THE

CHURCH CATECHISM EXPLAINED.

IV.

THE MEANS OF GRACE. PRAYER.

Having considered the Creed, which contains all that you ought to believe, and the Ten Commandments, which contain all that you ought to do for God, Can you believe and do all these things of your own self?

No.

From whom have you received help to believe and do all these things?

From God.

What help has God given you?

His Holy Spirit.

When did He give you this help ?

At my Baptism.

But has it not pleased God to ordain certain means by which you may obtain more and more help from His Holy Spirit, as you advance in life?

Yes.

What are these means called?

Means of Grace.

What do you mean by the word Grace?

The favour, help, and assistance of God.

How did you say at the beginning of the Catechism you must act, in order to continue in that state of Salvation into which you were called at your Baptism?

"I must PRAY unto God to give me His Grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life's end."

What was the means of Grace you here mentioned, must use to obtain help from God?

that you

Prayer.

What is Prayer then, seeing that by it you receive help from God?

A means of Grace.

Shew from Scripture that Prayer is a means of obtaining the Grace, or help of the Holy Spirit.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? St. Luke, xi, 13.

What must you means of Grace ?

do with Prayer, seeing that it is a

Make use of it.

How often should we make use of Prayer?

Continually.

Shew from Scripture that we ought continually to make use of Prayer.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint. St. Luke, xviii, 1.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians, v, 17. What do these words "without ceasing" mean?

Continually, always to be in a prayerful state of mind.

How often, at the very least, ought we to pray? Every morning when we get up, and every night when we go to bed.

What ought we to pray for when we get up?

We ought to thank God for His protection during the night past, and pray to be kept from sin during the day.

What ought we to pray for when we go to bed?

That God will forgive all that we have done wrong during the day, and keep us under His protection during the night.

Do we not read in Scripture of holy men praying more often than twice in the day?

Yes, David.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice. Psalm lv, 17.

Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgements. Psalm cxix, 164.

Also Daniel.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Daniel, vi, 10.

Also our Lord continued a whole night in Prayer to God.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. St. Luke, vi, 12.

How ought we to pray, if we wish the Lord to hear our prayers

?

We ought to pray from our hearts.

When may we know that we are praying from our hearts ?

while we

When we think about our prayers say them, and do not give way to wandering thoughts.

What posture ought our bodies to be in when we are saying our prayers?

We ought to kneel upon our knees.

Do we read in Scripture that kneeling is the proper posture for prayer?

Yes, we read of the prophet Daniel kneeling upon his knees while praying to the Lord. Daniel, vi, 10.

Also we read concerning Our Lord, when praying in the garden of Gethsemane, that "He kneeled down and prayed." St. Luke, xxii, 41.

What is meant by the word prayer?

Asking God.

How many kinds of prayer are there?
Three, Prayers of Confession,

What do you mean by the word Confession?

Telling any one what we have done wrong. What do you mean by the word Supplication? Begging or entreating.

What do you mean by the word Intercession?
Begging or entreating for others.

What is meant by a Prayer of Confession?

A Prayer in which we confess our sins.

What is meant by a Prayer of Supplication?

A Prayer in which we pray for ourselves as well as for others.

What is meant by a Prayer of Intercession?

A Prayer in which we pray for others only.

Did not our Lord give His Disciples a form of Prayer?

Yes.