In Matthew 6:7, Jesus gives us a profound teaching on prayer: “When you pray, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” These words, spoken during the Sermon on the Mount, introduce the most sacred and perfect prayer we know—the Our Father.
For years before I entered the Catholic Church, I heard this verse used as evidence against rote prayers. Many would argue that mermorized, or “rote” prayers like the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet were nothing more than “vain repetitions.” The message was clear: only spontaneous prayer was pleasing to God and from the heart. For a time, I accepted this view without question.
But then something happened.
As I began to study the Catholic faith and deepen my relationship with Christ, I came to see prayer in a new light. I started to notice how my own “spontaneous” prayers often followed a familiar pattern. I repeated the same intentions, leaned on the same phrases, and frequently drew from the same Scriptures. Was this “vain repetition”? No. These prayers were not empty, because they were grounded in love and trust in the God to whom they were addressed.
This realization shifted my understanding of Jesus’ teaching. He wasn’t condemning the use of familiar or structured prayers. Instead, He was cautioning against a heart that disengages, a soul that merely goes through the motions. There is a vast difference between saying a prayer and praying a prayer—and that difference begins in the heart.
When our hearts are open, even the simplest words can carry profound meaning. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church has handed us a treasury of prayer traditions, designed to draw us closer to God. Far from being obstacles, these prayers are tools that teach us the language of faith. They train our hearts to focus, still our minds, and enter into the presence of Christ amid the noise of the world; and countless saints have demonstrated this foundational truth.
Rote prayer, when offered with intention, becomes a rhythm that anchors us. It draws us into a deeper relationship with God, forming us in trust, humility, and surrender. In these moments, prayer is no longer merely about the words themselves but about the God who receives them; and our faith and trust in Him.
So, the question is not whether we should pray spontaneously or even a matter of only relying on rote prayers. The question is: Are we praying with our whole hearts? Are we allowing our prayers—however they are formed—to deepen our love for Christ and transform us?
Take a moment today to reflect on your prayer life. Are you rushing through your prayers, distracted by the demands of life, or are you allowing them to be an encounter with the One who loves you? Consider how you might rediscover the beauty of prayer, whether in silence, spontaneous words, or the sacred prayers handed down through the Church. Each moment of prayer is an invitation to draw near to the heart of Christ. Let us respond with love, intention, and trust.