Small graces…
On the necessity of prayer.
In today’s Angelus address, Holy Father spoke on prayer, saying, “Prayer, for the Christian, ‘is not an option but a matter of life and death. Only those who pray, that is, those who entrust themselves to God with filial love, can enter into eternal life, which is God himself.’” Benedict XVI (Thanks to Amy at Open Book.)
Shortly after my conversion in 1972, I awakened suddenly one morning to these distinct words, “Pray, pray without ceasing, this is how you will attain eternal life.” Like all supernatural words, these were imprinted upon my heart, and I can still ‘hear’ them as it were, in my memory. Until today, I have never heard anyone so specifically reference prayer in this manner.
Now, after 30 some years, I feel I have confirmation of these words spoken so long ago - from the Pope himself - small graces, to be sure.
March 4th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
& after thirty years, you still recognize that vital message as spiritual oxygen…
How many don’t? How many people, especially of our extraordinarily self-centered generation don’t, because they believe the ‘god’ of self is of paramount importance?
So, those who pray have to pray for those who don’t. I can not imagine the grief of Heaven over the souls lost for eternity.
March 4th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Yes, as Fr. Groeschel never tires of saying, “Pray to God”. Get down on your knees, and pray to God. I want to thank you, Terry, for your piece about the morning offering a while back. It seems so basic, but I never had any instruction about it before. Now it is my daily habit.