Te Rogamos

I thought prayer might be an appropriate topic to cover. Recently in my house, the topic of "reverence during prayer" was discussed, so it seems as if a more thorough examination of the subject is necessary.
I previously mentioned that the only true prayer is "Thy will be done." I hold to this. I feel as if I could end my post right here, but I think there is still more to be said. I also previously mentioned in my post on religiosity that wordy prayer is a kind of false piety.
So what is it about prayer that captures us so much? Many religions use prayer in a very scheduled, systematic fashion, with certain prayers for certain hours of the day and certain circumstances that require prayer, etc.
I've noticed that most faiths embrace some sort of pre-set prayer. I find this peculiar. Did not Christ himself say, "When you pray, use not vain repetitions?" (Matthew 6:7). So why is it that Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Mormons all have set prayers? Why are we asked to repeat a prayer that somebody else is saying?
The true question to ask here is whether or not it is a true prayer if the words are already set aside.
Another thing that seems peculiar to me is that we are often admonished to thank God in our prayers. The Old English use of pray was the same as a request. To say, "I pray thee" is the same as "I ask you." Sometimes at Mass we use the Latin form when we offer up our intentions with the "Te Rogamos" which literally means "We ask you." A prayer, it seems, is strictly a pleading.
The assumed posture for people who pray is always one of a beggar. We often times lie prostrate or kneel down. We bow our heads to show our servility. We clasp our hands together in the state of begging. The act of praying is designed to be a demonstration of how low and vile we are and how great our God is.
Truly, Christ himself lauded the tax collector whose prayerful stance was one of utter unworthiness (Luke 18:13-14).
I once heard an atheist offer a prayer at a dinner. Before discovering that the man was an atheist, I thought to myself that it was the most arrogant, inflated and self-indulgent prayer I had ever heard. When I learned that he didn't even believe in God, I wondered how it was that his image of prayer was so skewed. I had a slight feeling that his prayer was in mockery, but at the same time I realized that it was highly likely that it was also due to the example set by his Christian friends.
So, perhaps there needs to be a reform in our worship with regards to the way that prayer is seen. Perhaps instead of praying in a very elaborate fashion as if we were trying to impress someone with our eloquence we should simply declare, "God have mercy on me, a sinner." Instead of our lofty orations, we should beg God as the truly penitent do. Our prayers need to be stripped of pride and laid out as humble petitions to an infinitely more perfect God.
So, in our assemblies and in our homes, we need to remove the pomp and circumstance of prayer. There is nothing celebratory about prayer. Instead of demanding respect and reverence as if we ourselves are channeling God, we need to acknowledge the lowly state we ourselves are taking on. There is no glory to be had by being the one offering the prayers. There is no grandiosity in being chosen to offer a benediction or an invocation. I don't mean to say that we should not pray, only that our attitude about it needs a definite reform.

By the Grace of God

So today I was contemplating after Mass whether or not it is that everybody is accountable for what they do. Biologists and Psychologists suggest that there's a lot that we do that we have no control over. Some people believe in fate, and all Christian believers posit God as omniscient, knowing exactly what we're going to do.
For this reason I was once told that the only true prayer that we can pray is "Fiat voluntas tuas" (Thy will be done). If this is the truth, the only answer, is there hope for us?
To return to the first question, one must consider those who might be argued to not be accountable. Among these are the mentally unstable, the mentally handicapped, and young children. If we suggest this, then, what separates somebody who is accountable from somebody who isn't? Is there some kind of defining moment when we become accountable or some stack of characteristics? Whenever I made trouble for myself as a child, my parents always said, "You should know better." So was I more accountable than others who might have done the same things?
Ultimately, I believe we are accountable to God. Yes, we have laws and legal systems to ensure people's safety and the well-being of society. However, they are flawed, and unless there truly is no justice in the world, the only person we are must answer to for all that we do is the ultimate power over all the universe.
So what about those that seem as if they are unable to actually do what they should? What about those who seem utterly helpless and irresponsible? Well, my belief is that they indeed are accountable. No man is completely innocent of all faults. No human being by his or herself is able to overcome all vices and sins. Sometimes what we need to do is ask for help.
So, it is my firm belief that for those who feel that they are helpless, there is indeed help. For those who feel irresponsible and unable to enact change, there is a source they can turn to for guidance. Sometimes it takes prayer, and sometimes it takes asking for help from fellow human beings.
However, above all, one cannot change his or her ways unless he or she is willing to forsake what it is that impedes them. If we make no conscious effort ourselves, we can do nothing. So, when we pray "Thy Will be done" we must remember that we ourselves are willing God's will. We are showing our own desire to be what God wills us to be. If we refuse to change, we cannot, with any truthfulness, ask anything of God.