At its most basic, prayer is communication with God. We each have our own communication styles in our work, friendships, and other relationships – and it’s the same with our prayer life. How we communicate with God is rooted in who we are, and it can take some time to discover for ourselves. In the Catholic Church, there are many schools of spirituality that can offer a “spirituality type” that aligns with your needs, desires, and personality. Not sure where to start? Take our prayer style quiz to discover which may be your “spirituality type” and learn ways to start practicing it.
Prayer Style Quiz
1. When working on a project, which role do you take?
a. Project manager keeping everyone organized
b. Creative brainstormer
c. Catalyst that starts the project and motivates the team
d. The behind-the-scenes helper
2. When it comes to facing challenges, you:
a. Seek a challenge and face it head on
b. Avoid challenges as much as possible
c. Respond impulsively to challenges
d. Carefully plan and then respond to challenges
3. In your friend group, you act as the:
a. Leader
b. Peacemaker
c. Risk taker
d. Caretaker
4. You would say one of your strengths is:
a. A logical mind
b. Strong integrity
c. Flexibility or adaptability
d. A strong work ethic
5. A particular weakness you struggle with is:
a. Self-doubt or imposter syndrome
b. Being too outspoken
c. Getting bored easily
d. Tendency toward pessimism
6. An outsider may see you as:
a. Demanding
b. Needy
c. A boundary pusher
d. Too serious
7. Your friends would describe you as:
a. Clever and original
b. Empathetic and personable
c. Adventurous and playful
d. Dependable and devoted
Quiz Results and Prayer Practices
Count how many As, Bs, Cs, and Ds you circled to determine which letter you chose the most. Then, find your prayer style and give one of the prayer practices a try!
Mostly As = Thomistic Prayer Style
Characteristics of this spirituality:
Prefers orderly, routine, and organized prayers
Focused on growing close to God through self-discipline and intellectual pursuits
Prayer practices:
Mostly Bs = Augustinian Prayer Style
Characteristics of this spirituality:
Prefers symbolism and imagery in prayer
Focused on deepening understanding of being created and loved by God
Prayer practices:
Visio Divina (prayer with images)
Meditating on the Creation stories in Genesis 1-2 or Psalm 139
Mostly Cs = Franciscan Prayer Style
Characteristics of this spirituality:
Prefers prayer that is free-form and spontaneous or lived out
Focused on growing close to God through the senses, the Incarnation, and in service to others
Prayer practices:
Meditating on the Sermon on the Mount (Mathew 5-7)
Praying St. Francis’s ”Canticle of Creatures” or other prayers reflecting on the beauty of creation
Mostly Ds = Ignatian Prayer Style
Characteristics of this spirituality:
Prefers organized prayer that works with the imagination or the senses
Focused on growing close to God through traditional practices and the practical living of the Gospel
Prayer practices:
Mass
The Examen
Author’s Note: This quiz has been adapted from the ideas found in Prayer & Temperament: Different Prayer Forms for Different Personality Types by Chester P. Michael and Marie C. Norrisey.
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