Welcome to the Prayers and Reflections resource center. We've provided a rich assortment of writings that express the longing of the human soul for the divine. Feel free to browse, or add a special prayer of your own.

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Lord, I Know Not by François Fénelon Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee, Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. Father! Give to Thy child that with he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I simply present myself before Thee. I open my heart to Thee. Behold my need, which I know not myself; see and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smile or heal, depress me, or raise me up; I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them: I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee, I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray. Pray thyself in me.

Christian Prayer: The Basics by Helen Ciaravino 

Scholar Helene Ciaravino provides a fascinating history of Christian prayer and reviews the basic mechanics of Christian sacred readings and traditions.

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Batter My Heart by John Donne 

John Donne’s classic exclamation of devotion and longing from the seventeenth century.

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How Effective is Prayer? by Helene Ciaravino 

It is easy to say that prayer can make us feel really good; that it opens the individual up to better understanding and therefore improves his life; that it can provide calm and contentment, thus improving health and happiness. But is there any proof that prayer actually works? Is it really worth our while? Can we evaluate prayer as we would evaluate any other “treatment” or “therapy” and prove its effectiveness? In very recent years, science has put forth good efforts to do just that. And there have been reputable studies that confirm prayer’s power. This article examines the relationship between prayer and science. It presents studies that not only confirm the power of prayer, but also provide some surprising insights into the process of prayer.

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Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace 

A modern prayer, often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.

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The Canticle of Brother Sun 

A famous prayer written by St. Francis of Assisi.

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Why Don't We Pray? by Helene Ciaravino 

If prayer has so many benefits, why doesn’t everyone pray? Why is it such a struggle to pray at times? Why is it so easy to forget to pray, to make prayer a last priority, perhaps even to doubt prayer? In identifying why people don’t pray, we can trace most reasons back to fear. The remaining reasons have to do with the busy nature of our lives, the pride we face as people influenced by “rugged individualism,” and plain old lack of faith. This article studies common reasons why people might not pray, and also suggests some viable solutions.

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Prayer Is the Mother. . . by St. John Climacus 

Prayer is the mother and daughter of tears

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