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(Page 206)
I. Prayer in its broadest sense includes almost all the actions that proceed from the virtue of Religion. It is, in general, the raising up of the mind and heart to God, or it is the approach of man to communication with Him. God has inclined Himself to us by creating us, and has followed this up by uniting His Son to humanity. Something more is required on our part to perfect the communication. Prayer completes the circuit, and establishes a direct and continual current of human action towards God, and of the divine action of grace towards us. God is the source of all the supernatural energy that works in us. This energy is ever ready to go forth in abundance, but it must wait for our action following on that of God, the action of prayer, which is an essential condition for the accomplishment of the divine operations in us. The first impulse of grace is from God, then prayer must intervene as the channel of the regular and continuous transmission of grace to us. Devotion, which proceeds from the virtue of Religion, finds one of its chief exercises in prayer. Prayer is one of the chief expressions of devotion, for it includes the recognition of God, aspiring to Him, rendering Him the homage of adoration and love, beseeching Him to bestow His gifts on us. This is one of the highest employments of the intelligence and will of man. It is specially distinctive of rational creatures; for although it prevails among the lowest races of men, there is no rudimentary form from which it can have been developed, in even the highest races of animals; and it is most effective in keeping man from reverting in life and morals to the animal type.
II. Consider the efficacy of prayer. It is not enough for us to have been placed on the supernatural path by God, but we require the continual influx of His grace every day (Page 205) of our lives, for we remain strictly dependent on Him. Our supernatural duties are still absolutely beyond us, and even in the works of the natural order, we require to be helped against our tendency to error and to degeneration. God places the abundance of His treasures at our disposal, but prayer is the key that unlocks them. He gives us our daily bread, but we have to labour in the sweat of our brow before we can eat of it; prayer, like agriculture, is a necessary condition that must precede and prepare the harvest of graces which will support our supernatural and natural life. In prayer we have provision for all our necessities. Prayer places the omnipotence of God at our service. Prayer is the greatest source of energy in this world. To the man who besought Him for a miracle Our Lord said, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark ix. 22). Be careful not to neglect so great salvation. You cannot employ your time more beneficially and more happily than in intercourse with God.
III. Prayer is an absolute necessity for us; it is in a sense our life; for it connects us as members with the central heart of all being, from which the throbs of supernatural life go forth. Without prayer we shall grow languid, become susceptible to any infection which is rife, and at last die a spiritual death. The Old Testament commands us to make prayer the chief occupation of our lives; this is the teaching of every one of the Sacred Books, the example given by every holy man. In the New Testament we have again the command and the example of Our Blessed Lord; and the Apostles enforce the lesson that we should pray without ceasing. As the earth for ever receives fertilizing rains and snows from heaven, and gives the moisture back in the form of imperceptible vapour, so we must act reciprocally with God, receiving graces and returning praise. Be assured that your happiness and success, strength to do, light to understand, fortitude to endure, can only come through prayer.
All for Jesus, all for Mary.
Such shall be our password gentle reader.
Til next time.
