Liturgy: Active or Contemplative? by Randall Smith

There are many kinds of prayer.  The Catechism lists vocal prayer, meditation, and contemplative prayer.  But we can add intercessory prayer, petitionary prayer, penitential prayer, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers where we simply try to listen in silence to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

People sometimes say that “somewhere” St. Augustine said: “He who sings prays twice.”  The problem is no one has ever found that “somewhere,” so he likely didn’t say it. But singing – chanting a psalm, for example – can also be a kind of prayer.  We ask for things we need in prayer; we give thanks for gifts received in prayer; and we seek forgiveness for wrongs we have done or for things left undone. …

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