The Five Types of Prayer

Preface: For a listing of hundreds of prayers with indulgences and special blessings attached to them, be sure to refer to a copy of the Raccolta often.  Click here to order one.





Adoration – In adoration we adore God as we rightfully should.  God is our Creator and Lord and by His divinity, He is worthy of praise and honor.  The angels who are before God’s throne unceasingly praise Him for His perfection and majesty.  If only we would devote a small fraction of our day to adoring Our God!

Contrition – As sinful creatures, we offend our Lord when we break His divine Law.  The be God’s friend and be in the state of grace, it is necessary to observe His Law – the Commandments.  Our Lord has said, “If you love me, keep My Commandments.”  We should regularly pray in reparation for our sins.  While only Sacramental confession can wash away the guilt of sin and restore us to God’s friendship, works of charity, indulgences, and prayers can make restitution to Divine Justice and pay the debt of our sins – thus saving us from prolonged trials in purgatory after death. If you do not, you should pray the Act of Contrition every single night before bed.  Start doing so tonight!

Thanksgiving - Giving God the thanks He deserves. We were created and redeemed by Him yet He continues to bless us and love us. God is deserving of all respect, yet this type of prayer is the least common one. What would happen if you one day you couldn't give thanks to God? What would happen if you suffered from a horrible condition and could no longer give God thanks? Remember to thank Your One God for His unexplainable love and blessings. The greatest expression of thanksgiving should be after one receives the Eucharist.

Petition - This is probably the most common type of prayer. We bring our requests before God for ourselves, our family, or our friends. At Mass petitions are read, but petitions can be said anytime or anywhere. Prayer doesn't have to be limited to one place. Some people do not believe in attending the Holy Mass. They say, "God is everywhere". Yes, but He is everywhere in different ways. God is truly present in the Eucharist - the most real presence of Our Lord on this earth. While we can pray anywhere the greatest prayers are those before the Eucharist, where the veil between Heaven and earth is at its thinnest.



The above are the four kinds of prayer known as the ACTS.  There is also a fifth sometimes considered called: 

Supplication (known also as intercession) - These prayers are very similar to those of petition, but there is a distinct difference. In prayers of intercession we are asking praying for others. These are the one type of prayer that includes the saints. We can ask these servants of God already in Heaven to pray for us just as we ask our friends on earth to pray for

We also need to be aware of a few other kinds of prayer:

Persevering Prayer - These are the prayers for the deepest intentions of our heart. If we pray night and day for this intention then this is persevering prayer. Job persevered in his prayers as illustrated in the Old Testament. I will go as far to say that all persevering prayers are answered as our Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7)

Meditative prayer - This is the simplest of prayers. In these we don't say anything. We simply meditate on God's love and mercy. These prayers are very common in those quiet moments of Eucharistic Adoration. Just being one with Our Lord is the greatest gift.

Note: This post is sponsored by CatechismClass.com and specifically is featured in their course: Prayer and Spirituality.