Prayer is the cornerstone of the Christian life, the secret of every triumph of every saint and the one practice that can be universally advised at all times and in every occasion. “Pray without ceasing,” St. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

   Even the God-Man Himself, though He was already infinitely powerful, drew strength through prayer before He began His ministry and also before His Passion. Nevertheless, prayer is a paradox. It is extremely easy to define, and extraordinarily difficult to practice.

For Further Discussion: Defining Prayer; Gift, Covenant and Communion; Universal Call to Prayer; The Prayers of Jesus; The Prayer of the Virgin Mary; Four Types of Prayer; The Univeral Prayer of Pope Clement XI