– It is necessary and through it the relationship of man with God is expressed:
Ps 104 : 4 : Have recourse to the Lord and his power, seek his face continually.
Eclo 18,22 : Let nothing prevent you from praying always, and do not be ashamed to progress in righteousness until death.
1Th 5:17 : Pray without ceasing.
1Tm 2,8 : I therefore want men to pray everywhere, lifting up pure hands, overcoming all hatred and resentment.
– We must pray for ourselves, especially in tribulations:
Ps 49:15 : Call upon me in the days of trouble, and I will deliver you and you will give me glory.
Ps 119,1 : In the hour of tribulation, I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.
Jas 5,13 : Is anyone among you sad? Pray! Is he happy? Sing.
– Pray also for others:
2Mc 1,6 : We, here, pray for you.
2Mc 15,14 : Behold the friend of his brothers, the one who prays a lot for the people and for the holy city, Jeremiah, the prophet of God.
Jr 42,2 : Hear our supplication, and intercede for us, with the Lord, in favor of what is left of us.
Br 1,13 : Pray also to the Lord our God for us, for we have sinned against him.
Col 4,2-3 : Be persevering, watchful in prayer accompanied by thanksgiving. Pray also for us.
1Th 5:25 : Brothers, pray for us too.
2Th 3,1 : Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread and be cherished, as it is among you.
Jas 5:16 : Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another to be healed.
– Pray for enemies:
Mt 5:44 : I, however, say to you: love your enemies […] pray for those who mistreat and persecute you.
Lk 6:28 : Bless those who curse you and pray for those who insult you.
Lk 23:34 : And Jesus said: “Father, forgive them; because they do not know what they are doing”.
Acts 7:60 : Kneeling down, he exclaimed in a loud voice: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them…”.
– God hears prayer:
Ex 2,24 : God heard their groans and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Ex 3,7 : I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cries because of their oppressors.
Ex 6,5 : I heard the cry of the Israelites oppressed by the Egyptians, and I remembered my covenant.
Tob 3:24 : These two prayers were heard at the same time, before the glory of the Most High God.
Pr 15:29 : The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Eclo 21,6 : The prayer of the poor rises from his mouth to the ears (of God), (and God) will hasten to give him justice.
Eclo 48,22 : They invoked the merciful Lord, raising their outstretched hands to heaven.
Mt 7,7-12 : Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. Because everyone who asks receives.
Jn 9:31 : We know, however, that God does not listen to sinners, but listens to those who worship him and do his will.
Acts 10 :4 : The angel replied: “Your prayers and your alms have gone up to the presence of God as a memorial offering”.
– One must be humble in prayer:
Lk 18,9-14 : Jesus also told them this parable about some who boasted as if they were righteous.
– Have confidence in prayer:
Mt 6,8 : Do not imitate them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Mt 21:22 : Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.
Lc 11,5-9 : And I say to you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Lc 18,1-8 : Jesus proposed a parable to them to show that it is necessary to pray always without ever ceasing to do so.
Rom 12:12 : Be rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer.
– Be persistent in prayer:
Tb 3,10ss : Sarah went up to her room and stayed there for three full days, without eating or drinking. And, praying fervently.
Lc 11,5-9 : And I say to you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Lc 18,1-8 : Jesus proposed a parable to them to show that it is necessary to pray always without ever ceasing to do so.
Rom 12:12 : Be rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer.
– The OT particularly recalls the prayer of Abraham:
Gen 18,23-33 : Abraham approached and said: “Will you make the righteous perish with the wicked?”.
From Moses:
Ex 32,11-12 : Moses tried to appease […] his God […]: “Why, Lord, does your anger burn against your people” .
Ex 33,13 : If it is true that I have all your favour, make known to me your designs .
Num 11,12 : Was it I who conceived this people? Or was it I who gave birth to him, so that you could say to me: carry him in your bosom.
From David:
2Sm 7,18-29 : King David came to present himself to the Lord and said: Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and who are my family?
From Solomon:
1Kings 8,22-53 : Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel.
From Hezekiah:
2Kings 19,15-19 : Praying to him: Lord, God of Israel, who sit on cherubim, you alone are God.
From Wing:
2Ch 14,10-11 : Asa invoked the Lord […] in these terms: Lord, it is not more difficult for you to help the weak than the strong.
From Josaphat:
2Ch 20 : “Lord”, he said, “God of our fathers, are you not the God of heaven and the ruler of all peoples?”.
From Elijah:
1Kings 18,36-37 : Elijah came forward and said: Lord, God of Abraham, […] let everyone know today that you are the God of Israel.
From Amos:
Am 7,1-6 : I said: “Lord, have mercy! How can Jacob resist when he is so small?”
From Jeremiah:
Jr 14,7-8.19-20: O Lord, if we are accused of our iniquities, act according to the honor of your name .
Jer 15:10 : Woe is me, O my mother, who bore me, to become an object of contention and discord throughout the earth!
Jr 20,7-18 : You seduced me, Lord; and I let myself be seduced! You dominated me and obtained the triumph.
From Ezra:
Es 9,6-15 : My God, I am covered with shame and confusion to lift my face to you.
From Nehemiah and others:
Ne 1,5-11 : May your ears be attentive […] to hear the prayer that I, your servant, am making .
1Mc 5,33 : Appeared in the rear of the enemy, playing the trumpets and raising prayers in a loud voice .
2Mc 8,29 : Having done this, they prayed to the Lord in common, begging for mercy and complete reconciliation with his servants .
2Mc 15,20-28 : Maccabeus, seeing this huge crowd, […] stretched out his hands to heaven and invoked the Lord.
– In the NT, the prayer of Jesus is frequent:
Mt 14:23 : Having done this, he went up to the mountain to pray in solitude.
Mk 1:35 : Having risen long before daybreak, he left and went to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
Lc 3,21 : When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened.
Lc 5,16 : But he used to withdraw to solitary places to pray.
Lc 6,12 : In those days, Jesus withdrew to a mountain to pray, and there he spent the whole night praying to God.
Lk 9,18.28 : One day when he was praying alone with his disciples, he asked them: “Who do they say that I am?”.
Lk 11 :1 : One day, in a certain place, Jesus was praying.
Lc 22,41.46 : Then he withdrew from them at the distance of a stone’s throw and, kneeling down, prayed.
– And it is confident abandonment in the hands of the Father:
Mt 11,25-26 : I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding.
Mark 8 :6: Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute.
Lk 9:16 : Then Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and blessed them.
Lk 10:21 : Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you for hiding these things from the wise and intelligent.
Jn 6:11 : Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks. Then he distributed them to the people.
Jn 11:41 : And the dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with bandages, and his face covered with a shroud.
– He prays during baptism:
Lc 3,21 : When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened.
– Before public life:
Mt 4,1-11 : Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Mk 1,12-13 : And immediately the Spirit drove him into the desert. There he stayed for forty days.
Lc 4,1-13 : Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert.
– Before the choice of apostles:
Mk 6:12 : They left and preached penance.
– Before the crush:
Jo 17 : Jesus […] said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
– In times of trouble:
Mt 26,36-44 : Jesus withdrew with them […] and said to them: “Sit here while I go over there and pray”.
Mk 14,35-41 : He prostrated himself with his face to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
Lc 22,42 : Father, if it pleases you, remove this cup from me! However, not my will, but yours be done.
Lk 23:46 : Jesus then gave a loud cry and said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”.
Jn 12:27 : Now my soul is troubled. But what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour.
Heb 5,7 : In the days of his mortal life, he directed prayers and supplications, amid cries and tears.
– On the cross:
Mt 27,46 : Close to the ninth hour, Jesus exclaimed in a loud voice: “Eli, Eli, lammá sabactáni?”.
Lk 23:46 : Jesus then gave a loud cry and said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”.
– Pray for Peter:
Luke 22:32 : But I have prayed for you, that your confidence may not fail.
– For your:
Jo 17,9-19 : I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those you have given me, because they are yours.
– For future disciples:
Jn 17:20 : I do not pray for them only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.
– By executioners:
Lk 23:34 : And Jesus said: “Father, forgive them; because they do not know what they are doing”.
– Continue to pray in glory for his:
Rom 8:34 : Christ Jesus, who died, or rather who rose from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, is the one who intercedes for us!
Heb 7:25 : That is why it is possible for him to complete his salvation […] because he always lives to intercede on his behalf.
1Jn 2,1 : If anyone sins, we have an intercessor with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
– Jesus teaches his disciples to pray:
Mt 6,9-10 : This is how you should pray: OUR FATHER, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Lc 11,2-4 : Then he said to them: “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name; your Kingdom come”.
– Who must address God in intimacy:
Mt 6,6 : When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret.
– Invoking him as Father:
Mt 6,9-10 : This is how you should pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Lc 11,2-3 : Then he said to them: “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name; your Kingdom come”.
– Prayer must be abandoned to the tender Father for his children:
Mt 6,25-33 : Therefore, behold, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body.
Mt 7,7-11 : Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you.
Lc 11,9-10 : And I say to you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Lc 12,22-32 : Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat.
– Who knows your needs:
Mt 6,8 : Do not imitate them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
– Likes to be teased
Lk 11,5-6 : If one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves”.
Lc 18,1-8 : Jesus proposed a parable to them to show that it is necessary to pray always without ever ceasing to do so.
– Bend to a humble and repentant heart:
Lk 15,20-21 : He was still a long way off when his father saw him and […] ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him.
Lc 18,10-14 : The publican, however, keeping at a distance, […] beat his chest, saying: O God, have mercy on me.
– Hear the Word addressed to him in the name of the Son:
Jo 14,13-14 : And whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Jn 15:7.16 : If you remain in me […] ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.
Jn 16,23-24.26 : Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Jas 5,13-17 : Is anyone among you sad? Pray! Is he happy? Sing. Is anyone sick ?
– Especially when it is addressed to you united in charity:
Mt 18,19-20 : If two of you unite on earth to ask anything, you will get it from my Father.
Jn 15:7.16 : If you remain in me […] ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.
– And he ensures that he listens to those who address him:
Mt 7,7-8 : Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. Because everyone who asks receives.
Mt 18:19 : If two of you unite on earth to ask anything, you will get it from my Father.
Mt 21:22 : Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.
Mark 11:24 : Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be given to you.
Lc 11,9 : And I say to you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
– Jesus often invites us to prayer:
Mt 7:11 : If you then, who are evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more your heavenly Father.
Mt 9:38 : So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest.
Mt 18:19 : If two of you unite on earth to ask anything, you will get it from my Father.
Mt 21:22 : Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.
Mark 11:24 : Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be given to you.
Lk 8:50 : But Jesus heard him and said to Jairus: “Do not be afraid; only believe and she will be saved.”
Lk 11:13 : If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father.
Lk 22:40 : When he reached that place, he said to them: “Pray so that you do not fall into temptation”.
– And it indicates the conditions faith:
Mt 17,19-20 : Because of your lack of faith. Truly I say to you, if you have faith, like a mustard seed.
Mk 9:23 : Jesus said to him: “If you can do anything!… All things are possible for those who believe”.
Mark 11:24 : Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be given to you.
Lk 17:19 : And he added: “Get up and go, your faith has made you well”.
– Humility:
Lk 18,9-14 : Jesus also told them this parable about some who boasted as if they were righteous.
– Perseverance:
Lk 11,5-8 : If one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves”.
Lc 18,1-7 : Jesus proposed a parable to them to show that it is necessary to pray always without ever ceasing to do so.
– Trust:
Lc 11,9 : And I say to you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
– Be done in spirit:
Jn 4:23 : True worshipers must worship the Father in spirit and truth.
– And in a few words:
Mt 6,7 : In your prayers, do not multiply words, as the heathen do.
– Paul also recommends prayer on every occasion:
Rom 1:10 : I beseech him, if it be his will, finally to grant me a favorable opportunity to visit you.
Rom 12:12 : Be rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer.
Eph 6,18 : Intensify your invocations and supplications. Pray in every circumstance for the Spirit.
Col 1 :9 : Since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you.
Col 4,2 : Be persevering, watchful in prayer, accompanied by thanksgiving.
1Tm 2,1-3.8 : Above all, I recommend that prayers, prayers, supplications, thanksgiving be made for all men.
2Tm 1,3.11 : I give thanks to God, whom I serve […] and I remember you without ceasing in my prayers, night and day.
Fm 1 : I never cease to give thanks to my God and to remember you in my prayers.
– Through intercession, thanksgiving and supplication:
Phl 4,6 : In all circumstances present your concerns to God, through prayer, supplications.
1Tm 2,1 : Above all, I recommend that prayers, prayers, supplications, thanksgivings be made for all men.
– Paul prays day and night:
1Th 3:10 : Night and day, with intensities
