Christian Spirituality – Rote Prayer vs. Spontaneous Prayer

One of the most common questions I get about Christian spirituality is, “Why do Catholics use such rote prayers while non-Catholic Christians (and charismatic Catholics) seem so much more comfortable praying spontaneously?”

It’s a good question and the answer is fairly complex. You see, there is a proper role for both rote (pre-written) and spontaneous prayer in the Catholic spiritual tradition. One style of prayer is really not better or worse than the other – and either kind of prayer can be abused. But before we get into how each of these prayer styles should be used, let’s remind ourselves of what proper prayer is in the first prayer.

What Matters Most in Christian Spirituality?

What matters most – no matter what form or expression of prayer we use – is what is happening in our hearts. Saint Therese of Lisieux describes prayer as, “the lifting of our hearts to God.” What’s important in prayer is that our hearts are seeking God out of love for Him. If we’re seeking God so that God will do something for us, we’re not truly engaged in Christian prayer or Christian spirituality. In fact, the pagans in the Old Testament from the Tower of Babel to the Babylonian exile were guilty of this error. They wanted a god they could control – one that would give them what they wanted. They wanted a cosmic Santa Clause. But God’s message to humanity has always been that He is not a power to be controlled, but a Father to be loved. So do you see how either kind of prayer can be misused?

What Makes Our Prayer Meaningful?

But can rote prayer really lift our hearts to God? Isn’t it just a mechanical repetition of formulae? It sure can be. But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, rote prayer can be a very meaningful and loving prayer if:
1. You understand the meaning of the prayer and
2. You pray with that meaning in your heart.

Likewise, spontaneous prayer is meaningful and loving if:
1. You think about the words you are using and what they mean
2. You really mean what you pray in your heart

Otherwise, we can be in danger with spontaneous prayer of “heaping up empty phrases” (Matthew 6:7).

Why Are Catholics Uncomfortable With Spontaneous Prayer?

Finally, what about the idea that Catholics are uncomfortable with spontaneous prayer? Unfortunately, I find this to be true. But it’s not because spontaneous prayer is a particularly non-Catholic thing to do. In fact, the gold standard of prayer is meditation (as far as the kind of prayer that we can exercise ourselves). And meditation or mental prayer is really spontaneous prayer that is anchored in a truth about the faith (such as a biblical text). The sad truth about Catholics is that most of us are uncomfortable with spontaneous prayer because we don’t yet have a deep relationship with God. We really hide behind our rote prayers and don’t pray them with our hearts.

But don’t be fooled if you are used to spontaneous prayer into assuming that spontaneous prayer means a personal relationship with Jesus. Spontaneous prayer can be used as a crutch just as much as rote prayer.

If that describes you, no matter which style of prayer you are comfortable with, I challenge you to take the first step toward true prayer. Think about what your prayer means and then mean it when you pray it. Don’t just recite the words because they’re comfortable. Don’t just “heap up empty phrases.” May Jesus never say of us, “These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8). May our prayer always be a lifting of our hearts to God so we practice true Christian spirituality.

Your Next Action Steps

There are two steps to deepening prayer life related to what we just discussed. The first is to broaden your vision when it comes to prayer. Most of us are more comfortable with one style of prayer over the other. If you find yourself more comfortable with rote prayer, try practicing spontaneous prayer. You don’t have to pray out loud. Just try praying quietly to God in your head using your own words. If you’re more attracted to spontaneous prayer, you may have been neglecting the beauty and depth of traditional prayers. Saint Augustine and other Early Church Fathers actually recommend that we start with rote prayers, especially the Lord’s Prayer and also prayers written by the saints. Their reasoning is that these prayers are far more able to lead us into the Mystery of a relationship with God than our own words since we are less holy and less experienced in the love for God.

The second step is to make sure that however you pray is filled with meaning and purpose. If you’re praying rote prayers, take the time to understand the words and to think about what you mean as you pray them. What is your heart telling God even as you use somebody else’s words? If you’re praying spontaneously, choose your words carefully so they’re full of meaning. Don’t just repeat comfortable phrases or try to be too poetic. Instead, approach God as a child approaching his or her father.

These are just a couple of strategies for making your prayer more meaningful and intimate that we discuss in the Practical Prayer online spirituality program. The mission of From the Abbey is to help Catholics adults learn and live their faith. If you found value in this article, please consider the opportunity below to take your next step with us.

Brought to you by Jeffrey S. Arrowood at From the Abbey, dedicated to helping you rediscover the JOY of learning and living your faith so you can grow in intimacy with God.