Why don’t people pray anymore? A Catholic perspective
Reflections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
I have been reflecting on this question for a while. Let us try a few points:
Unanswered prayers can cater to one’s own brokenness. When most people generally pray, they are desperate to ask something of God. What happens when the prayers are not answered? How do we feel? Do we then experience doubt?
When I googled our question, here is what came up:
Here are the primary reasons identified:
Busyness & Distractions: Modern, fast-paced lifestyles leave little time, with many prioritizing obligations, work, or entertainment over spiritual practices.
Self-Sufficiency & Pride: Many people feel they can navigate life on their own, viewing prayer as unnecessary until a crisis hits.
Disappointment & Doubt: Lack of immediate results or unanswered prayers causes people to question if God hears them or if prayer is effective.
Lack of Understanding/Knowledge: Some, especially younger generations or those not raised with faith, do not know how to pray or view it as an outdated ritual.
Shifting Beliefs: A general rise in secularism and declining religious affiliation means fewer people hold the belief that prayer is necessary or impactful.
There is another reality though. Do we understand the purpose of prayer?
A while back, I wrote a blog called friends with God. (see link to the blog is at the end of this article.)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) starts with an explanation of prayer
by quoting St. Therese of Lisieux:
For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” (CCC 2558)
The CCC brings Prayer as a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God, acting as the culmination of faith and liturgy. It emphasizes that the mystery of faith (professed in the Creed and celebrated in liturgy) must be lived through this communion.
CCC 2559 states that "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” I call it a love conversation. Here is an excerpt from the 2024 Guild newsletter
What do you do when you are concerned about someone? Simply put, you have a conversation and express your concerns. The same can be said about prayer. “Prayer” a love conversation. “By raising our hearts and minds to God”, (CCC 2559) we enter into the love conversation of the Trinity. We express our concerns about the other to God. God’s response to us is: His love turned to us and to the other in the form of grace and strength which happens in whatever way God deems best. We remember from the scriptures that God is holy and by his freely given grace, we are called to reflect that same holiness in ourselves.
At our patron’s canonization, Pope Leo XIII called St. Benedict Joseph “Holiness Itself” Our saint spent the greater part of the day and sometimes the whole day in prayer. Another name I call him when offering presentations is "Prayer embodied in a man" 
Our Lord says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matt 7:7) Also, then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. (Lk 18:1)
Remember the words of St. Teresa of Avila: "Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God, wants for nothing. God alone is enough" (Collected writings of St. Teresa of Avila.)
We care all called into relationship by God. The CCC speaks of this in its beginning while mentioning the creation story of Genesis. Therefore, if you want to get to know God, then pray.
Click here to read Tim’s Blog on friendship with God. https://guildbjlabre.org/Resources/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/191400/Friends-with-God