If our heart seeks God in prayer, then prayer becomes the life of the heart.

I'm over at Catholic Exchange today, with some ideas from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on prayer... here's a snippet:

Christian tradition teaches widely about three forms of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation, and contemplation.  The Catechism says that all three have one basic trait in common: “composure of heart.” (CCC 2699).

Composure is the emotional make-up of the heart; it is largely the calmness or serenity that exists in our heart. Composure includes recollection of the heart – it’s memories. And what does the Catechism say best influences the composure our hearts? “Keeping the Word and dwelling in the presence of God.”(CCC 2699).

If our heart seeks God in prayer, then prayer becomes the life of the heart. It is where God renews our heart. It is a personal encounter with God, the One Who made our heart, mends our heart and expands our heart. But we have to be willing to be led, and receive his presence.

Each form of prayer, from vocal prayer to meditation to contemplation, yields a heart more open to God: an ever-deepening encounter with God, a deeper reception of the Word and Presence.

Read it all.