By REY FLORES
We all pray, or at least I would assume most Wanderer readers are people who pray regularly, some also being daily communicants. The standard daily prayers for Catholics are our morning offering, the Angelus, the Divine Mercy chaplet, grace before and after meals, our nightly examination of conscience, and of course our daily rosary.
The importance of prayer cannot be stressed enough. While the graces we receive from prayers may not come to us or our loved ones in fantastic and immediate miracles, the mere fact that you are reading this right now, alive and breathing, is a miracle in and of itself.
I heard on a Catholic radio program the other day that there is no such thing as a wasted prayer. There isn’t. Any time we set time aside during our day to honor and recognize the existence of God and of His angels and saints, we are paying homage to our Lord. The “telephone lines” are always open to our Lord and all our heavenly intercessors, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
As we pray, we have our certain favorite intercessors and the prayers associated with them. As Catholics, we have all asked at one time or another for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, or any given saint of our choice or cause.
For example, St. Rita of Cascia is known as the saint of the impossible, more specifically the saint of abuse victims, impossible and desperate causes, difficult marriages, infertility, parenthood, the sick and widows.
In addition to St. Rita, another one of my favorite saints is St. Joseph, patron of husbands and fathers. If you are a Catholic man, especially a husband and father, and you are not already asking him to intercede on your behalf, then get on it. Who better to help us in becoming the men, husbands, and fathers which God wants us to be?
Expectant mothers can always count on St. Gerard Majella for his intercession.
Then there’s always our beloved St. Jude, patron of desperate cases and lost causes. Who hasn’t had a desperate or lost cause? This apostle is always represented in statues and holy cards with the fire of the Holy Ghost above his head, the same flame Our Blessed Mother and the rest of the apostles received at Pentecost. St. Jude, pray for us.
Now how many of us have freaked out when we can’t find our keys, wallets, cell phones, glasses, whatever? I know I certainly have, and I have also seen some very absent-minded relatives do the same. There is no better intercessor than our beloved St. Anthony to ask us to find a lost item.
Why do we pray to St. Anthony when we lose something?
Legend has it that St. Anthony lost a very valuable Book of Psalms, which was stolen by a disgruntled novice. Since there were no printing presses at the time, the book was one-of-a-kind, so when Anthony discovered the book missing, he prayed to find it. After experiencing an otherworldly vision, the novice was moved to return the book and was welcomed back to the Order of Franciscans.
It isn’t only the saints who can intercede on our behalf; we also have our guardian angels. The Angel of God prayer is probably one of the first prayers Catholic parents share with their children. It is a beautiful, short, and sweet prayer to comfort our little ones as we tuck them to bed. “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”
Also, a few days ago, I had an interaction on social media where our daily sufferings became a topic of discussion. I mentioned that I would ask God to use my current sufferings for the benefit of the holy souls in Purgatory. I asked Him to please free as many souls as He saw fit, commensurate with my sufferings. I certainly don’t want my hardships to go for naught.
Imagine if we could all offer up our sufferings for these poor suffering souls, many who are members of our own families, or even friends.
If we could offer up anything from a minor discomfort to an almost crippling loss of a loved one, or a sad end to a close relationship, or even the loss of a job — Wow. Let us never forget to pray for them.
As the brief discussion went on, one friend reminded us that the holy souls in Purgatory did have the power to intercede for us on our behalf. While I did ask our Lord to use my sufferings for the benefit of those poor suffering souls, I did not do it with a reciprocal intent or desire. I, however, will be happy to accept all the prayers I can get from anyone, living or deceased.
If you are not already familiar with St. Gertrude the Great’s Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, please learn it. Our Lord told St. Gertrude that if this prayer is recited in the most pious manner, He will release a vast number of souls from their suffering in Purgatory. I share that prayer here with you. Let us pray.
“Eternal Father, I offer You the Most Precious Blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, for those in my own home, and in my family. Amen.”
It is also said that this prayer is extended to include living sinners, which would alleviate the indebtedness accrued to them during their lives. How wonderful is that? God is good. God is great.
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