Reflection: Lord, teach us to pray...

Now the Word of the Lord came to me saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I consecrated you; a prophet to the nations I appointed you. Jeremiah 1:5

God has given each one of us a mission. Ask Him what He has appointed you to do and listen and, as in the words of Mary, "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5

Jesus was praying to the Father and his disciples asked Him how to pray. In order to discern what mission God has given you, ask Him in prayer, wait and listen for Him to speak to your heart.

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when I has finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom come." Luke 11:1-2

Prayer brings down a flood of grace.
You can make a difference in the lives of people who are suffering with your prayers.

How can you help?
Pray, fast, make sacrifices and offer the spiritual and corporal works of mercy for souls.

We can look to the saints as living lives of heroic virtue. God gives us their lives as examples to follow. Heroic virtue is the performance of extraordinary virtuous actions with readiness and over a period of time. The moral virtues are exercised with ease, while faith, hope and charity are practiced to an eminent degree. The presence of such virtues is required by the Church as the first step toward canonization. As you pray, God will reveal your mission to you. He will teach you how to come forward in heroic ways and you will grow in heroic virtue.

What are some of the qualities of a hero?
Courage, Faith, Hope, Love, Fortitude, Compassion, Wisdom, Perseverance, Honor, Service, Patience in Suffering

"You Yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy - if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer - if I cannot how mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically. O my Jesus, transform me into Yourself, for You can do all things."  Diary of Saint Faustina 163

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Luke 11:9

Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless all the families for whom we pray. We ask You to increase heroic virtue in us so that we may help others. We thank You for the gifts of Your Son Jesus, for the Holy Spirit and for Our Blessed Mother Mary.