Known Session 7
When a teen misses a session of High School Faith Formation, the Concord Carlisle Catholic Collaborative expects that teen to view the video(s) missed and complete this simple online form.

The videos for this session are found at Formed.org (free subscription - choose our church when you sign up), then choose from the Menu at the top "Programs" - "Youth Programs". Choose the channel "YDisciple" and find the series "Known: Experiencing God in Prayer".

Session 7 is titled "The Struggle: Overcoming Obstacles to Prayer". Watching the videos will take about 17 minutes, and answering the questions may take 15 minutes. Keep in mind that the quality of your response will help Tony and his Faith Formation Leaders determine if you actually viewed the videos (which we think are quite good)!
Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Teen's First Name *
Teen's Last Name *
Which session does the Teen regularly attend?
 *
Overview
In this final session, you will have a chance to discuss common obstacles in having a habit of daily prayer such as distraction, spiritual dryness, and sin. You will also be given practical tools to overcome these obstacles. You will conclude by taking the building blocks you have learned so far and putting them together and practicing what daily prayer could look like.

This series is meant to be an "apprenticeship" in prayer - you do it alongside a mentor / leader (in the case of doing it at home, likely a parent).
Theme Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22
We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support
the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather,
always seek what is good [both] for each other and all. Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will
of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise
prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from
every kind of evil.
Icebreaker: share the biggest puzzle you have put together.
 *
Watch Video Segment 1 and answer the questions below.
ALI ASKED, “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO
MAKE SURE YOU SHOW UP TO PRAYER EVERY
DAY?” *
Tony's musings...
Sometimes people put a reminder in their calendar (digital or paper). Sometimes it's a post-it note by an alarm clock or bathroom mirror. Whatever you can do to help you build a habit of prayer, do it! (I've done each of these and probably more).
What stood out to you in Ali's story?
 *
SHE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE THINGS SHE KNEW
ABOUT GOD SINKING INTO HER HEART. DO YOU
EVER EXPERIENCE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN OUR
HEAD-KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD AND WHAT WE
TRULY BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS? *
WHAT DOES HAVING A HABIT OF DAILY PERSONAL
PRAYER HAVE TO DO WITH THAT JOURNEY FROM
OUR HEADS TO OUR HEARTS? *
HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO COMMIT TO ANYTHING
(EX. SPORTS, MUSIC LESSONS, SERVICE WORK)?
DID YOU FEEL LIKE DOING IT EVERY TIME YOU
SHOWED UP? IF NO, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE
WHEN YOU DIDN’T FEEL LIKE IT, AND WHY DID YOU
KEEP SHOWING UP? *
Watch Video Segment 2 and answer the questions below.
THE CATECHISM DESCRIBES PRAYER AS A “BATTLE...
[Tony comment: maybe think of it more like a struggle or debate than a war conflict] AND IT ALWAYS PRESUPPOSES EFFORT.” A BATTLE
ASSUMES THAT THERE IS A FIGHT GOING ON. WHAT
SORTS OF THINGS DO YOU HAVE TO FIGHT WHEN IT
COMES TO PRAYER? *
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP EXCUSES FOR NOT
PRAYING? *
Reflection from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
“You cannot pray at all times unless you pray at specific times, consciously willing it.” (CCC 2697)
WHY MIGHT IT BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SET
PRAYER TIME? *
WHAT TIME OF DAY WOULD BE BEST FOR
YOU TO PRAY? (IS NIGHTTIME REALLY THE
BEST TIME? WHAT ABOUT FIRST THING IN
THE MORNING?) *
WHAT SPOT IN YOUR HOUSE WOULD BE
THE MOST COMFORTABLE (BUT NOT TOO
COMFORTABLE!) SPOT FOR YOU TO PRAY? *
ALI MENTIONED HAVING HOLY IMAGES IN HER PRAYER
SPACE (YOU CAN SEE THEM IN SOME OF THE SHOTS!)
TO HELP HER FOCUS HER ATTENTION ON GOD. DO YOU
HAVE A FAVORITE IMAGE OF JESUS? WHAT IMAGES
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU TO PRAY WITH? *
Something to consider about prayer:
Setting a time to pray also means setting an amount of time you will pray every day. Start with 15 minutes. If that seems like a lot, realize that 15 minutes is equivalent to just 1% of your day. Start smaller with a goal to get to 15 minutes. (like exercising goals, or studying goals)
Watch Video Segment 3 and answer the questions below.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DISTRACTIONS YOU FIND IN
YOUR PRAYER? *
ALI GIVES THE ADVICE TO NOT TRY TO PUSH
DISTRACTIONS ASIDE BUT TO ACTUALLY BRING THOSE
THINGS TO JESUS IN PRAYER. WHY MIGHT THIS BE
HELPFUL? *
WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL WAYS WE CAN FIGHT
DISTRACTION? *
Tony comment
I keep some paper near my prayer space to make notes about things that might distract me, like stuff I need to do the next day or in the future. I have found that helpful to get it off my mind, but also to bring those tasks to prayer.
Watch Video Segment 4 and answer the questions below.
MOTHER TERESA DID NOT EXPERIENCE FEELING GOD’S
PRESENCE IN PRAYER, ALSO KNOWN AS “SPIRITUAL
CONSOLATION” FOR 50 YEARS! KNOWING THIS, HOW
DOES IT IMPACT YOUR VIEW OF THE WORKS OF
CHARITY SHE IS KNOWN FOR? *
HOW DOES SIN IMPACT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? *
Give prayer a try - use Ali's suggested method: PAL
Begin with the sign of the cross.
• Take 30 seconds of silence to focus the prayer time and set a tone of
reverence.
• Begin with P, PRAISE. What are you thankful for? What has God
done in your life? Where have you seen him act? Write down or speak
out loud your gratitude. Even consider just saying, “Thank you, Jesus. I
love you, Jesus.”
• Next is A, ASK. This again is what Dan talked about with petition
and intercession. What do you need from the Lord? Be bold. Ask him.
Who in your life needs prayer? Write down or pray them silently in
your heart.
Finally, is L, LISTEN. Read aloud one of the scripture verses we
have used in this study such as Psalm 23 or 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22.
Read through it 3 times slowly. Underline words or phrases that stand
out. Ask God, “What are you telling me?” Then, be silent for at least 30
seconds to let him respond. Write down what you hear.
• End with a traditional vocal prayer like the Our Father prayed out loud
together.
• End with the sign of the cross.
Commit
Did you know that 15 minutes is just 1% of your day? Can we commit to
giving God our undivided attention for 1% of our day, every day?
This week, commit to a prayer time (morning, before bed, when you get
home from school) and choose a place you will pray. Then spend 15 minutes,
1% of your day, walking through the P.A.L. method every day.
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
This form was created inside of Concord-Carlisle Collaborative. Report Abuse
Google Forms