CCC # 2558 – Prayer as Relationship 

2558 “Great is the mystery of the faith!”

The Church professes this mystery in the Apostles’ Creed (Part One) and celebrates it in the sacramental liturgy (Part Two), so that the life of the faithful may be conformed to Christ in the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father (Part Three).

This mystery, then, requires that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate it, and that they live from it in a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God. This relationship is prayer.

Were you raised in a home where prayer was a big part of your life?

If so, what did that look like?

I was raised in a home where prayer was a central part of our life as a family. This was a huge gift for me because it helped to develop my faith life in the context of a relationship with my parents and siblings. Through my prayers in relationship with my family, I was also able to see God as a person I could have a relationship with, and subsequently, my own relationship with God developed into something that was personal and powerful. 

It can sometimes be easy to think of prayer primarily as the words that we say when we speak to God. Taking seriously the words that we say to God is important, but it is not actually the center of what prayers are about. Prayer is rooted in the relationship we have with God – both personally and as members of the body of Christ in the church. 

Perhaps the analogy of marriage is useful. 

The words of my wedding vows are important.
They help articulate the nature, aims, and aspirations of my marriage.

However, if I didn’t have a person I was in a relationship with, towards whom those words were directed – the words would mean nothing. 

Have you ever felt your prayer life was disconnected from a living God whom you are in a relationship with?

The fourth section of the Catechism begins By reminding us that our relationship with God is inextricably connected to our life of prayer. It’s a powerful reminder and a great place to start. 

This post is a part of an ongoing series on the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching on prayer.