Let’s be real: Most of us have wondered at some point: “Am I doing this prayer thing right?” On this episode of The Inner Life, Patrick Conley brings in Monsignor Thomas Richter. Together, they unpack what it really means to pray… not just go through the motions, but to enter into a real, living relationship with God.
🙏 Prayer Isn’t Just Talking… It’s a Relationship
Msgr. Richter challenges our usual ideas about prayer. According to the Catechism and the saints, prayer isn’t just something we do… it’s a relationship we have. 💬💗
“Prayer is not an action I take. It’s a relationship I live.”
He compares it to marriage; you don’t just do married things and call it a day. It’s about the bond, the intimacy, the knowing and being known. 💍 Similarly, prayer is about being in communion with God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
🔥 The 1st Foundation: Awakened Faith
We don’t want unawakened faith = Knowing about God: truths, Catechism, sacraments… but not really knowing Him.
Awakened faith = You’ve met Him. You’ve had an encounter. You know He’s real. He’s with you, and you relate to Him as a person, not just a concept.
“Awakened faith doesn’t just think about God… it relates to Him.”
Msgr. calls it “living faith”. Faith with a heartbeat 💓. It’s when you can point to real moments in your life and say, “Yeah, God showed up there.” 🙌
💡 Is Your Faith Awakened?
You might be thinking: “Wait… do I have that kind of faith?”
The key is to ask yourself:
– “Where have I experienced the love of God recently?”
– “How did God love me today?”
– “What’s a moment this week when I knew He was near?”
If those feel like blanks for you, don’t panic. That doesn’t mean your faith is dead; it might just need to be awakened 🔔. And that awakening happens through encounter: a real, personal connection with Jesus.
TL;DR: How to Really Pray
Here’s your cheat sheet from Monsignor Richter’s spiritual masterclass:
-Prayer is about relationship, not technique.
-God is the main actor in prayer. You’re responding to His love.
-Faith, real, awakened, lived faith… is essential. Without it, we’re just talking to ourselves.
Want to grow in prayer? Ask God to help you encounter Him. That’s where it all begins.
Listen to this with an open heart, and maybe a notebook. The Holy Spirit might just sneak up on you.
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