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by Fr John Brian, Holy Transfiguration Mission, Madison, Wisconsin
Prayer is not form, it is function.
It is not posture, it is relation.
However, proper posture and proper form give prayer more profound function and
deeper relationship.
One cannot know this until one has made the effort.
We will put effort into how and when we pray only after an honest appraisal of
our distance from God and our lack communication with Him during the activities
of our day-to-day life. These problem in our relationship with God become
evident in times of sorrow and struggle.
"Lord, teach us to pray" is a request that reveals the Lord's prayer in the
scriptures. In Holy Qurbana (liturgy), the priest announces the congregation's
willingness to be taught the fullness of the Lord's prayer, by asking God:
- to open our mouths and our lips
Why do you bow down before the altar?
1. that is what is in the book instructions (rubrics) - obedience
- to cleanse our bodies and our souls
- purify our hearts and our minds
- so that we may invoke Thee and Pray to Thee, saying:
Our Father...
2. that is what I need to do for proper worship and prayer - humility
3. this is my proper position before God - honesty
4. I need to present myself before God for His mercy on us all - sacrifice
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