Can’t Catholics just talk to God?
Do they really need someone to write the canned prayers for them?
Is God really interested in someone basically reciting poetry or prose at Him that someone else wrote and calling that prayer?
Of course but there is a place for prayer in common, for instance the first part of vespers for today, I think there's room for this in prayer:
V. O God, ✝ come to my assistance;
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Alleluia.
Ant. Blessed are all * they that fear the Lord. ‡
Psalm 127 [1]
127:1 Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: * ‡ that walk in his ways.
127:2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: * blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
127:3 Thy wife as a fruitful vine, * on the sides of thy house.
127:4 Thy children as olive plants, * round about thy table.
127:5 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed * that feareth the Lord.
127:6 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: * and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
127:7 And mayst thou see thy children’s children, * peace upon Israel.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Blessed are all * they that fear the Lord.
Ant. Let them all be confounded * who hate Sion.
Psalm 128 [2]
128:1 Often have they fought against me from my youth, * let Israel now say.
128:2 Often have they fought against me from my youth: * but they could not prevail over me.
128:3 The wicked have wrought upon my back: * they have lengthened their iniquity.
128:4 The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners: * let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.
128:5 Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: * which withereth before it be plucked up:
128:6 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand: * nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom.
128:7 And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: * we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Let them all be confounded * who hate Sion.
Ant. Out of the depths * have I cried to thee, O Lord.
Psalm 129 [3]
129:1 Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice.
129:2 Let thy ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication.
129:3 If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: * Lord, who shall stand it.
129:4 For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: * and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord.
129:5 My soul hath relied on his word: * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
129:6 From the morning watch even until night, * let Israel hope in the Lord.
129:7 Because with the Lord there is mercy: * and with him plentiful redemption.
129:8 And he shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Out of the depths * have I cried to thee, O Lord.