But in the Ave Maria, the theotokia, the hymns of St. Ephrem or St. Gregory of Narek, the tradition of prayer is basically the same. When we pray to her, we are adhering with her to the plan of the Father, who sends his Son to save all men. We can pray with and to her. The prayer of the Church is sustained by the prayer of Mary and united with it in hope. Because of Mary's singular cooperation with the action of the Holy Spirit the Church loves to pray in communion with the Virgin Mary, to magnify with her the great things the Lord has done for her, and to entrust supplications and praises to her.
Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part.
It always presupposes effort. Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God. We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in his name. If any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.