569. How can vocal prayer be described? (part 1)
(Comp 569) 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 2700) Through his Word, God speaks to man. By words,
mental or vocal, our prayer takes flesh. Yet it is most important that the
heart should be present to him to whom we are speaking in prayer: "Whether
or not our prayer is heard depends not on the number of words, but on the
fervor of our souls" (St. John Chrysostom, Ecloga de oratione 2: PG 63, 585).
Reflection
(CCC 2701) Vocal prayer is an essential element of the
Christian life. To his disciples, drawn by their Master's silent prayer, Jesus
teaches a vocal prayer, the Our Father. He not only prayed aloud the liturgical
prayers of the synagogue but, as the Gospels show, he raised his voice to
express his personal prayer, from exultant blessing of the Father to the agony
of Gesthemani (Cf. Mt 11:25-26; Mk 14:36). [IT CONTINUES]
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