Preces is a Latin noun, derived from the verb "precari," meaning "to pray" or "to entreat." It encompasses prayers, petitions, or supplications offered to a deity or a divine being. In Roman and Christian liturgical contexts, preces refer to formal and structured prayers typically used during specific religious rituals or ceremonies.
This term signifies the act of approaching a higher power with reverence and humility, seeking guidance, blessing, or intervention in one's life or the lives of others. Preces often involve acknowledging the divine's supremacy, expressing gratitude, and invoking divine intercession for personal or collective needs, such as protection, healing, forgiveness, and guidance.
In religious practices, preces can be recited individually or communally, and they may be composed of scripted or improvised words, specific hymns, psalms, or sacred texts. They are regarded as a means of establishing a spiritual connection and fostering a closer relationship with the divine.
Furthermore, preces can be seen beyond a strictly religious context. In a broader sense, it can refer to any sincere and earnest request, plea, or appeal made to an authority or another person in a respectful and supplicatory manner. It emphasizes the act of seeking assistance, favor, or support, often suggesting vulnerability or humility in the process. Thus, preces are expressions of human longing for help or guidance, encapsulating the inherent desire for connection and dependence on sources of power or wisdom beyond oneself.
