There are times when prayer seems to bubble up naturally. We have no difficulty thanking and praising God when everything seems to be going our way. Think of the young man or woman clutching a sheaf of brilliant examination results and exclaiming, ‘Thank you, God, thank you!’ Such prayer can be little more than a prayer of self-congratulation. Equally, when in a tight corner, what I call the prayer of last resort often seems to escape lips more accustomed to use the holy name of God as an expletive than as prayer. But what of prayer when we are numb with fear and pain, or when grief consumes us utterly? I think that is when we learn a new and deeper way of praying. Our whole being becomes prayer — wordless, apparently powerless, stripped of anything that could give comfort or consolation. It is the kind of prayer that goes straight to the heart of God because it is the prayer of Christ in us: the prayer of Christ on the Cross, of our dying Saviour. Do not despise such prayer, should it be the kind you are called to offer. It is when our own hearts are breaking that God seems to hold us closest; and we know he will never let us go.
Thank you
Thamk you. So heartwarming.
Thank you; I really needed to hear this right now. It’s so hard…
May He give His Angels charge over you, to keep you in all His ways. Thank you for sharing this.
Amen
Have found this to be so very true . And the closeness of my Heavenly Father so keenly felt at these times .
The prayer of Christ in us as you so beautifully state Thank You .
Thank you Sister. That was something I needed to hear.
I feel it as presence as prayer.
Hope all is well there with you. You have my love as well as prayers.
God bless and care for you, Sister Catherine. You keep thinking of others whenever you can. You are His gift to us.
Thank you, sister.
Prayers of grief. Yes, amen Sister.
This perfectly sums up my feelings. When my father was dying prayer could not be put into words-it was like an ache throughout my body. Thank you so much. I hope that things are not so bad for you that you have been forced to write on this subject. God Bless
No, I’m fine, thank you; but we receive many heart-rending appeals for prayer from people going through some very dark places, so I thought it might be useful to try to say something on the subject.
Our cry – ‘Father in heaven, Holy is your name.’
Thank you, so helpful.
This came just as I was alongside a great friend who was dying. I can’t tell you how much it helped me.
We shall pray for your friend and for you.