What are the different parts of a prayer? Twenty years ago I knew this, but today I can't remember. It seems like prayers are comprised of 4 parts.

Soprano, alto, tenor, bass.

Opening address, praise, intercession, conclusion. (Just a guess from the way most collects are structured: God, who does (X), grant, we beseech Thee, that (Y, somehow related to X), through the same Jesus Christ your Son, who livest ....)

Thanks, Obi.

Another way to consider it:
1. saying the praises of God,
2. requesting one's needs, and
3. thanking God for his blessings.

That's kind of what I thought the 4 parts were: praise, asking forgiveness, requests/intercession, thanksgiving. Is that accurate or off base somewhere?

I think that adoration and worship needs to be in there.

You might be thinking of:

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

cf. Summa Theologica II-IIa, q83, a17.

I was going to say first, second, third, and home, but that would have been silly.

I was under the impression that prayer covers such a broad range of situations and purpose that there was not set structure. I understand a structure for formal prayer, but personal and informal?

Educate me.

I knew there was a clever acronym that went with it. I just couldn't figure out what TACS stood for. Your way makes much more sense.

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That's kind of what I thought the 4 parts were: praise, asking forgiveness, requests/intercession, thanksgiving. Is that accurate or off base somewhere?[/quote]

I was taught that there are 4 types of prayers: prayers of praise, prayers of forgiveness, prayers of intercession, and prayers of thanksgiving.

Learner

I'm not familiar with this. What is this? Different parts of prayers? Is this the proper way to pray as a Catholic?

Yes it is proper. Please examine the Lord's Prayer. You'll find each of the parts Obi pointed out above.



Some prayers leave out one part or another, but to be most correct there needs to be 4 parts.

What? Cite some authoritative source that says so.

Watch this I can make up a little prayer right now.

Eternal Father----Opening address

Joy surpassing all joy----praise

Grant catholicinquirer2008 the faith he needs--intercession

Amen----conclusion


See? It's easy.


I have no source other than Obi.

nice.

though I usually do: praise Him, thank Him, ask for forgiveness, ask for specific intentions during my morning prayers I don't pray the same way all day long...
~isn't praying a personal conversation with God?... why must there be rules?


just sayin

I think the reason for mentioning the parts of prayer is so that we don't inadvertently, or through negligence leave anything important out.

There are still people who think that prayer is mainly intercessory.
And, we should do intercessory prayer, but for a right relationship with the Lord the other parts should not be neglected, so it is good to mention them.

I totally understand and agree that those things are very important to prayer. I was just making the point that every time you pray (especially if you "Pray without ceasing") if you feel confined to strict guidelines your prayer is not as "personal" and from the heart... that's all I'm saying.

I certainly agree with you that we should be natural and spontaneous as we "pray without ceasing" from the heart, and not feel the need to stop and think if we are doing it right.

I really like your avatar "saint daisy". Isn't it the window of the Holy Spirit above the main altar in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome?

Thanks. I think it is... I had to look it up I actually got it from a website on Cursillo

holy spirit