Monday, February 6, 2006
The Five Types of Prayer

Preface: For a listing of hundreds of prayers with indulgences and special blessings attached to them, be sure to refer to a copy of the Raccolta oftenClick here to order one.





Adoration – In adoration we adore God as we rightfully should.  God is our Creator and Lord and by His divinity, He is worthy of praise and honor.  The angels who are before God’s throne unceasingly praise Him for His perfection and majesty.  If only we would devote a small fraction of our day to adoring Our God!

Contrition – As sinful creatures, we offend our Lord when we break His divine Law.  The be God’s friend and be in the state of grace, it is necessary to observe His Law – the Commandments.  Our Lord has said, “If you love me, keep My Commandments.”  We should regularly pray in reparation for our sins.  While only Sacramental confession can wash away the guilt of sin and restore us to God’s friendship, works of charity, indulgences, and prayers can make restitution to Divine Justice and pay the debt of our sins – thus saving us from prolonged trials in purgatory after death. If you do not, you should pray the Act of Contrition every single night before bed.  Start doing so tonight!

Thanksgiving - Giving God the thanks He deserves. We were created and redeemed by Him yet He continues to bless us and love us. God is deserving of all respect, yet this type of prayer is the least common one. What would happen if you one day you couldn't give thanks to God? What would happen if you suffered from a horrible condition and could no longer give God thanks? Remember to thank Your One God for His unexplainable love and blessings. The greatest expression of thanksgiving should be after one receives the Eucharist.

Petition - This is probably the most common type of prayer. We bring our requests before God for ourselves, our family, or our friends. At Mass petitions are read, but petitions can be said anytime or anywhere. Prayer doesn't have to be limited to one place. Some people do not believe in attending the Holy Mass. They say, "God is everywhere". Yes, but He is everywhere in different ways. God is truly present in the Eucharist - the most real presence of Our Lord on this earth. While we can pray anywhere the greatest prayers are those before the Eucharist, where the veil between Heaven and earth is at its thinnest.



The above are the four kinds of prayer known as the ACTS.  There is also a fifth sometimes considered called: 

Supplication (known also as intercession) - These prayers are very similar to those of petition, but there is a distinct difference. In prayers of intercession we are asking praying for others. These are the one type of prayer that includes the saints. We can ask these servants of God already in Heaven to pray for us just as we ask our friends on earth to pray for

We also need to be aware of a few other kinds of prayer:

Persevering Prayer - These are the prayers for the deepest intentions of our heart. If we pray night and day for this intention then this is persevering prayer. Job persevered in his prayers as illustrated in the Old Testament. I will go as far to say that all persevering prayers are answered as our Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7)

Meditative prayer - This is the simplest of prayers. In these we don't say anything. We simply meditate on God's love and mercy. These prayers are very common in those quiet moments of Eucharistic Adoration. Just being one with Our Lord is the greatest gift.

Note: This post is sponsored by CatechismClass.com and specifically is featured in their course: Prayer and Spirituality

23 comment(s):

del_button November 20, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Anonymous said...

this was very inspiering and help me with my homework. thanks

del_button December 17, 2007 at 5:59 PM
Anonymous said...

this helped me with my homework to, but i dont think my tacher was looking for medatative prayer, i have to keep looking :)

del_button January 9, 2008 at 6:21 PM
Anonymous said...

this helped me w/ my homework too, but it wasn't the five types i needed. That was a very inspiring and meaningful prayer.

del_button May 25, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Anonymous said...

thanks for these.. i wanted all these types of prayers, but really needed ADORATION AND BLESSING... thats what my teacher was really looking for. im in highschool, and because i dont have it, i wont get as high as a mark that i was leaning towards. Thanks anyways, again

del_button October 15, 2009 at 8:10 PM
jeryl fuentes said...

this site eases my pre-school daughter's studying/assignment-making time. thank you!!

del_button October 17, 2009 at 7:39 AM
Marie said...

I agree with these students. The five forms of prayer listed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church are not these. You are missing 'Blessing and Adoration' and 'Praise'. Persevering Prayer and Meditation are expressions of prayer, not forms.

del_button October 17, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Susan said...

Intercession, according to the Catechism, is our prayers for others, our intercession to God on their behalf, not the actual asking of others to pray for us.

del_button January 23, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Ryan said...

yah im studying dor my religon exam adn the 5 types are supose to be prayer of petition, prayer of thanksgiving, prayer of intercession, prayer of blessing and adoration, prayer of praise.

del_button January 25, 2010 at 6:24 AM
Anonymous said...

welll welll well look at the grade 9s.....

did u find it i have exam to

ND

del_button March 1, 2010 at 8:24 PM
Roisin said...

i'm using this for homework too, but i also need to know how they are used in a mass, and i'm not sure hoe persevering prayer is used.

del_button March 1, 2010 at 8:25 PM
Roisin said...

*how

del_button March 30, 2010 at 7:05 PM
Anonymous said...

My teacher also wants adoration and blessing does anyone know where I can find them?

del_button April 12, 2010 at 5:58 AM
Anonymous said...

can anyone help me understand this please. if these are the types of prayer what do you call the stations of the cross, novena, prayer for the dead, prayer for the saints. please i really need to know cus i am writing a research paper on comaprative religion. thanks

del_button May 13, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said...

helps... thank yu muchooo
thanks to the internet, a pagan can understand Catholics xD

del_button June 17, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Anonymous said...

thx now i can study but wat bout Praise and Adoration

del_button January 31, 2011 at 6:33 PM
Anonymous said...

Very helpful with my religon homework, thanks blofspot :)

del_button September 16, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Anonymous said...

what is meditative prayer

del_button May 31, 2013 at 8:27 AM
Unknown said...

this really helped me..i am in grade 11 and doing an informative essay stating the comparisons and contrasts of a Catholic Priest Vs. a Muslim Imam..so i needed to understand the types of prayers for the catholic church...thanks again for the great information.. though like all the other "little kids are saying" you are missing adoration and blessings..not that it really matters because I only needed five to begin with, which you have listed already! so thanks :) gingercookiesyum@gmail.com

del_button June 17, 2013 at 4:42 AM
Anonymous said...

this is very helpful to my homework ^______^

del_button October 12, 2013 at 7:26 PM
Anonymous said...

The 5 basic forms of prayer are simple, yet often quoted incorrectly. Having checked the catechism, I realized that I had got them wrong. This is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (i.e. CCC) says:

I. PRAYER OF BLESSING AND ADORATION
'The prayer of blessing is man's response to God's gifts...'
'Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator.'
(See CCC 2626 - 2628 for a full explanation)

II. PRAYER OF PETITION
'The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness' then it 'is centred on the desire and search for the Kingdom to come'. Finally 'every need can become the object of petition.'
(See CCC 2629 - 2633 for full explanation)

III. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
'In intercession, he who prays looks "not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others", even to the point of praying for those who do him harm.'
(See CCC 2634 - 2636 for full explanation)

IV. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
'As in the prayer of petition, every event and need can become an offering of thanksgiving.'
'Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you'.
(See CCC 2637 - 2638 for full explanation)

V. PRAYER OF PRAISE
'Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God. It lauds God for his own sake and gives him glory...simply because He Is'
(See CCC 2639 - 2643 for full explanation)

del_button February 11, 2014 at 6:46 AM
Anonymous said...

Thanks for helping me with my homework...may the good GOD bless you

del_button August 3, 2014 at 1:17 AM
Bianca said...

Didn't really work for me... Sorry.

del_button April 18, 2017 at 2:18 PM
hesbon said...

Thanks for the wonderful pages and sharing with us about prayers. God bless you

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