By Gladyce Janky
What is prayer? According to St. John Damascene, an eighth-century Syrian Monk, prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God. Thérèse de Lisieux said that prayer is “A surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” St. Thérèse d’Avila said mental prayer is, “Nothing else than a close sharing between friends, it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”1
The simplest answer is that prayer is a conversation with God, which can occur in many forms. It is how we express praise and gratitude, ask for help, or vent our frustration. Examples include meditation, one of the oldest forms of prayer in the Christian tradition, songs, poems, paintings and other forms of art, rote prayers, and extemporaneous, contemplative, and imaginative prayer.
Christian meditation dates back to the fathers and mothers who lived solitary lifestyles in the desert during the third and fourth centuries. One form of meditation is Lectio Divina, consisting of Lectio, a slow reading of the scripture passage(s), followed by Meditatio, a silent reflection on its meaning, and Oratio, a prayerful response. It ends with Contemplatio, resting in God’s presence. Although there are different forms of Christian meditation, the goal is always the same: growing closer to God.
Singing and chanting are integral to Christian worship, including the Psalms, which are both songs and poems. Some of the Psalms express praise of God, while others are Laments, requesting God’s help. Monks in the Benedictine tradition use Psalms in their evening prayers through antiphonal singing, in which two sides of the choir alternate verses. An example of a Spirit-inspired hymn is Mary’s Magnificat.
Catholic rote or memorized prayers are easy to recall and help quiet our inner thoughts, making us more attentive to God. When we are having difficulty finding the words to pray, we can turn to a memorized prayer, such as St. Faustina’s “Jesus, I trust in you.”
Extemporaneous prayer is spontaneous and unscripted. Pausing to admire a sunset, wondering what God thinks of you, or recognizing God’s grace pouring into your life are examples of this prayer form. The prayer might consist of just two words — “Praise God” — or several lines of praise, worship, or petitions.
Contemplative prayer is silent sitting in God’s presence. Practitioners seek to quiet their thoughts in order to become fully immersed in God’s presence. It does not involve words; it’s just awareness and resting with God. The Trappist Monks use a modern form of this practice called Centering Prayer, which is available to anyone.
St. Ignatius of Loyola believed that God can speak to us through scripture, helping us develop a more personal connection with Jesus. The reader “steps” into the scene, using all five senses to connect with the story. For an example of how scripture and imaginative prayer can bring depth to the Christmas story, see the separate article, “Three Wise Women: 40 Devotions Celebrating Advent with Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna.”
God wants to be in conversation with humanity, so it should not come as a surprise that there are many ways we can connect with God. If you are interested in experiencing some of the prayer forms covered in this article, join the St. Elizabeth Seton Spiritual Guides for A Morning of Prayer Retreat on January 24, 2026. To register, see the sidebar.
1 James Martin, Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2021), 44–50.
