The Presentation of Question 27 Chapter 13 : 2/4

How does In God's Love 
written by Janet Hurlow
relate to 
the Catholic Faith ?

  Chapter 13 We Pray  (continued) 2/4

        Part 1 Introduction to Prayer     (continued)  
                      Section 4  Instructions about Prayer

612          All prayer is heard.  God hears any type of prayer.  As the messengers put it, “Whatever way you pray, however it is done, speak to God.  Ask Him whatever you desire.  Remember this: God does not condemn people for how they pray.”(65)   They write “God understands all your needs.  Ask, little spirits.  Ask God in all ways.”(66)

613           Any time is a good time to pray.  It has been mentioned that God gives us help when we ask for it.  The Catechism notes that if we pray with each endeavor, we will pray without ceasing: “He ‘prays without ceasing’ who unites prayer to works and good works to prayer. Only in this way can we consider as realizable the principle of praying without ceasing. <42>”(67)   The writers of In God’s Love encourage us, too: “In all things, take your spirits to God’s Spirit.  O saints of God, wisdom is in placing God in all your undertakings, in all your thoughts and actions.  Live with God, not around Him.”(68) 

614           We are to bring each moment to God.  The Catechism states that “Prayer in the events of each day and each moment is one of the secrets of the kingdom revealed to ‘little children,’ to the servants of Christ, to the poor of the Beatitudes”(69)   Later, quoting Saint John Chrysostom, the Catechism elaborates, “‘It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, . . . while buying or selling, . . . or even while cooking.’<37>”(70)   The messengers totally agree with this, for they write, “Speak about everything.  God hears.  God is so pleased… Sing out in such beauty.  Bring each of your moments in speaking to God.”(71) 

615           We are to especially bring all of our needs to the Lord.  The Catechism asserts that “When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name. <110> It is with this confidence that St. James and St. Paul exhort us to pray at all times.<111>”(72)   The messengers agree: “Speak to Him in all your troubles.  Turn to God in all Earth’s toil.  God understands.  In such a kind way, God comes to your aid.”(73)   The messengers also state, “Earth children, God answers all your prayers.  Blessed prayers, sweet songs of life, inspirational Spirit that sends man to God.”(74)  God helps us when we ask: “Ask Him to help you.  His answer might not come exactly as you expect, but it will come, and your burden shall be lightened because God is with you and loves you so very much."(75)    With this in mind, we should always be praying to God, as the messengers write, “Speak to your God.  Speak to Him always.”(76)   And, “Sing out to God all the days on the Earth.”(77)  

616           While it is good to include God in all things, it is also a good thing to set aside a time  just for God.  As the Catechism profoundly states, “Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget him who is our life and our all. This is why the Fathers of the spiritual life in the Deuteronomic and prophetic traditions insist that prayer is a remembrance of God often awakened by the memory of the heart ‘We must remember God more often than we draw breath.’<1> But we cannot pray ‘at all times’ if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it.  These are the special times of Christian prayer, both in intensity and duration.”(78)   The messengers encourage us to reserve a special time for prayer and to use prayer with each endeavor : “See prayer in her special time.  Use this gift with each undertaking.  She instructs in God’s love.  Rest in her care, blessed souls of God.”(79)

617           While all prayers are heard, there are some things that can help us when we pray.  First, as Catholics, we begin all of our prayers in the name of the Trinity.  The messengers agree with this practice, for they write in the very first passage, “Blessed saints, start your prayers in the Blessed Trinity.  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”(80)   Second, they encourage us to call out to the Holy Spirit: “God’s Spirit comes to each being who calls out to Him.”(81)

618           A third thing that can help us in prayer is to ask the saints to intercede for us.  The Catechism states, “The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, <41>especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on Earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were ‘put in charge of many things.’<42> Their intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.”(82)   The messengers cite this practice with much approval: “Others are so respectful they ask friends to speak for them because those who have crossed over are closer to God.  They have perfect faith in Him, and their love is fulfilled.  Those who ask friends to pray for them are understood.  This practice is done very well.”(83)  

619           A fourth thing to do in prayer is to deliberately expel Satan.  The messengers write, “Cast out signs of Satan.  Have no part of him.  Sadness covers his kingdom.  While you pray, cast him out.”(84)  

620           Prayer is the language of the heart.  As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons to pray to God is because friends should speak to each another.  We need to speak to God from the heart.  The Catechism simply presents, “Where does prayer come from?  Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays.  But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times).  According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays.  If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.”(85)   The Catechism later states that “Through his Word, God speaks to man. By words, mental or vocal, our prayer takes flesh. Yet it is most important that the heart should be present to him to whom we are speaking in prayer: ‘Whether or not our prayer is heard depends not on the number of words, but on the fervor of our souls.’<2>”(86)   The messengers wholeheartedly agree: “Mighty are the words of your heart.”(87)  And, “Speak, O sad, lonely hearts.”(88)   Not just the sorrows of the heart, but also the joys of the heart are to be expressed in prayer: “When you pray, while you wait, speak so sweetly.  Call.  Bless the sky when it makes you happy.  Such words spoken are spoken to God in prayer.  In all blessings, let God know how you feel.”(89)   We are to reach to the Lord with clean hearts, for the messengers write, “Keep so blessed.  Reach with clean hearts.”(90)
 
621           If our hearts are not clean, we need to be contrite and ask for forgiveness.  The Catechism cites the Gospel of Luke, “‘the Pharisee and the tax collector,’ <77> concerns the humility of the heart that prays  ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ The Church continues to make this prayer its own: Kyrie eleison!”(91)   The messengers assert that if we ask for forgiveness with a contrite heart it is done: “Speak to Him with a contrite heart, and, in this word, a multitude of sins will be forgiven. Take this God into your heart.  Most welcome are you into His heart.  Such sins will be forgiven in the most hardened criminals….Your God is a kind, forgiving Father who loves all such sinners on Earth.”(92)

622           We are all sinners and need forgiveness.  As Catholics we begin the Mass with a petition for forgiveness.  The Catechism states, “The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable: "God, be merciful to me a sinner!"<105> It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer.”(93)   The messengers encourage all of us, imperfect saints, to ask and receive forgiveness: “In Earth saints, there are many faults.  Such faults are seen as man grows in God’s Spirit.  Come, your God is a kind and forgiving Being.  In His heart is understanding.”(94)
 
623           While any place and any time can be a place of prayer, the messengers mention four specific places of prayer.   The first place is the battlefield: “God has heard prayer on the field of battle.  His reception is excellent.”(95)   The second and third places the messengers mention are prayer groups and prayer lines, for they write, “Pray for one another.  Set up prayer groups and pray for those who are sick and lonely.  Pray for all poor sinners.  Pray well and ask others to set up prayer lines.”(96)

624           The fourth is a space of time.  While any time of the day could be a special time to pray, the messengers spend a good amount of ink expressing the suggestion that the first thing in the morning is the best time, or at least a special time in God’s eyes, to pray: “In God’s love, rise with the sun.  Sing a song at the blessed dawn.  So sweetly comes your voice to greet the day.  So sweetly come the children’s prayers in the early morning.  God puts a special blessing in the hearts of those Earth children who rise to the glory of the day with such songs of praise.  In such blessed ways, God is pleased.  Sing in the morning in God’s spirit.  In God’s special hour, start a song of praise.”(97)   They also write, “God’s Spirit blesses you in the early morning light.  In prayer, start your new day.  Do not forget God when you rise up from sleep.  Saints of God’s Spirit, in all ways, start in God’s love.”(98)   
  
625           We are to pray hard.  The Catechism writes that "‘the importunate friend,’ <75> invites us to urgent prayer: ‘Knock, and it will be opened to you.’ To the one who prays like this, the heavenly Father will ‘give whatever he needs,’ and above all the Holy Spirit who contains all gifts.”(99)   The messengers also encourage us to be earnest in our prayer: “When you reach out to God, many things you shall understand.  Pray so earnestly”(100)   We are to “Pray, O small ones, as if it were the end.”(101)  Our effort will be rewarded, for they write “Reach out so earnestly, and your reaching shall be strengthened many times over.  Such shall be your reward.”(102)  

626           When we pray we are to listen.  Prayer is not just about speaking to God, it is about listening as well. The Catechism states, “Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God.”(103)   The messengers encourage us to listen: “While God speaks, listen to Him.  His Spirit is filled with inspiration.”(104)

627           Prayer has many effects and the messengers mention a few of them.  The messengers mention that in prayer “More good is done with prayer than mankind realizes.”(105)   Our prayers relieve suffering: “While you wait, much suffering is relieved by your words to God.”(106)   Our prayers fill the heavens: “O sons of man, prayers fill Heaven as the fragrance of many roses fill a lovely garden.”(107)   These are some of the things the messengers have to say about prayer.

  The next section in Part Two   Chapter 13 : 3/4