Keep on praying

Prayer can be classified as Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. ACTS for short. The "Glory Be" is an example of adoration. Saying sorry to God for our sins is an example of contrition. If you won the Euro Millions and exclaim "Thank you, Lord" that is a prayer of thanksgiving. If you pray for your or someone else's need, that is supplication.  ACTS can be seen in the Holy Mass, the highest form of prayer.

Prayer can also be described as communal or personal. An example of communal prayer is when religious communities, such as the Poor Clare sisters, gathering together to pray. The Mass is another example of communal prayer. 

A priest, commenting on Jesus' healing of St Peter's mother-in-law (Mk 1:29-31), showed an example of communal prayer when "they immediately told Jesus about her" (Mk 1:30). We cannot identify exactly who's "they", but we could only guess that these were Peter's family and friends. The power of prayer was shown here because Jesus "went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them." (Mk 1:31). Indeed, where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Mt18:20).

The same priest thought that it was also possible for Peter to told Jesus about his mother-in-law and asked Him to heal her. This is an example of a personal prayer. Peter was a staunch follower of the Lord and, in spite of his weaknesses, opened his heart to the Christ. In our personal prayer, we develop a relationship with God.

Towards the end of August we celebrated the feast of St Monica. She was a devout Christian who prayed hard for the conversion of her son Augustine. Unlike Peter's mother-in-law who was healed after people entrusted her to the Lord, Augustine's conversion took a while. Guess how long? Fifteen years!

There was a story that the Virgin Mary appeared to St Monica and gave her a belt, assuring her of Our Lady's intercession. That belt is now being worn as part of the habit of the Augustinians.

St Augustine would later explain that the reason why God sometimes delays answering our prayers is because He is preparing our hearts to receive our answered prayers. St Monica prayed for Augustine's conversion and indeed, after 15 years, he was converted. However, that was not the end of it. Augustine became a priest, then a bishop. He put to good use his knowledge and wisdom. Through his magnificent writings and teachings, he is recognised as one of the doctors of the Church. 

God has bigger plans for Augustine. He has bigger plans for all of us. So don't lose heart if your prayers are not yet answered. God is preparing your heart to receive His blessings which is beyond human imagination. Don't lose hope. Keep on praying!

(This is a reflection I shared during the Filipino Rosary Crusade's Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help held at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Parish, Bulwell, Nottingham, UK on 31 August 2024.)