Drawn to Prayer Series
Led by the Divine Mercy Pastorate Spiritual Committee, this series will feature one bulletin article per month on the topic of Prayer.
COME PRAY WITH US!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ARTICLE 3 RESOURCES:
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 946-962
The Communion of Saints
What it's about: This is the actual Catechism text used in drafting this article, with the Church's teaching on what it means that we're united with the living, the dead, and the saints in heaven.
Why it's recommended: Everything in this article- the three states of the Church, praying for the dead, asking the saints to pray for us- traces back to this one teaching. If you only read one resource from this list, this is the one.
Catholic Review (OSV News) - "The History Behind All Saints' and All Soul's Days"
What it's about: A short, well-sourced article walking through how both days developed over the centuries, more than the room that was available for the article.
Why it's recommended: It expands on the history of each day. If that left you curious, this fills in the rest.
School of Faith - "Church Militant, Church Suffering, Church Triumphant"
What it's about: A short, clear handout on the three states of the Church, the same framework we used in this article.
Why it's recommended: This is a quick read if you want the three states explained a little more fully than could be fit in the article.
Susan Tassone - Praying with the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory (OSV, 2009)
What it's about: Susan Tassone calls on the saints for support of loved ones in purgatory, drawing on the devotions and prayers the Communion of Saints has offered for the holy souls throughout the ages.
Why it's recommended: If the Eternal Rest prayer that was shared here is the start of something for you, this book is where you should go to dig deeper into praying for the dead specifically.
Catholic Answers - "Praying to the Saints" (Jimmy Akin, audio)
What it's about: A short audio piece explaining why and how Catholics ask the saints to pray for us.
Why it's recommended: If the idea of asking a saint to pray for you, which you are invited to do in this article, still feels unfamiliar, this is a clear, approachable explanation of what we're actually doing when we do that.
ARTICLE 3 RESOURCES:
The Ultimate Guide to Prayer - Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
What it's about: This is Fr. Mike walking you through prayer step by step, no jargon, no assumptions about what you already know.
Praying with Children - Loyola Press
What it's about: Simple, practical ways to bring young kids into prayer: short words, everyday moments, postures they can actually do.
Why it's recommended: These ingredients aren't just for adults. If you're raising kids or working with them, this shows you how the same building blocks work at their level too.
Postures of Prayer - Franciscan Media
What it's about: A short read on why we kneel, stand, and use our bodies the way we do when we pray.
Why it's recommended: Posture was briefly mentioned in the "How to Pray" article, so this goes further in depth about the topic.
Time for God - Fr. Jacques Philippe, Scepter Publishers
What it's about: A short, classic book entirely devoted to making time for prayer a real, lasting priority.
Why it's recommended: If "making the time" is the one ingredient you want to actually dig into, this is the book for you.
ARTICLE 2 RESOURCES:
The Power of Prayer - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon
What it's about: A short video homily from Bishop Barron on why prayer matters and what it asks of us
Why it's recommended: A quick, accessible way to hear a trusted, well-known voice speak directly to the question of "why pray."
Morning Offering - Prayer Text and History
What it's about: The full traditional wording of the Morning Offering, along with its origin in the 19th-century Apostleship of Prayer
Why it's recommended: Gives the actual words to pray each morning, beyond just the idea
The Daily Examen - IgnatianSpirituality.com
What it's about: A short guide (and companion video) walking through the classic five-step Ignatian Examen, the nightly prayer of reviewing the day with God
Why it's recommended: Expands the article reference of "a brief examen" into an actual, prayable practice, in both a read-it and watch-it format.
Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe
What it's about: A widely read modern book on trust, surrender, and finding peace by letting go of what we can't control
Why it's recommended: A full-length treatment of the "letting go and trusting in His timing" idea that is presented in the "Why Pray" article
How to access: Available in print or e-book through most major retailers and Catholic bookstores
ARTICLE 1 RESOURCES:
Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft
What it's about: A short, accessible book by Catholic Apologist Peter Kreeft that walks through what prayer is, what it isn't, and why people struggle with it.
Why it's recommended: It speaks honestly to people who feel discouraged or "bad" at prayer, and offers a thoughtful, plain-language entry point without oversimplifying
How to access: freely available within FORMED (formed.org) or available as an audiobook for purchase
Bishop Barron Commentary on What is Prayer
What it's about: A short video commentary in which Bishop Robert Barron explains what prayer is and what sets Christian prayer apart from other spiritual practices.
Why it's recommended: It's a quick, clear, and engaging way to hear the Church's understanding of prayer from a trusted, well-known voice
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part Four, Section One
CCC 2558-2565
What it's about: The Church's own official teaching on prayer, laid out concisely at the start of the Catechism's section on Christian prayer.
Why it's recommended: It's the most direct and authoritative source available - the original text itself, not someone else's summary of it.