Why do we as Catholics always pray the rosary and repeat traditional prayers? Repetition can have real meaning and it is the repetition of life. We can certainly pray spontaneously from the heart, expressing ourselves to God but we can also feel free to pick up prayers that were written by great men and women from our past. They can actually give us words to pray and can inspire the prayers of our heart.
This is how we are to pray, from the heart, we are not to babble. Babbling is when we think God can be persuaded with the right words or petitions to get what we want. We don’t use prayer to manipulate God; we keep it simple and understand that it is a familial relationship between us and our Heavenly Father. Afterall, Jesus taught us how to pray.
In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:7-15.
Lord, I am aware that you know what is best for me, and that is why I believe in you. You are more interested in my spiritual well-being than I am, and that is why I trust in you. You always give me your loving forgiveness in spite of my sins, and that is why I love you.
Lord, teach me how to pray.
Smitten With Goodness 