The value of the vocal prayers

WE should never underestimate the power of the vocal

prayers. They may sound trite and worn-out after years of simply

mechanically praying them, but they actually are the quickest and

easiest way we can make use of to put ourselves truly and divinely

inspired.

  

            And the simple reason is that these prayers are truly

inspired prayers. They are not just human inventions, products of our

pious creativity. They come directly from Christ, as is the case of

the Lord’s Prayer, or from the lips of important biblical characters

as is the case of the Hail Mary and many other prayers.

  

            Of course, there are also many other vocal prayers that

are composed by saints and by Church authorities who are given such

power by Christ himself. The liturgical prayers at Mass and in the

celebration of the other sacraments, as well as breviary of the

priests, are very enlightening and helpful, to say the least.

  

            If we would just put our mind and heart into praying them,

if we would just pray them with faith and piety, there is no way but

for us to be transported deep into the spiritual and supernatural

world where our deepest yearnings are satisfied, at least for a time.

  

            These prayers also teach us what to say when we pray, what

to ask from God, what attitudes and sentiments we ought to have toward

God, others and everything else in this life, especially the different

situations and predicaments that we can encounter in life.

  

            They have the power to educate our mind and heart,

conforming them to the mind and heart of Christ, which is what

actually is proper to us, since we are being created and redeemed to

be God’s image and likeness, children of his in Christ.

  

            In fact, when we pray the vocal prayers, we would praying

together with and through the Holy Spirit. Our prayer would not just

be our own prayer, but also that of the Holy Spirit, of Christ and of

his Church, since the Church is the mystical body of Christ! We should

never feel alone when we pray the vocal prayers. We have to realize

that we are in very good company when we pray them.

  

            If we only know what is involved when we pray the vocal

prayers, I am sure that we would be deeply motivated to make use of

them very often, especially in our moments of difficulty and special

need.

   

            That is why the vocal prayers should be taught to

everybody as early as possible, as in teaching them to little

children, explaining well their importance and effectiveness, and

supporting such catechesis with clear examples of the elders.

  

            Let’s remember that the little ones learn more from what

they see than from what they hear. When they see their parents and

older siblings praying the vocal prayers with fervor and piety, it

would not take long before these kids would do the same. Their

capacity to follow or imitate what they see is big. Thus, the practice

of the family rosary is most recommendable.

  

            Of course, we should pray these vocal prayers with

naturalness, without exaggerated gestures that can only betray some

hidden motives of a misunderstood sense of holy pride, vanity and

piosity, the caricature of piety.

  

            But naturalness does not mean that we shy away from some

public display in praying the vocal prayers, as when we do

pilgrimages, etc. The vocal prayers should not be considered as simply

something personal and private. They have a strong social and public

character also. They actually do a lot of good to people in general.

  

            These prayers should not be regarded as only for children

or old women who have nothing better to do than to pray the whole day.

Such attitude can only betray one’s ignorance of the value of the

vocal prayers, if not one’s defense mechanism to justify his laziness,

lack of faith, etc.