A Series of Talks on Prayer - Part II

​The Verbum Dei-Tagaytay community held a series of online talks about prayer. The first 2 were given by Sr Grace Gonzales. The subsequent sessions were given by Srs Rachel and Rana:
 
Talk 3 (September 18, 2020). How to Pray with the Word of God. This was guided by Sr. Rachel Lumain, FMVD. The 3rd topic on the series was How to Pray with the Word of God. A Church document called, Gaudium et Spes (GS), no.19, says that we are called to establish a relationship with God – from our origin we “already invited to converse with God.”
 
How do we pray and listen with the Word of God? “Prayer should accompany the reading of the Word of God…” (Dei Verbum # 25). The dynamism of the Word: is the essence of the Verbum Dei character, and is the “vital encounter with the Word of God.”
 
When we pray, we use the acronym: LALA, for Listening, Assimilation, Living the Word and Announcing/proclaiming the Word. Sr. Rachel also mentioned the brief history and importance of Lectio Divina. In the document Verbum Domini, no. 87, it says, this prayer opens us to the treasures of God’s Word and leads us to an encounter with Christ, the living Word. It is indeed a transforming prayer, leading us to grow in our relationship and union with God. It leads us to become contemplatives in action. Participants were also taught the steps on how to pray through Lectio Divina.
 
Talk 4 (September 25, 2020). Blueprint of Prayer with Workshop, which was directed by Sr. Rana Elisino, FMVD. The last topic on prayer was The Blueprint of Prayer and Workshop of Prayer. Sr. Rana taught participants that when we pray, there are some preparations we need to do, like:
 
          Presence:  External preparation (establish a Time, a Place and Position)
                         Internal preparation (there has to be Inner silence and Detachment)
          Thanksgiving: We recognize the goodness of God in our life
          Forgiveness:  Ask for forgiveness from God, Others and Ourselves
          Petition:  Specific graces needed in prayer, like:
                             Faith
                             Understanding
                             Honesty
                             Willingness to do the will of God
                        Fruit of prayer
                        Holy detachment of petition
 
Session 5 (October 2, 2020). This last part of the Formation series gave participants a brief summary of the Prayer topics which was facilitated by Sr. Grace. It was also an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and to clarify on what they have heard and learned during the month-long Formation.
The participants appreciated these talks and helped them to grow more in their relationship with God through a closer dialogue with him prayer.  

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