Men's Rosary

We know that prayer is important.  We understand that it is essential in building a relationship with God.  How do you pray?  Why do you pray?  We are called to be constantly in a state of prayer.  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) 

In all the manner of prayer that there is, I find one that is of particular importance to consider and practice more intentionally.  That would be the practice of praying for others, intercessory prayer.  We are asked many times to pray for someone or something, or we offer to pray for someone or something.  Do we?  Many times, this is said out of a reflex or being something nice to say or obliged to say.  But do we really pray?  I hope most of us do, but we can all do better.  We can be more intentional about it.  This is what we are supposed to do as Christians.  “First of all, then,  I urge supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we made lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and  dignified in every way.”  (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

When someone has a trial, we can be moved to talk among ourselves about it.  Offering sympathies and support.  However, the best support is to take it to prayer right away.  Even beyond that, to invite others to take it to prayer!  This is how we make one’s burdens our own and enter into the body of Christ at a deeper level.  We can pray for them as if it were our burden alone, living as Christ instructed in loving our neighbor as ourselves.  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”    (Galatians 6:2) 

As we intentionally pray for others, we will begin to see the rightness and beauty of it, and it becomes a source of joy and happiness in our lives.   “I thank God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.”  (Philippians 1:3-4)  Be sure that this is not only in times of trial but in times of rejoicing.  We can pray for others in thanksgiving for prayers answered for them and graces bestowed upon them.  Not only are we bringing blessings upon others, but we will also receive graces from our ardent prayer for others.  Our prayers for others do not go unnoticed.  “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends.  And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

Intercessory prayer is also crucial for the Church.  Our Pope, Priests, Bishops, Deacons, Religious and lay leaders all need our prayers to succeed in their work.  “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison – that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”  (Colossians 4:3)  They are interceding for us; we are to do likewise!

Our friends, family, and Church, those who are of like mind are the easy ones to pray for.   What about those who are not open to faith and perhaps may be aggressive towards matters of faith and prayer, those who have harmed us or say evil things about us?  We can still pray for them!  And they will receive benefit from our prayer.  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”  (Luke 6:27-28)  It is true they have free will and the ultimate decision, but our prayers can chip away at those “stoney hearts” and lead to “new hearts”, perhaps even a conversion in their life without them even knowing of our prayers.  It is not for us to figure out the end; we can only lift others up to God.  We just need to keep praying for others and leave it to God.

God calls us to love, as He loves.  What better way than prayer?  Saint Thomas Aquinas defines love as an act of the will to “will the good of the other.”  This is an agape love – a selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial love.  To intentionally offer intercessory prayer is an act of the will, it is selfless in that we are thinking of someone else, and it is sacrificial in that we are giving of ourselves and our time, especially when praying for our enemies, and the entire purpose of intercessory prayer is “willing the good of the other”.  This is the best way for us to love!

Pray well.  Pray for your needs.  Pray for wisdom and discernment.  Pray in silence and listen for God to speak.  Pray the Mass well.  But remember to always pray for others.  Let your personal prayers enable you to pray better for the needs of others.  God will bless us for it.

“If each one prays for himself, he receives less from God’s goodness than the one who prays on behalf of others.”  (St. Ambrose)