Prayer: We call on the Lord
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part (cf. CCC2725). For, “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:13) “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” (Rom. 8:26 RSVCE)

“It is always possible to pray: the time of the Christian is that of the risen Christ who is with us always, no matter what tempests may arise. Our time is in the hands of God: 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.” (CCC2743 )

I was taught that when we are in Church or Chapel, praying the prayers of Holy Mass, that is certainly prayer. Singing is double prayer. But there are other forms of prayer, and Para. 2743 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) attests to that – walking, strolling, attending to customers in a shop, even buying or selling, and cooking: when we are doing these tasks we are praying. I prefer to go a step further and say a short prayer before starting various tasks offering these to God for an intention. So we have ample opportunity to call on the Lord during any part of the day. And even in a busy commercial office, offer your day to the Lord. How long does that take? We can spare 10-15 seconds or even one minute to utter a silent prayer: “O Lord, I offer you all the office tasks I am about to undertake for (name my) intentions.”

In Religious Life, we did all manner of work, tending to the grounds of the institution, mowing, watering the lawns, and raking leaves (by the thousands, in a place that comes to mind), and perhaps I had not thought of it then, but now I am aware this was never wasted time. First, because raking leaves was done under obedience and that merits grace; second, it was a splendid form of prayer. The more so because I hated raking leaves: it was a penance and perhaps that was another source of grace.

Prayer, when we call on the Lord, is a happy experience, even though some of the things we might pray about, or pray for, are unhappy challenges. We pray to praise God for who He is and what He has done for us and to thank Him. He has given us life. He has given us the will to pray so let us pray a lot. We also pray for things we need, a happier life, good health, spiritual or physical healing. We pray for others, parents, spouses, children young or older, sisters and brothers, neighbors, anyone who is in need.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, talks about prayer often. Vatican News told us that Pope Francis will not preside over end of the year Vespers and the solemn chanting of the Te Deum this evening, 31 December, in St. Peter’s Basilica, or at the Holy Mass for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God on 1 January, due to “painful sciatica.” Please pray for Pope Francis, that the Lord will lessen the pain. Looking for information? I do a lot of looking up when I write spiritual reflections, quotations from encyclicals and the writings of the church fathers. Here’s an excellent source: https://www.papalencyclicals.net/

Of course the best source is the Vatican website in English: http://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html  but it is sometimes difficult to find the precise document you may be looking for on that large site.

Here’s Pope Francis’ "The Holy Spirit reminds us how to access the Father" a Homily presented on May 17, 2020 that instructs about prayer: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/cotidie/2020/documents/papa-francesco-cotidie_20200517_spiritosanto-accesso-al-padre.html

Here’s the PDF version: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/cotidie/2020/documents/papa-francesco-cotidie_20200517_spiritosanto-accesso-al-padre.pdf

Peace and Good,

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
January 5, 2021

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