What are the three traditional expressions of Christian prayer?
The Catechism divides Christian prayer into three major expressions: 1) Vocal Prayer: praying aloud or internally using words, uniting body and soul to follow the example of Jesus who taught the Our Father; 2) Meditative Prayer: engaging thought, imagination, emotion, and desire using Scripture, icons, or spiritual books to deepen our faith and conform our will to Christ; and 3) Contemplative Prayer (mental prayer): a quiet, wordless gaze of faith fixed entirely on Jesus, resting in His love in a union of silent contemplation.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2699-2719
- Matthew 6:7-8
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.