draw near to God through him, since
he always lives to make intercession for them.3 The
Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us. . . and
intercedes for the saints according to the will of
God.4
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2635 Since Abraham,
intercession asking on behalf of another
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has been characteristic of a heart attuned
to Gods mercy. In the age of the Church, Christian
intercession participates in Christs, as an
expression of the communion of saints. In intercession, he
who
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prays looks not only to
his own interests, but also to the interests
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of others, even to the point of
praying for those who do him harm.5
2636 The first Christian communities lived this form of
fellowship intensely.6 Thus the apostle Paul gives
them a share in his ministry of preaching the
Gospel7 but also intercedes for them.8 The
intercession of Christians recognizes no boundaries:
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for all men, for kings and
all who are in high positions, for
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1037
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persecutors, for the salvation
of those who reject the Gospel.9
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IV.
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Prayer of Thanksgiving
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224
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2637 Thanksgiving
characterizes the prayer of the Church which,
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in celebrating the Eucharist,
reveals and becomes more fully what
|
she is. Indeed, in the work of salvation,
Christ sets creation free from sin and death to
consecrate it anew and make it return to the
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Father, for his glory. The
thanksgiving of the members of the
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Body participates in that of their Head.
2638 As in the prayer of petition, every event and
need can become an offering of thanksgiving. The letters
of St Paul often begin and end with thanksgiving, and
the Lord Jesus is always present in it: Give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in
ChristJesus for you; Continue steadfastly in
prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.20
2639 Praise is the form of prayer
which recognizes most imme diately that God is God.
It lauds God for his own sake and gives
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him glory, quite beyond what he
does, but simply because HE Is. It
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shares in the blessed happiness of the pure
ofheart who love God in faith before seeing him in glory. By
praise, the Spirit is joined to