Prayer

Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, is also our Teacher.  Throughout His public ministry, through His example, He taught us much about the need for prayer.  Jesus often prayed for others, including His Apostles.  Following the example of Jesus, Pope Francis has also focused on the need for prayer.  He has often spoken about the power of prayer.  Some of his comments about prayer made during his homilies and reflections have been summarized in the publication “Pope Francis Quotes About Prayer.”

They include the following:

1.  “Let us learn from Christ how to pray, to forgive, to sow peace, and to be near those in need.”

2. “Prayer, humility, and charity toward all are essential in the Christian life: they are the way to holiness.”

3. “The key that opens the door to faith is prayer.”

4. “Our prayer cannot be reduced to an hour on Sundays.  It is important to have a daily relationship with the Lord.”

5. “May each family rediscover family prayer, which helps to bring about mutual understanding and forgiveness.”

6. “Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit.”

7. “You pray for the hungry.  Then you feed them. That’s how prayer works.”

8. “How powerful prayer is!  May we never lose the courage to say: Lord, give us your peace.”

As we reflect on these words of Our Holy Father, we are reminded that he has also asked us to pray for others.

The following prayer called “I Said a Prayer For You Today” reflects the sentiments of Our Holy Father:

I said a prayer for you today and I know that God must have heard, I felt the answer in my heart although He spoke not a word.  I didn’t ask for wealth or fame, (I knew you wouldn’t mind).  I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.  I prayed that He’d be near you at the start of each new day, to grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way.  I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small But it was for His loving care I prayed most of all.

Now may be a good time to reassess our spiritual priorities and make time to pray for that brother or sister, that son or daughter, that good friend or business associate who may have gone spiritually astray in some way, who may be in need of our prayers.  Maybe we can pray for that stranger or for those who have no one to pray for them.  As many of us return from our summertime of vacation and leisure activities, we are challenged to reaffirm our commitment to make time for prayer each day as we continue on our journey of faith.