Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 26

Structure of 様(よう)に祈(いの)る:

Verb［る］ + ように + 祈(いの)る
Verb［ない］ + ように + 祈(いの)る

Details about 様(よう)に祈(いの)る:

As we have seen several times now, the auxiliary verb ようだ is frequently used with verbs, to express that the 'completion' of an action is the specific goal/wish of the speaker. It does this implicitly through the meaning of the kanji 様(よう) 'manner of doing'.
ようにいのる (or 祈(いの)る in its kanji form) is no different, and will imply that the speaker is praying for (A) to be done/completed. This comes from the meaning of the う-Verb 祈(いの)る itself, which can be translated as 'to pray', or 'to beg'. Despite being able to be used when actually praying, this grammar point is used most often to express a 'hope'.

明日(あした)に雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)って学校(がっこう)が休(やすみ)みになるように祈(いの)る。
I hope that it snows tomorrow and school gets canceled.
世界(せかい)が平和(へいわ)になるように祈(いの)る。
I hope that the world becomes a peaceful place.

In a similar way to other ように structures, ないように may also be used with 祈(いの)る, to show that someone is praying for something 'not' to happen.

授業中(じゅぎょうちゅう)に先生(せんせい)に呼(よ)ばれないように祈(いの)る。
I hope that the teacher doesn't call on me during class.
友達(ともだち)の車(くるま)に乗(の)る前(まえ)に死(し)なないように祈(いの)る。
I hope that I don't die before I get to ride in my friend's car.

様(よう)に祈(いの)る

Usage Notes for 様(よう)に祈(いの)る:

However, 'unlike' other ように structures, ように祈(いの)る will sometimes be shortened to ように by itself. This is especially true after ます.

今年(ことし)は国(くに)に帰(かえ)れますように。
I pray that you can go back to your country this year.
明日(あした)のテストで合格(ごうかく)できますように。
I pray that I can pass tomorrow's test.

This is the only ように structure that will have the verb that comes after it omitted. Therefore, ように (by itself) will always mean 'to hope for', and should not be confused with ようにする, ようになる, ようにいう, and other similar grammar points.