The Way of Prayer
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Prayer of the Local Church (2663)
Each local Church (according to its history and culture) proposes a language of prayer (words, melodies, works of art). The Church's Magisterium discerns if these prayer forms are in accord with Apostolic Tradition. Pastors and catechists should explain these forms in relationship to Jesus Christ.
Access to the Father (2664)
Our prayer (communal or personal) has access to the Father only "in the name' of Jesus. Jesus' sacred humanity is the way by which the Spirit teaches us to pray to the Father.
Praying to Jesus (2665)
We also pray to the Lord Jesus. Although Church prayer is said to the Father, certain psalms and the New Testament engrave in our hearts invitations to Christ. They call him by many names (Word of God, Son of God, Lord, Savior, Lamb of God, King, Beloved Son, Son of the Virgin, Good Shepherd, Life, Light, Hope, our Resurrection, and Friend of Mankind).
Jesus - The Special Name (2666-2669)
However, one name, "Jesus" (meaning Yahweh saves), contains everything. His name has been given to us. This name alone contains God's work of salvation. To invoke "Jesus" is to welcome God's only begotten Son.
The invocation "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners" combines the Philippian hymn (2:6-11) with the prayer of the publican and the blind man.
To pray always the person need only invoke the holy name, "Jesus." This prayer is possible at all times and has one preoccupation, to love God as Jesus did.
The Church venerates the heart of Jesus and adores the Incarnate Word in his heart which was pierced for everyone. Thus, Christian prayer walks the way of the cross.
Invoking the Holy Spirit (2670-2672)
Only by the Spirit can we say, "Jesus is Lord" only by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3). Therefore, we should also call upon the Spirit. "If the Spirit should not be worshipped, how can he divinize me through Baptism?" (St. Gregory of Nazeanzus).
Traditionally, we ask the Father, through Christ, to give us the Spirit. The traditional prayer is "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love." The sequence of Pentecost asks the Spirit to "come dwell in us, cleanse and save us."
The Holy Spirit is the Master of Christian prayer. In every path of prayer, the same Spirit acts. All Christian prayer is in communion of the Holy Spirit.
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