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 “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” (St. Therese of Lisieux, Manuscrits autobiographiques, C 25r)  -  Prayer (for me personally) is a conversation with my best friend, my brother and my King, Jesus Christ.  It is not a monologue or a “quiet time” or a time simply to analyze and reflect on things, but a real “back and forth” dialogue from the heart with someone who loves me very much and has a very concrete plan for my life.-   “The life of prayer is the habit of being in the presence of the thrice-holy God and in communion with him, it is the elevation of the soul to God.” 

Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer.  In prayer, the faithful God’s initiative of love always comes first; our own first step is always a response.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2567).  Christ wants so badly to spend time with us in prayer, he wants to console us, to strengthen us, to remind us who we are and why we are here! As we contemplate Christ, we must never forget that he is also contemplating us with intense love. 

The word pray comes from the Latin word precari, which simply means to entreat or ask. In fact, although pray is not often used this way anymore, it can simply mean “please,” as in “pray continue your story.”

While we often think of prayer primarily as asking God for something, prayer, properly understood, is a conversation with God or with the saints. Just as we cannot hold a conversation with another person unless he can hear us, the very act of praying is an implicit recognition of the presence of God or the saints here with us. And in praying, we strengthen that recognition of the presence of God, which draws us closer to Him. That is why the Church recommends that we pray frequently and make prayer an important part of our everyday lives.

Father, you have given all peoples one common origin. It is your will that they be gathered together as one family in yourself. Fill the hearts of mankind with the fire of your love and with the desire to ensure justice for all. By sharing the good things you give us, may we secure an equality for all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. May there be an end to division, strife and war. May there be a dawning of a truly human society built on love and peace. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.