I was struck by a reference from Padre Pio on prayer that made me ask the question between the relationship of prayer to salvation. The one who prays a lot saves himself. The one who prays little is in danger. The one who does not pray loses his soul. Is the act of prayer in itself a sign of the virtues of faith, hope and love? Is prayer a form of adoration? Is prayer merely communion with God? What type of prayer is Padre Pio referring to? Prayer from the heart? Muslims pray more than many Christians as Padraig testified to in his visit to Turkey - does this mean that they are saved or are their prayers mere vain repetition?
I believe prayer should be constant, turning to Jesus with everything we do. Of course, sometimes we forget but striving for this would be ideal. Try to remember that He is with us always, and its easier. On top of that, I think we need to practice setting aside time each day JUST for God, to pray in quiet. I like to think of God saying like in scripture "be still and know that Iam God" How can we love God and know Him, if we don't spend time with Him? If our hearts are always thinking of something else, than that would be our "god" and we'd be breaking the First Commandment. Just my thoughts...
When one prays, they are aware of their identity, ( a son/daughter of God) this changes our attitude, Also, when we pray and contemplate Christ, he becomes the influence in our life rather than the views on the TV screen, or the views of the world. This is why Our Blessed Mother says that we should pray for at least two hours a day and read our Gospels daily. So that they are the influence in our lives. Also, when we realise how much God loves us as individuals, it causes us to realise how much He loves others too. We then know how we are to treat them, (according to God's love for them rather than their actions towards us). Now, that is indeed pure love, and what a challenge!
In 19th chapter of her Autobiography, St. Theresa of Avila shared this about a time she abandoned mental prayer: The devil waged such a combat against me with that purpose, and I believed for so long that to do mental prayer was a lack of humility when I was so wicked, that as I said, I stopped doing it for a year and a half, (or a year at any rate, I'm not quite sure about the half). And that would have been enough, and was enough, for me to throw my own self into hell with no need for any devil to drag me down there. O God, what blindness! And how right the devil was, in aiming for his goal, to concentrate his forces on this point! He knows, the traitor, that whoever perseveres in mental prayer is lost to him, that all the falls he may cause them only help them, through God's goodness, to spring back higher in God's service; so it matters to him a lot. My beautiful wife, Geralyn, brought this passage to my attention just a few days ago! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Mario, I was wondering where you were recently. There are new messages from Medjugorje that could use some of your wisdom/reflection for slow learners like me. I just received this little tidbit on prayer from the Friends of Suffering Souls: VENERABLE FR LOUIS CESTAC In the (Church Approved) Secret of LA SALETTE (Feast Day 19 September) Our Lady advised that "In the year 1864 Lucifer, together with a great number of devils, will be loosed from hell." Appearing on January 13, 1864 to the privileged soul of VenFr. Louis Cestac, she favored him with a vision of devils swarming over the earth wreaking havoc. The time had come, she said, to implore her as Queen of Angels to dispatch legions from heaven to overthrow the powers of hell which had now been unchained. Inquiring why help from heaven would not be sent without asking for it, Fr. Cestac was told that prayer is the indispensable condition for receiving grace. Beseeching her to teach him how to pray for this intention, he received the following prayer at her dictation - MIRACULOUS PRAYER."My first duty," wrote Father Cestac, "was to present this prayer to Msgr. Lacroix, Bishop of Bayonne, who approved it. This duty accomplished I had 500,000 copies drawn up then I sent them everywhere" Recommended to the faithful by Pope Pius IX, it was later indulgenced by Leo XIII and by St. Pius X
