There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over THE LORD’S PRAYER

unanswered prayers.
Ama Namin. Our Father.
-Saint Teresa of Avila
Padre Nuestro (Spanish) Pater Noster (Latin)

INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE

The “Lord’s Prayer” is our model of prayer. It gives
Lord`s Prayer us a summary of what Jesus wants us to know. Its structure is
Hail Mary also a way how we can structure our prayers.
Glory Be
Angelus When we pray, our focus is not on ourselves but on
Holy Rosary God. This is why Jesus taught us to call our God “Father”. We
Angel of God focus ourselves to a God who is very personal to us that we
Vincentian Prayer can call him “Our Father.” He is a God we share with
Act of Contrition everyone, not just “my Father” but ours.
Apostle`s Creed Jesus teaches us that our God is also almighty God,
that He is holy. We know that our prayers are heard by a God
BEING PRAYERFUL IS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP who will give us what we really need at the right time and
place. This is why after the “address”, we tell God our
 We need to make prayer part of our life. petitions
 Prayer should not be reserved for the most serious
situations, or when something bad occurs. God relates to us personally. God shows His love in
 It should not be limited to any religious purpose only. the person and things around us. His love overflows. This is
 Prayer is about intimacy and slavery. why we cannot help but give praise and thanks to Him in a
personal way as a well-prayer.

Through prayer, we praise and give thanks to God.

For mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an We also ask for forgiveness and say our petitions. We trust that
intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time God will give us the best and so we are not ashamed to ask.
frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.
Prayer develops an awareness of our relationship
-St Teresa of Avila: The Book of Her Life, ch. 8, 5. with God (CFC1476). We become close to Him. When we
constantly pray, we do not just talk to God, but we also listen
to Him. But God does not speak to us the way people do. He
4 HELPFUL KEYS TO BEING PRAYERFUL speaks to us in different ways. Sometimes God answers our
prayers through people and events.
1. Make it a habit.
The best way to make something a habit is to make it
practically achievable and second to attach it to an KINDS OF PRAYER
existing habit.
FORMAL PRAYERS
2. Make it exciting.
Prayer should not become dry and difficult. Keeping Those that are already composed in a certain form.
prayer fresh and fun may be the greatest secret to being SPONTANEOUS PRAYERS
prayerful.
Prayers you make on your own.
3. Make it by the spirit.
PUBLIC PRAYERS
Prayer is not a work of the flesh. You need to employ
the help of the Holy Spirit with your prayers. Prayers we usually do with other people.

4. Make it the Word. PRIVATE PRAYERS

God has promised to answer our prayers when we
This is the time when we can be alone with God and tell Him
pray His will.
our concerns.
 This line can be confusing. We know that our time in
the physical world is finite, so why are we saying that the
HAIL MARY world will “never end?” This is a result of what some call poor
(Ave Maria – Latin) translation. Here, we’re not talking about our time on Earth;
rather we’re stressing our belief that God’s Kingdom in
The Ave Maria is perhaps the most popular of all the Heaven never ends.
Marian prayers. It is composed of two distinct parts, a
Scriptural part and an intercessory part. The first part, the
Scriptural part, is taken from the Gospel of St. Luke and joins ANGELUS
together the words of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation
(Lk 1:28) together with Elizabeth's greeting to Mary at the By the end of the 16th century, the Angelus had
Visitation (Luke 1:42). become the prayer that we know today: three Hail Marys, with
short verses in between (called versicles), ending with a
The second half of the prayer “Holy Mary..” can be prayer. It was first published in modern form in a catechism
traced back to the 15th century where two endings are found. around 1560 in Venice.
One ending, “Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis
peccatoribus” is found in the writings of St. Bernardine of This devotion reminds us of the Angel Gabriel’s
Siena (1380-1444 AD) and the Carthusians. annunciation to Mary, Mary’s fiat, the Incarnation and Our
Lord’s passion and resurrection. It is repeated as a holy
invitation, calling us to prayer and meditation. For centuries
GLORY BE OR DOXOLOGY the Angelus was always said while kneeling, but Pope
Benedict XIV (r. 1740-1758)
(Gloria Patri – Latin)

A short expression of praise to the Trinity from the

very early Church. Authors such as Hippolytus (d. 235) and THE 3 O’CLOCK PRAYER
Origen (ca 231) use very similar phrases in praise of the It is likewise appropriate to pray the Chaplet during
Trinity. The form became fixed to what we have today by the the "Hour of Great Mercy" — three o'clock each afternoon
time of the Arian controversies of the 4th century. It is used (recalling the time of Christ’s death on the cross). In His
extensively in the Mass, the Divine Office, and also many revelations to St. Faustina, Our Lord asked for a special
other devotions such as the Rosary. remembrance of His Passion at that hour.
Recognizing our tendency as humans to forget to
regularly give God His just praise, the Church began the
practice of singing or reciting the Glory Be as early as the 4th HAIL HOLY QUEEN
century. In addition to giving praise to God’s glory, the prayer
emphasizes Jesus’ divinity by including the words “and to the St. Alphonsus Liguori thought so highly of the Hail
Son.” We are extending our praise to Jesus who is true God Holy Queen that he analyzed it in great detail in his well-
and true man—He was made of flesh and blood like us, but known 18th-century book The Glories of Mary.
unlike us, He is divine. In this prayer, we pay homage to the Blessed Virgin
The prayer then takes it one step further to include Mary, our “Mother of Mercy,” and humbly ask for her
the Holy Spirit, the third person that makes up the Holy assistance. Many religious over the centuries (including quite
Trinity: one God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. a few saints!) have considered her help to be essential for our
salvation.
This first line summarizes the mystery of our faith:
God who is the Father; Jesus, the Son of God who became
human and lived among us to die for our sins, and the Holy MEMORARE
Spirit who dwells within all of us.
The Memorare is an efficacious invocation of the
“As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be…” Blessed Mother to intercede in our lives on behalf of Her Son.
The “it” is referring to God, His teachings, His The prayer puts us in a place of adoration of Mary as
words, and His promises. We’re stating our belief that all that the Mother of God and all the wonders of God’s creation and
Jesus professed and promised is as true and relevant today as it redemption of mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ.
was in the beginning. It also emphasizes the eternal existence
of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

“World without end” ANGEL OF GOD

 The guardian angel prayer is a simple prayer that asks In our modern world, the hunger for something truly
our guardian angel to help make our paths straight, to guide meaningful has become more evident than ever before.
our steps and to light our way.

People go through different jobs looking for

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT something that will give them a sense of professional
accomplishment and satisfaction.
(Veni Sancte Spiritus – Come Holy Spirit)
They join different groups, chat on the Internet, or
As our Advocate, we must pray to the Holy Spirit to send countless text messages on a cellular phone to find
inspire us to live holy and fruitful lives. Just as we need him to people who will listen to them and laugh with them.
receive grace through the sacraments, we also need him to use
this grace to spread the message of redemption and These activities represent a positive development in
sanctification throughout the whole world. people’s search for more meaning in their lives.

An even more encouraging development is the

increase in the number of people who have sought-and found-
ACT OF CONTRITION the end to their quest for meaning in the BIBLE, THE WORD
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended OF GOD.
Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments,
but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all
good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the BIBLE
help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near
occasion of sin. Amen. The Bible is the God-inspired written record of how
He made Himself known to certain people in history. This is
why the Bible is also called Scriptures, meaning “sacred
writings.”
PRAYER BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS
The word Bible comes from the Greek word ta’biblia.
Praying before and after meals teaches children the It is a plural noun, which means the Books. When this word
importance of prayer throughout the day, not just in the was translated into Latin, it became singular as the Bible.
morning and before bedtime.

After our meal, it is appropriate to thank God for

what we have eaten—and for all His blessings which we BIBLE IS GOD’S LIVING WORD FOR US
receive all day long!
God’s revelation is sacred. The scriptures are not just
records. They have meaning for us today because God is a
living God and His Word is a Living Word.
BASIC TYPES OF PRAYER
In Vatican II Council’s decree on Divine Revelation,
(Pattern of Prayer) the Bible is described as “Sacred books where God as Father
ADORATION lovingly comes to His children and talks to them.”

To adore, worship and praise God.

CONTRITION BIBLE IN GENERAL VIEW

To ask for forgiveness for the sins we have committed. 1.The Bible is about God.

THANKSGIVING Through His inspired Word in the Bible, we can get to know
our God- who and what He is, His character and His purpose
To thank God for the blessings he gives us each moment of in creating, redeeming and sanctifying us.
our lives.
2. The Bible is about people.
SUPPLICATION
The great part of the Bible consists of narratives about real
To tell God of our needs and the needs of others. men and women to whom the Word of God came.

3. The Bible is about salvation history.

THE SOURCE: GOD’S WORD IN THE SCRIPTURES Salvation history is the story of God’s plan of salvation which
began with Israel, reached its climax in Jesus Christ, continues
to our present time in the Church and will go on till the end of Because the Bible is divinely inspired, it is free from
time. error in matters that concern our salvation. Inerrancy does not
imply that the Bible is free from any error.

The Church’s teaching on biblical inerrancy is that

4. The Bible is about faith. the religious messages found in the Bible are without error-
It is a book of faith which grew from a believing community. truths about salvation that teach us who God is and who were,
It is the living witness to God and the central source for and God’s ultimate plan for our journey through life.
revealing Himself and His salvation to us today.

5. The Bible is about us. BIBLE IS A COLLECTION OF MANY BOOKS

The Bible provides us with a unique and irreplaceable means "the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,"
to understand the true meaning of what is happening in our early 14c., from Anglo-Latin biblia, Old French bible (13c.)
lives- our relationships, our dreams and our difficulties. "the Bible," also any large book generally, from Medieval and
Late Latin biblia "the Bible" (neuter plural interpreted as
feminine singular), from phrase biblia sacra "holy books," a
BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD IN HUMAN WORDS translation of Greek ta biblia to hagia "the holy books." The
Latin word is from the Greek one, biblion "paper, scroll," also
Inspiration is a mystery, a divine action. One never
the ordinary word for "a book as a division of a larger work;"
knows when it will come or where it will come from. Biblical
inspiration is unique and is unlike the inspiration we usually
relate to the inspiration for creative work which people like
artists get. The Christian Bible has two major parts:

Vatican II presents its description of biblical OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT

inspiration in the following passage: (God’s covenant (with us believers, with the Israelites) His
“… the books of the Old and New Tesataments, people today)
whole and entire with all their parts, [were] written under the Testament - “agreement or covenant”
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author
and have been handed on as such to the Church itself.”

-Vatican II, Dei Verbum II OLD TESTAMENT

The Bible is a divinely inspired book. Biblical (TaNaK – Hebrew)

inspiration means that the authors were inspired by God
Himself for a unique purpose (salvation). It is centered on the covenant God made with the
Israelites and the many consequences of this covenant on their
God was using the authors’ own styles and own lives not only as individuals but especially as a nation. This
abilities to communicate His message to their own audiences covenant is recorded in the OT as part of the religious history
and to the world. God influenced the entire formation of the of Israel before the coming of Christ.
Bible.

He inspired and guided the preachers, writers, editors

and copyists and other people who selected and compiled the TORAH / PENTATEUCH (The Law)
Sacred Scriptures. It is most sacred to the Jews for it contains the revelations of
God + Human authors = True author of the Bible God as the One who makes the covenant with them.

The Bible is without error regarding truths for our Five Books of Moses
salvation. The Church teaches- 1. Genesis
“Since all of Scripture was written, compiled and edited 2. Exodus
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge
that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully and without error 3. Leviticus
teach the truth which God, for the sake of our salvation,
4. Numbers
wished to see confided the Sacred Scriptures.”
5. Deuteronomy
-Vatican II, Dei Verbum II
THE PROPHETS / NEVI ‘IM
It contains the writings of the prophets and their speeches 11. Nehemiah
about the Israelites’ covenant with God.
12. 1 Chronicle
Former/Nonwriting Prophets (Historical Books)
13. 2 Chronicles
Joshua | Judges | 1 Samuel | 2 Samuel | 1 Kings | 2 Kings
14. Wisdom
Latter or Writing Prophet (Major Prophets)
15. Sirach
1. Isaiah
16. Tobit
2. Jeremiah
17. Judith
3. Ezekiel
18. Baruch

19. Maccabees
(Minor Prophets)

These books elaborate in one way or another what the

covenant with God means. NEW TESTAMENT

1. Hosea It deals with the New Covenant of God’s people with

Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son who became man to
2. Joel save humankind from sin. His death and Resurrection finally
fulfilled God’s promises in the Old Testament of a Savior for
3. Amos Israel and brought universal deliverance for all of humanity.
4. Obadiah THE GOSPELS
5. Jonah Four different accounts on Jesus’ redeeming life,
6. Michah teachings and work written in four unique ways. The climax in
each gospel is Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection.
7. Nahum
 Matthew
8. Habbakuk  Mark
 Luke
9. Zephaniah
 John
10. Haggai

11. Zechariah
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
12. Malachi
It is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. It records the
events in the early Church from Christ’s ascension to Paul’s
missionary journey to Rome.
WRITINGS / KETUVIM

1. Psalm
APOSTOLIC LETTERS OR EPISTLES
2. Proverbs
These are letters of Paul and three other apostles,
3. Job namely Peter, John and James, to the Christian communities.
These letters provide teachings and instructions in Christian
4. Song of songs
faith and practices.
5. Ruth
Romans 1 Thessalonians
6. Lamentations
1 Corinthians 2 Thessalonians
7. Ecclesiastes
2 Corinthians 1 Timothy
8. Esther
Galatians 2 Timothy
9. Daniel
Ephesians Titus
10. Ezra
Philippians Philemon
Colossians

BOOK OF REVELATION

It is the last book of the Bible and is the only

apocalyptic book (concerning the end of the world). It contains
John’s vision of Christ’s Second Coming and the completion
of God’s Kingdom.

THE CANON OF SCRIPTURES

The Canon of Scriptures refers to the complete list of

books in the Old and New Testaments recognized by the
Church as divinely inspired.

Christians believe that the Holy Spirit guided the

human authors in composing the Bible and the Church in
discerning which books are “inspired”.

The Catholic Canon accepted 46 books of the Old

Testament and 27 books of the New Testament as inspired,
sacred and canonical.

SUMMARY

1. The Bible is God’s Living Word. God communicates to us

today through the Bible.

2. The Bible reveals who God is, chronicles His dealings with
His Chosen People, and explains and clarifies His people’s
response of faith. Most importantly, the Bible is about us and
thus helps us discover who we are.

3. Since the Bible is a divinely inspired book with God as its

author, its religious message is without error.

4. The long and complex history of the making of the Bible

differentiates it from any other book and thus shows how
necessary it is for us to interpret it accurately.

5. The Bible is meant to help us believe in, love and obey God.
It is the faith testimony of people about their experience of
God who calls for a faith response. All Christians must learn to
read, study and live the message of the Bible in their daily
lives.