Search
-
March 12, 2022
Prayer: A Primary Pillar of Our Lenten Journey
“God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer” (CCC no. 1075). His initiative comes first; the human response to his initiative is itself prompted by the grace of the Holy Spirit… In prayer, the Holy Spirit not only reveals the identity of the Triune God to human persons but also reveals the identity of human persons to themselves. (NDC no. 34)
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
National Directory of Catechesis (NDC)
During this first week of Lent, we begin our journey in the wilderness to deepen our relationship with the Lord by coming face to face with our sinfulness and our limitations from our humanity. We reflect on our desires, examine our motives, adjust our priorities, and evaluate our interactions. To help, God gives us one of the greatest tools along with those of fasting and almsgiving -- the gift of prayer. Prayer is the vehicle of communication and conversation with our God.
To accomplish the changes of heart and deeds needed, we search to unite with God as all good works flow from this union. Just like the Lord, when He gained union with His Father through fasting and prayer for Forty Days and gained strength to avoid temptation, we begin our search for this reconciliation and union in the wilderness. During the 40 days of our Lenten Journey, we pray in Communion with Our Lord.
“How great is the power of prayer!
For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed at heaven, it is a cry of gratitude, and love in the midst of trial, as well as joy, . . . it expands my soul and unites me to Jesus.”
-- St. Therese of Lisieux
Another St. Theresa, St. Teresa of Avila, the “Doctor of Prayer,” said that this unique gift involves relationship not an exercise of technique or method. In Sacred Scripture this week, Jesus teaches us the “Our Father” to bring us into relationship with the Divine and to help us initiate and maintain a more intimate bond with the Triune God. He designed this prayer as a “how to” model for relationships, involving six petitions. Three petitions concern God and three concern us and neighbor, perhaps structured after the two great commandments (“Thy Name, Thy Kingdom, Thy Will;” Love God with all your mind, heart, and strength); (“Give us, forgive us, deliver us;” Love your neighbor as yourself). We are told to seek God, God’s Kingdom and God’s Will through prayer first, and then we are taught to address our needs as God responds to us and we to one another.
“This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, ...”
Matthew 6:9-10
During Lent 2022, besides the foundational prayers of our faith such as the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, we are provided special prayers that we can use to reflect on daily Sacred Scripture such as those that are provided by our parish’s gift to us in the booklet Turn to God.
PRAYER FOR PEACE
Besides reading scripture and using our prayer booklets, you can say special prayers for particular needs such as the Prayer for Peace to Our Lady of Fatima. We can use this prayer as we are horrified by a war in Eastern Europe that is expanding as Russia has spread its errors of suffering and atrocities on Ukraine, or as we are weakened by the effects and after effects of a global pandemic, or for our own needs of peace in our family and in our own hearts:
PRAYER FOR PEACE TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA
From Pope Francis, Our Holy Father: “In our prayers we ask God, through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for peace for the world, the end of the pandemic, the spirit of penance and our conversion.”
Hail Holy Queen,
Blessed Virgin of Fatima,
Lady of Immaculate Heart,
our refuge and our way to God!
As a pilgrim of the Light that comes to us from your hands, I give thanks to God the Father, who in every time and place is at work in human history;
As a pilgrim of the Peace that, in this place, we proclaim,
I give praise to Christ, our peace, and I implore for the world concord among all peoples;
As a pilgrim of the Hope that the Spirit awakens, that I can come as a prophet and messenger to serve all, at the same table that unites us.
Hail, Mother of Mercy, Lady robed in white!
In Fatima, you made known to all the purposes of God’s mercy, I gaze at your robe of light and [now plead and] pray for peace. . . .
With your motherly smile,
enliven the joy of Christ’s Church.
With your gaze of sweetness,
strengthen the hope of God’s children.
With your hands lifted in prayer to the Lord,
draw all people together into one human family, together in God’s peace. AMEN
As a special kind of praying in our own wilderness, free from distraction and the worldly temptations, we can deepen our spiritual life through silent prayer by opening ourselves up to what God wants to say to us. This Lent come and see and take part in a special type of prayer as we ready ourselves through the following prayer guide. Prayer guides will come weekly where we can complete them by ourselves or with our children, grandchildren, our families, and then sit quietly in God’s presence and say to Our Lord, “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening . . . . .”
Check the bulletin for your personal "Prayer Guide."
https://discovermass.com/.../st-mary-of-the-angels.../...
Blessed Lent,
Fr. John
