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Questions / Prayer and the Church year

How do I pray?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Fr. Mike Schmitz

Video: Fr. Mike’s Prayer for Beginners, Ascension Presents, published Jun 28, 2023. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Lift your mind and heart to God. And relax: He called you first. CCC 2559 CCC 2567

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” CCC 2559

Humility is the foundation of prayer. CCC 2559

God calls each person first, tirelessly, to the encounter we call prayer. CCC 2567

Our words

Start small. Five minutes, a quiet spot, honest words. Tell Him what’s actually going on. Then listen a little.

Next step: Try Evening Prayer

Honestly? The best answers come from people, not websites. Take the next step: find a parish near you

Related questions

Why do my prayers seem unanswered? Ascension Presents · 8 minDo Catholics also pray for the dead? Ascension Presents · 7 minWhat is the Rosary? Bishop Robert Barron · 4 minWhat is the Liturgy of the Hours? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 11 min

Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2559, 2567 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.