Theological reasons for the necessity of prayer

 Religion often combines prayers and virtuous deeds. Both indeed belong together. However, we sometimes get the impression that spiritual books prefer prayer too much. Are not acts more important? According to these, we will be judged before God, and not only because, as we read in the Gospel, we often cried to Christ, “Lord, Lord … (Mt 7:21). Scripture, however, invites us to pray frequently and vigorously: just ask and get! (Mt 7:7) Watch and pray! (Mt 26:41). Be persistent in prayer! (Rom 12:12), Pray without ceasing! (1 Thess. 5, 17). Therefore, the reality of religious life is usually measured by prayer. K. Rahner calls prayer the “concretization” of the virtue of religion. Moralists say that adults need prayer to save them (Taquería, Vermeer sch). However, it is not easy to provide a rational reason why praying would be so necessary. Thomas Aquinas thinks it relates to the very nature of man. We are imperfect; no one can do everything alone. Therefore, we must ask, especially God. Suarez, on the other hand, thinks that the purely natural reason for the need for prayer cannot be stated. Only the extraordinary goodness of God gave us the privilege of asking him for something. He allowed us to cooperate in a unique, mysterious way, even in his eternal and unchanging decisions. In this sense, we read in the Roman catechism that God could bestow upon us all good without asking him to. As a benevolent father, however, he wants us to ask. Such behavior makes his goodness more prominent, and we will learn to appreciate the magnitude of God’s gifts better. Thus, according to the same catechism, it has four primary effects: 1. It is an expression of respect for God; 2. We receive what we pray for. 3.
Growing virtues, especially faith, are a constant source of life joy. Both opinions are complementary. Therefore, modern authors like to emphasize that the necessity of prayer arises not only from the abstract knowledge of God’s being and from the fact that we are created beings but also from the diabolical character of the Christian order of salvation. God addressed man (cf. Heb 1:1). This address requires an answer (F. Wulf). From a psychological perspective, we understand the need for prayer, especially when we are weak and helpless, when we realize we lack the ability to work and will not achieve the goal we seek. Therefore, the need for prayer was emphasized, especially when the Church was opposed to the Pelagians and their moral self-sufficiency. At that time, Innocent writes to the bishops of the Council of Carthage: “Let us not try to overcome the temptations of earthly defilement and the body that clings to the world only if the grace that we achieve with strong prayers descends upon us.