Petition Prayers of petition acknowledge our dependence on God, who is our beginning and our end. This form of prayer springs from our heart's desire to serve God's kingdom here and to seek the realization of the kingdom to come. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that asking forgiveness, coupled with trusting humility, should be the first movement of a prayer of petition. Jesus tells us to bring our every need to God in his name and assures us that “whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16:23) What we must remember, however, is that in addition to the asking, there should be an acknowledging of our sinfulness and need for God. A prayer of petition is a request to God that asks him to fulfill a need. When we share in God's saving love, we understand that through petition we can ask for God's help with every need no matter how great or small.
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