Jesus is very prudent in advising us to pray with few words.

We may apply his recommendation to the "Prayers of the faithful" at Mass, especially when one is tempted to include long explanations as to why he or she is making this particular prayer. Neither God nor the Congregation needs long prayers with detailed explanations!

The Church has wisely capitalised on Jesus' recommendation by encouraging the practice of "aspirations": short prayers of intercession, praise, thanksgiving, which can be repeated as often as we wish, and so grow towards St. Paul's exhortation "pray without ceasing" (1Thess 5:17). From my primary school days some 60 years ago, I still remember and repeat the "aspiration" which Sister Paul taught us: