One of America’s most famous businessmen said, answering a question in an interview, that for him going to church or spending time in prayer was a waste of time: “I don’t find it productive,” he said.
In our culture of expediency and instant results, prayer, in fact, seems a waste of time. But in reality it is quite the opposite: for the human person, it is the best possible use of time.
There are many good reasons to pray, but here are just two. The first is very simple and convincing, and St. Alphonsus Liguori used to repeat it: “He who doesn’t pray, cannot be saved.” For us Catholics, who are citizens of heaven, this argument alone should be enough.
Then, there is a second reason, equally important: praying is not only a “duty,” it is above all a need. This was very graphically expressed by St. Augustine at the beginning of his Confessions: “Lord, you created us for yourself, and our soul will be restless until it rests in you.”
In fact, the human person needs God. The depth of his being is marked by the profound imprint of the Creator. And it is possible that often, human beings — like that famous businessman — will not understand that our desires to do things, to achieve triumphs or satisfactions which in the end leave us somewhat empty, are an expression of the need we have for God.
And however much the world denies or ignores it, it is engraved in the depth of the heart of every human being.
Since the very beginning, human beings have always turned to God. They haven’t done it out of fear, as some “experts” want us to believe. They have done it because they are human beings, who recognize that they have been created, that they come from a higher Being, to which they naturally turn. Every person needs God.
WHAT IS PRAYER?
The Compendium of the Catechism describes it as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the petition of good things from him in accord with his will. It is always the gift of God who comes to encounter man. Christian prayer is the personal and living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is infinitely good, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit who dwells in their hearts.” (Compendium 534)
The Gospels often show us Jesus in prayer. As he was busy saving humanity, and knowing that his mission would last only three years, Jesus used every occasion to withdraw in solitude, preferably at night, and we see him praying especially before the decisive moments of his mission or of the apostles’ mission.
Jesus taught us to pray in a special way when he gave us the Lord’s Prayer; but also with the example of how he prayed: with purity of heart, seeking to fulfill his father’s will, forgiving enemies; surrendering himself with a daring and filial trust that goes beyond what we feel and understand; and with constant vigilance, to protect his disciples from temptation.
Mary is also a model of prayer. Not only do we see her interceding at the wedding of Cana, but on two occasions, the Gospel of St. Luke describes her, when faced with difficulties or situations that she didn’t understand, with an attitude that is truly an example: “And Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” She didn’t rush to react, she didn’t demand justice or ask for explanations… she would first withdraw into herself to understand what God’s plan for her life was.
Christian prayer is so rich that it can be expressed in different ways: there is a prayer of blessing, of worship, of petition, of intercession, of thanksgiving, and of praise.
The prayer of blessing is man’s grateful response to the unmerited gifts from God: from life itself to all the natural and material things that we have received from the Lord’s goodness.
Worship is the profound recognition of the human being as a creature before his creator, on whom our whole existence depends, and before whom we humbly bow.
The prayer of petition can be a petition for forgiveness or the humble trusting plea for our spiritual and material needs; provided that they are in harmony with God’s plan for our lives.
Thanksgiving is the natural response to God’s presence in our lives. He has given us all we have and we are happily grateful to him. As St. Augustine said: “What better words may we carry in our heart, pronounce with our mouth, write with a pen, than the words, ‘Thanks be to God?’”
Intercession consists of asking God for others. This prayer unites us in a special way to the prayer of Jesus, who always intercedes before the Father for all people, in particular that we can avoid sin and receive the grace of final perseverance.
Lastly, praise is a totally unselfish prayer, which acknowledges God as the Perfect, Most Pure, All Powerful, Loving and Merciful Supreme Being: “Our Father who art in heaven.” It is the prayer that most fills our heart with joy.
Let us summarize all these forms of prayer asking God for peace in the world, for our archdiocese and for our families.
Let us give him praise for his loving goodness and let us ask for the grace to be men and women of prayer.