Catechism of the Catholic Church
“The raising of one’s mind and heart to God in thanksgiving and in praise of his glory. It can also include the requesting of good things from God. It is an act by which one enters into awareness of a loving communion with God. ‘Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God’ ” (CCC, no. 2561).
“St. Augustine wrote,’True prayer is nothing but love.’ Prayer should arise from the heart. The Catechism clearly defines prayer as a ‘vital and personal relationship with the living and true God’ ” (CCC, no. 2558). “Prayer is Christian ‘insofar as it is communion with Christ’ ” (CCC, no. 2565), and a ‘covenant relationship between God and man in Christ’ ” (CCC, no. 2564).