Day 352: Summary of the Battle of Prayer

Prayer presupposes an effort, a fight against ourselves and the wiles of the Tempter. the battle of prayer is inseparable from the necessary "spiritual battle" to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ: we pray as we live, because we live as we pray. CCC 2752

Today's reading from the Catechism is very short, just an In Brief summarizing what was covered over the past few days. I don't have much to add beyond what I've already been saying, other than my own personal struggle is with distractions intruding on nightly prayer. I'll be praying, and then thoughts of what I need to do the next day for work will suddenly come to mind. It can be frustrating, but it's something I continue to deal with.

The Catechism Companion Vol III has some good commentary on this:

There is hard work and struggle involved in prayer; we need to combat our inclinations and temptations. We have to be actively engaged in prayer, interacting with God's grace... There is an unbreakable relationship between praying and daily living. When we pray, God meets us where we are. We do not have to be perfect to begin or continue. Humility, trust, and perseverance in prayer are critical elements of an effective prayer life... Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemane is a model for our own prayer. In prayer, we should address God as our Father, be honest about our thoughts and feelings, and trust in God's will for our good. (p. 220)

Finally, Fr. Mike Schmitz has a great video on the battle of prayer: