In his treatise on prayer, Tertullian wrote to his readers this short exclamation on prayer,
What more need to be said on the duty of prayer? Even the Lord himself prayed. To him be honor and power forever and ever. Amen.
He explained,
Of old, prayer was able to rescue from fire and beasts and hunger, even before it received its perfection from Christ. How much greater then is the power of Christian prayer. No longer does prayer bring an angel of comfort to the heart of a fiery furnace, or close up the mouths of lions, or transport to the hungry food from the fields. No longer does it remove all sense of pain by the grace it wins for others. But it gives the armor of patience to those who suffer, who feel pain, who are distressed. It strengthens the power of grace, so that faith may know what it is gaining from the Lord, and understand what it is suffering for the name of God.
In the past prayer was able to bring down punishment, rout armies, withhold the blessing of rain. Now, however, the prayer of the just turns aside the whole anger of God, keeps vigil for its enemies, pleads for persecutors. Is it any wonder that it can call down water from heaven when it could obtain fire from heaven as well? Prayer is the one thing that can conquer God. But Christ has willed that it should work no evil, and has given it all power over good.Its only art is to call back the souls of the dead from the very journey into death, to give strength to the weak, to heal the sick, to exorcise the possessed, to open prison cells, to free the innocent from their chains. Prayer cleanses from sin, drives away temptations, stamps out persecutions, comforts the fainthearted, gives new strength to the courageous, brings travelers safely home, calms the waves, confounds robbers, feeds the poor, overrules the rich, lifts up the fallen, supports those who are falling, sustains those who stand firm.
All the angels pray. Every creature prays. Cattle and wild beasts pray and bend the knee. As they come from their barns and caves they look out to heaven and call out, lifting up their spirit in their own fashion. The birds too rise and lift themselves up to heaven: they open out their wings, instead of hands, in the form of a cross, and give voice to what seems to be a prayer.
Prayer is important in the life of faith because without it, everything becomes impersonal and devoid of meaning. If we do not learn how to pray in a personal and communal way, what the Lord teaches us through the Church remains as a set of doctrinal information, but it never gives life to us. We might keep the commandments of the Lord and follow the law of the Church, but they remain impersonal and legalistic. We, ourselves, easily can become hypocritically critical, negative, and hurtful toward others because it is easier to become focused on other people’s failures and problems instead of allowing ourselves to be changed by the genuine, personal, humbling, and intimate relationship with the One who loves us.
Prayer has the power to change, but that change has to begin with us in how we are willing to conform ourselves in loving the Lord first! The most miserable thing in this world would be that we expect and demand others to change, and they receive grace upon grace, but we remain miserable, pitiful, and negative because we never allow or humble ourselves to receive His grace through a life of prayer. Think about this, true prayer is holistic because it is both personal and transcendental, communal and relational because it empowers us to love others as God has loved us! It is not always easy, but love teaches us that prayer gives us the strength, humility, and love to embrace the will of God, go beyond ourselves, and accept reality that is much bigger and purposeful than our own little sphere, comfort zone, self-centered, and individualistic universe.
There are people who pray for us that we do not know. They intercede for our needs. We can feel these spiritual powers lifting us up in our hardest times. That was not coincidental. The power of prayer that helps us in our trials and journey of life comes from those who are offering their sufferings, willing to remember and pray for someone who is struggling, and personally unite themselves with us through the providential love of God, even though they might not know us. The people who are now with God (even those in the purgation period) are also praying for us, living in their present state of life and spiritual communion with us as holy intercessors.
If they are praying for us and with us, are we praying with them and for them in our prayers? Are we learning to embrace and intercede for others when we come to God, or are we too preoccupied with our own goods and problems? It is a beautiful practice and personal offering of our love when we choose to remember and pray for others, especially those who are in need of our spiritual assistance.
What I miss seeing the most as a Vietnamese Catholic is seeing the neighborhood and parish coming together when there is a loss, tragedy, and hardship. We have perhaps lost sight of this for the majority of the time here in America. I remember when someone was going through a tough time or lost someone they loved, the whole neighborhood would get together to help. Neighbors would cook and make sure that the family is cared for in times of need. Furthermore, if they lost someone, the local neighborhood and parish would set up a schedule for prayer and visitation times around the clock, honoring and praying for the soul of the deceased until the internment. Different social and parish-based organizations would take turns to keep vigil and do their parts to care for the family. Some will sit with the body, others will pray the Rosary and other devotional prayers, and many will just be there to show that they care. The house would be opened and people would stop in throughout the day to visit the body of the deceased as well as the family, to pay their respects and give their condolences. At the funeral mass, the parish would come together to pray for the deceased as well as the family. It is rare that a funeral mass and graveside service is sparse and not a packed house event. As a matter of fact, this tradition continues to live on with the Vietnamese who live in different diasporas as well.
Contrary, we often see at funerals in America, only a few people attend outside of family members. It is such a hard and lonely sight for me to see as a Catholic and a priest. I personally would wish that many make it a goal to attend funeral masses as a concrete part of their faith life. In times of loss and tragedy, it is unfortunate that many have to go through those situations alone, for we have lost a sense of communal support.
Even though the faith community is not always perfect and is a headache at times, it is still the greatest sign of Christian love, unity, and solidarity, so that we remember that we are not alone. Our willing and personal decision to support one another lifts each and every member up so that they do not have to go through life’s trials by themselves, especially when they grieve and deal with loss. We can talk much about love and charity, but they remain empty words until we are personally willing to put them into action with our own sacrificial, heartfelt, and charitable acts of love.
The parts of the Church that grow and truly evangelize are places where the faithful are joyful and committed to their faith through a life of prayer and worship. They know the value of what it takes to believe and joyfully become stewards of their local parishes, deaneries, and dioceses. When Christians see their dignity, value, and integral roles in being the active part of the Church, those parts flourish and get strengthened with the joy of the Gospel and believers.
Of course, there are challenges at each and every part of the Church. It is important that we persevere, stand courageously, and become creative in how to respond and answer our obstacles with a personal, life-giving, and genuine gift of joy that is found in the Gospel. We should never allow our successes or challenges to define us, but to find our personal commitment, perseverance, and strength that is found in the Lord. True hope helps us stand strong and firm against injustices, manipulations, intimidations, and fear tactics, but flexible and creative with new ways to live the Gospel in how we care for our neighbors, especially the poorest of the poor and the least of our brethren. Without a doubt, it has to be love that motivates and nourishes us in our trials and challenges. Therefore, let us not be stuck in our own ways but find new personal, communal, prayerful, and sacrificial ways to preach the Gospel at all times, and use words when necessary. (cf. St. Francis of Assisi)