Certain prayers are scripturally infused and help the petitioner focus by having a common scriptural perspective on what is true and important, Our Father, for example. Catholics pray in their own words in addition to the liturgical prayers. There is a beautiful sense of unity to pray the same acceptable prayers across the planet with millions of people throughout the centuries. It reminds me of the Jews, from whom Catholics have borrowed much, and to whom Catholics are much indebted. Jews across the world are saying the same beautiful prayers in staggered time zones every single day, and especially on the high holidays.
I never get the sense that Catholics are preaching when they pray, using the prayer as a contemporaneous sermon as it were with "every eye closed and every head bowed."
Old Yeller Post 63:"Why do Catholics memorize prayers, instead of speaking to God from the heart and spontaneously?"
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Regarding your post 63, I'll just let you know that Catholics pray both formal memorized prayers, and informal prayers "speaking to God from the heart and spontaneously" like protestants do. Catholics also unite and integrate personal prayer intentions and requests with the praying of those more formalized prayers like the Rosary.
Now regarding your assertion concerning "learning Scripture verses", the Rosary is an excellent vehicle to do both at the same time, almost like a form of "Lectio Divina".
To briefly illustrate, the Rosary starts with blessing yourself "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit", then you recite the "Apostles Creed", which is based on (or related to) numerous Bible texts, some of which are shown here:
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, (Isaiah 44:6; 45:5)
the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Acts 14:15)
and in Jesus Christ, (Luke 2:11; John 20:28)
His only Son, (John 3:16; Proverbs 30:4)
our Lord: (John 20:28)
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, (Luke 1:35)
born of the Virgin Mary; (Luke 1:27)
suffered under Pontius Pilate, (Luke 23:23-25)
was crucified, (John 19:20; Acts 4:10; all Gospels)
died (1 Corinthians 15:3)
and was buried. (1 Corinthians 15:4)
He descended into hell; (1 Peter 3:18; Luke 23:43)
the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4)
He rose again from the dead; (1 Corinthians 15:4)
He ascended into heaven, (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51, Acts 1:11)
is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; (Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3)
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1; John 5:22)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, (John 15:26; 16:7-8, 13-14; Acts 13:2)
the Holy Catholic Church, (Acts 9:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:15)
the communion of Saints, (Ephesians 1:15-23)
the forgiveness of sins, (Luke 7:48; John 20:23)
the resurrection of the body, (1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 6:39)
and life everlasting. (John 10:28; 17:2-3)
Amen.
Then you say the Scriptural "Our Father"
The Lord's Prayer (the "Our Father") - Matthew 6:9-13
followed by the "Hail Mary"
"Hail, full of grace" (Archangel Gabriel to Mary - 1st part of the "Hail Mary" prayer) - Luke 1:28
(and while you are reciting those prayers, you meditate on the various "Mysteries" of the life and work of Jesus, which can be found throughout the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament). Praying the Rosary typically includes other prayers, which are also Scripturally related.
You can also do a Google search for "Scriptural Rosary", and you will see hundreds of thousands of resultant sites with the scriptures to read and learn (or memorize if you choose) for each Rosary bead within each Mystery in the life of Christ which the Rosary calls to mind.
Here is what is available on one such web site which is filled with Scriptural references you can learn or memorize:
The "Joyful Mysteries" of the Rosary
The "Sorrowful Mysteries" of the Rosary
The "Glorious Mysteries" of the Rosary
The "Luminous Mysteries" of the Rosary
There are also many books and DVDs and CDs you can get that are similar to those "Scriptural Rosary" web sites, and here are just some examples of each of them which are available on Amazon:
Scriptural Rosary (English) (book)
Mother of Mercy Scriptural Rosary (Audio CD)
You would be hard-pressed to find a better combination of prayer, Bible-learning, and meditation/contemplation than the Rosary.
The there is a unity. All Christians pray the Our Father. You do pray that no?
Why do you memorize scripture? Same reason we memorize prayer.
Not everyone is a monastic. Prayer is not just for Sundays. People can and all religious do pray the Liturgy of the Hours which is scripture and meditations. We have been taught since we are old enough to hear that we are to pray always. But that does not means life comes to a grinding halt so I can pray for all to see.
Come Lord Jesus! There that's a prayer I pray a lot.
The key words you have used are "instead of."
That Catholics use one form of prayer "instead of" some other form of prayer is a pure assumption on your part.