As Christians, we are called to a life of prayer. As we seek to respond to this call and live a life of prayer, we need the set prayers of our Catholic tradition, just as we also need the spontaneous prayer that comes directly from our own hearts.
Both are needed if our life of prayer is going to be substantial and form a “vital and personal” relationship between us and the Lord Jesus.
The set prayers and spontaneous prayers of the spiritual life are powerfully and beautifully seen throughout the 150 psalms of the Old Testament. The psalms show us how to express our desire for God, our awe at creation’s majesty, our anguish and joy over life’s sorrows and triumphs, and our frustration in the battle against temptation (which no doubt many readers will be able to relate to this Lent!).
