Prayer is understood as the lifting up of the mind and heart to God in adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication. Prayer is when we consecrate all our time and attention to God alone. Just as communication is essential to any relationship, so conversation with God is essential to a relationship with God. All must make time for prayer. We pray because Jesus prayed, for the reasons He prayed, and the way He taught us to pray. We teach prayer to others because Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

Generally speaking, parents are the ones who are responsible for teaching children to pray and to memorize prayers. Catechetical sessions, especially when only meeting once a week, are for review what the parents have taught. Here are some general principles to bear in mind when teaching prayer:

A. Prayer is learned by praying. It is important to take time for prayer when you meet for catechesis. It is important to teach students to pray at home, alone and with their families.

B. Explain the proper motivation for prayer: because God loves us, because we love God. God starts the conversation and waits for your response.

C. Provide the proper atmosphere for prayer: silence, stillness, proper posture, and certain places and times of the day that are best for prayers.

D. Encourage students to pray about what is important to them.

E. Make religion function throughout the day by means of prayer: an offering of the whole day in the morning, short phrases that can be memorized and prayed during the day, blessings at meals, an act of thanksgiving and contrition in the evening.

Here are some suggestions on how to teach prayer: