Why Do We Pray?

[hyperdulia again]

If God already knows what will happen and His Will is unchangeable, why do we pray? :huh:

[Winchester]

I believe St Thomas said we pray because there are certain things God has chosen to grant us because we pray about them. Having foreknowledge and existing outside of time, God has decided prior to our action. We who exist in time must act according to it, and it is through prayer that we obtain the graces God has decided to grant due to our prayer.

[Pontifex]

Along with the above response, St. Thomas Aquinas also wrote that we pray in order to remind ourselves of the promises of God. Our prayer unites us with the God who his unchangeable, the "unmoved mover" as Aquinas would say.

At the same time, I think it is safe to say that God is in dialogue with us. Although God is Omnipitent (knows all things) he comes to us in are particular situation. Much like Jesus who had to pray his way through the Garden of Gethsemani, we to must pray our way through life's agony.

Peace,

Fr. P