The Lord leads all persons

"by paths and in ways pleasing to him,
and each believer responds
according to his heart's resolve
and the personal expressions of his prayer.

"However, Christian Tradition
has retained three major expressions of prayer:
vocal, meditative, and
contemplative.

"They have one basic trait in common:
composure of heart.

"This vigilance in keeping the Word
and dwelling in the presence of God
makes these three expressions
intense times in the life of prayer."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2699