might not have reformed. We never know when God is
about to grant our petition, and we may cease to pray just when another
appeal would obtain the object of our prayer. So we should continue to
pray till God is pleased to grant our request. Some say their prayers
are not heard when they mean to say their prayers are not granted; for
God always hears us. But why does He not always grant our request? There
are many reasons: (1) We may not pray in the proper manner, namely, with
attention, reverence, humility, patience, and perseverance; (2) We may
ask for things that God foresees will not be for our spiritual good.
This is true even for things that seem good to us, such as the removal
of an affliction, temptation, or the like. It often happens that God
shows us His greatest mercy in not granting our prayers. Suppose, for
example, a father held in his hand a bright and beautiful but very sharp
instrument, for which his child continually asked. Do you believe the
father would give it if he loved the child? Certainly not. The child
thinks, no doubt, it would be benefitted by the possession of the
instrument, but the father sees the danger. As God is our loving Father,
He acts with us in the same manner. (3) Our prayers are not granted
sometimes that we may learn to pray with proper dispositions, and God
withholds what He intends finally to give, that we may persevere in
prayer and have greater merit. Have you ever observed a mother teaching
her child to walk? What does she do? She goes at some distance from the
child and holds out an object that she knows will be pleasing to it, and
thus tempts it to walk to her. When the child draws near she moves still
farther away, and keeps it walking for some time before giving the
object. This she does, not through unwillingness to give the article,
but in order to teach the child to walk, for she loves to see its
efforts. When it falls, she lifts it up and makes it try again. So, too,
God teaches us to pray; and though He loves us, He withholds His gifts,
that we may pray the longer, and thereby afford Him greater pleasure.

308 Q. Which are the prayers most recommended to us?
A. The prayers most recommended to us are the Lord's Prayer, the Hail
Mary, the Apostles' Creed, the Confiteor, and the Acts of Faith, Hope,
Love, and Contrition.

309 Q. Are prayers said with distractions of any avail?
A. Prayers said with willful distractions are of no avail.

"Distraction"--that is, when w