongue cannot at all times say that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it every time I breathe.” (St. John Vianney)
    

    Many Catholics ask me how, where and when to pray.
    Prayer is taught and learned in the family, as the privileged place where we Catholics learn how to be Catholics. The Holy Scriptures are an inexhaustible source of prayer, especially the book of Psalms, which many saints called the “School of Prayer.”
    Any simple, honest lifting of one’s soul to God, sharing our feelings and needs, is already prayer.
    As to “where” — certainly the temple is the most suitable place, especially if the Blessed Sacrament is found there; but Catholics may pray anywhere. Obviously, choosing the right place will have an impact on the quality of our prayer. This is the reason why The Catechism recommends having a “prayer corner” in the family home.
    As to “when” to pray, we can also state that every moment is right for prayer; because, as St. Paul says, we Catholics are called to “pray without ceasing.”

    Nevertheless, the church suggests to the faithful different ways to pray throughout the day: the morning and the evening prayer, before and after meals, the Sunday Eucharist, the holy rosary and special times of meditation.

    Praying is not easy. It involves a special effort, because, as The Compendium of the Catechism explains, “those who pray ‘battle’ against themselves, their surroundings and especially the tempter who does all he can to turn them away from prayer. The battle of prayer is inseparable from progress in the spiritual life. We pray as we live, because we live as we pray.” (Compendium 572)

    In the middle of a world that encourages so much distraction, that makes it increasingly difficult for us Catholics to concentrate on this fundamental task in our lives, prayer, we commend ourselves to Mary, the quintessential praying mother, who knew how to listen, to take into her heart and put into practice the word of the Lord, in order that she will never stop teaching us and encouraging us to pray more and better in our lives.