5. Must we also 'beg graces' of God?
'Ask,' says Jesus Christ Himself, 'and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you' (Luke xi. 9).
6. Is Prayer necessary to all?
Prayer is necessary for salvation to all who have sufficiently the use of reason.
7. Why is Prayer necessary to all?
Because God has commanded it, and because, without it, we do not receive the graces necessary to persevere to the end.
8. But does not God already know what we stand in need of?
Most certainly; but we do not pray to tell God what we stand in need of, but to acknowledge Him as the Giver of all good gifts, to testify our dependence on Him, and thereby to render ourselves more worthy of His gifts.
9. What are the principal fruits of Prayer?
Prayer, 1. Unites us to God; 2. Makes us heavenly-minded; 3. Strengthens us against evil; 4. Gives us zeal and energy for good; 5. Comforts us in adversity; and 6. Obtains help for us in time of need, and the grace of perseverance unto death.
Examples: Moses (Exod. xvii. 11); Samuel (1 Kings xii. 18); Judith (Judith ix., etc.); Esther (Esther xiv., etc.); the Machabees (2 Mac. xv. 27); the first Christians whilst Peter was in prison (Acts xii. 5, etc.).
10. How must we pray that we may obtain these fruits?
We must pray, 1. With devotion; 2. With humility; 3. With confidence; 4. With resignation to the will of God; and 5. With perseverance.
11. When do we pray 'with devotion'?
When our prayer comes from the heart, and we avoid all distracting thoughts as much as possible.
