May 17, 2020

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned
toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing
both trial and joy.” 
St. Therese of Lisieux, Manuscritis autobiograohiques, C25r.

Prayer is a vital component of our spiritual lives. Jesus Christ
taught us this throughout his life here on earth. It can be
found in many places in all 4 gospels how Jesus was always
“going off, alone, to a deserted place to pray.” Prayer was so
important to Jesus that he taught his apostles it. When Jesus
openly entrusted to his apostles the mystery of prayer to the
Father, he revealed to them what their prayers and ours must
be. What is new about the prayer that Jesus taught the
apostles is to “ ask in his name.” Faith in the Son of God
introduces the apostles into the knowledge of the Father,
because Jesus is “the way the truth, and the life.” John 14:6.
Faith bears its fruit in love: it means keeping the word and the
commandments of Jesus, it means abiding in the Father. In
this new covenant, the certitude that our petitions will be
heard is founded on the prayer of Jesus.

St. John Damascene once wrote, "Prayer is the raising of one’s
mind and heart to God.” De fide orth. 3, pg 24. We raise our
hearts to God from the heights of praise and thanksgiving to
God or from the very depths of our hearts in desperation,
anger, or deep sorrow. Nonetheless, we pray because of we
have faith in an all loving, all compassionate, and all powerful
God who hears our prayers and will answer them. Yet, doubt
and discouragement can set in when those prayers aren’t
answered. However, in prayer, it is important to have a heart
of faith knowing that, “God wills that our desire should be
exercised in prayer, that we may be able to receive what He is
prepared to give.” St. Augustine, Ep.130

Stay Spiritually Strong, Fr. Dan