569. How can vocal prayer be described? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 569 repetition) Vocal prayer
associates the body with the interior prayer of the heart. Even the most
interior prayer, however, cannot dispense with vocal prayer. In any case it
must always spring from a personal faith. With the Our Father Jesus has taught
us a perfect form of vocal prayer.
“In brief”
(CCC 2722) Vocal prayer, founded on the union of body and
soul in human nature, associates the body with the interior prayer of the
heart, following Christ's example of praying to his Father and teaching the Our
Father to his disciples.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 2702) The need to involve the senses in interior prayer
corresponds to a requirement of our human nature. We are body and spirit, and
we experience the need to translate our feelings externally. We must pray with
our whole being to give all power possible to our supplication.
(CCC 2703) This need also corresponds to a divine
requirement. God seeks worshippers in Spirit and in Truth, and consequently
living prayer that rises from the depths of the soul. He also wants the
external expression that associates the body with interior prayer, for it
renders him that perfect homage which is his due.
Reflection
(CCC 2704) Because it is external and so thoroughly human,
vocal prayer is the form of prayer most readily accessible to groups. Even
interior prayer, however, cannot neglect vocal prayer. Prayer is internalized
to the extent that we become aware of him "to whom we speak" (St. Teresa of Jesus, The Way of Perfection 26, 9 in The
Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, tr. K. Kavanaugh, OCD, and O.
Rodriguez, OCD (Washington DC: Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1980), II,
136).Thus vocal prayer becomes an initial form of contemplative prayer. [END]
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