Over the past few weeks, prayer has been the focus of catechesis with the chief catechist of the Diocese of Buea His lordship Michael Bibi. “The life of prayer” was examined recently at St Charles Lwanga Parish Molyko, by the teacher who in the course of teaching, spelled out the three expressions of prayer: vocal prayer, meditative prayer and prayer of contemplation.
Teaching from paragraph 2697 to 2758 of the catechism of the catholic church the prelate explained that vocal expression of prayer is prayer brought out by word of mouth while meditative prayer was explained as silent prayer during which Christians communicate the needs of the heart and this form of prayer is often characterized by reading the word of God. The Bishop further explained that Contemplative prayer is the height of all prayers and it takes place when Christians begin to communicate with God as their friend. This he noted happens after the vocal and meditative prayers.
After making these clarifications, the prelate reiterated that these three forms of expression of prayer, communicate our hearts and minds to God and are being answered by God in His own ways. Thus Christians were asked to pray constantly without allowing human weakness, distractions and life’s challenges to be barriers to their prayer life.
In moments of dryness, the Christians were asked to let the Holy Spirit intercede for them and to put themselves at God’s disposal while having faith that their prayers will never go unanswered. The Christians were encouraged to exercise persevering love and to pray without ceasing as prayer and Christian life remain inseparable.