Part Four, Section Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is about prayer. Prayer, often taken for granted as a part of the Christian life, is presented as a serious pursuit in which we can grow and flourish. Personal prayer and community prayer are identified as vital parts of Christian life. The section concludes with an explanation of the themes found in the text of the Lord’s Prayer. If no other section of the Catechism is read in its entirety, this one should be.

In society today, there exists a renewed interest in prayer and a sense of spiritual hunger. Many excellent books have been written on prayer, reflecting the best of the Church’s spiritual tradition. Giving children experiences of prayer in the home and as part of the Church community is one of the most important responsibilities of parents.

Our personal, private prayer is related to the liturgical prayer of the Church in two ways. First, we bring the fruits of our personal prayer to the liturgy, which enriches our participation in the liturgy. Second, our participation in the liturgy strengthens us and enables us to enter more effectively into private prayer.

Find out more about the importance of prayer. Read pages 253-254 in your child’s book, Parish Edition; pages 387-390, School Edition. See paragraphs 2258-2758, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Church considers the Lord’s Prayer the perfect prayer. Through this prayer, Jesus taught us to approach God as our loving Father when we pray and to trust in God for all our earthly and spiritual needs.

Find out more about the Lord’s Prayer. Read pages 255-256, Parish Edition; pages 389-390, School Edition of your child’s book. An excellent meditation on the Lord’s Prayer is found in Part Four, Section Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It summarizes all we hope to share as parents. It can be found in paragraphs 2759-2865.