I Said a Prayer for You

"Life is to live and life is to give and talents are to use for good if you choose. Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be strong. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks, then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life, which has come to you by the grace of God. But everyone needs someone, knowing that somewhere someone is thinking of you." 

The Father Solanus Guild, the organization responsible for the cause and beatification of Venerable Solanus Casey, notes that Fr. Solanus often prayed these words, which were adapted from a poem written by Phillips Brooks. In doing so, I surmise that this future saint must have been drawn to the life-giving reality present in the many words used by this poet; words that clearly characterize the life of a person who is richly in tune with the life of God. 

Words like giving, talents, powers, miracles, wonder, richness, grace, and prayer.

For Solanus, the "divine tune" meant, if you will, that our lives should always be focused upon God. As such, it follows that a person focused upon God will live a life that is centered in prayer. And through that life of prayer, a great relationship develops. Things once thought to be impossible become possible. And while our prayers, on occasion, might have the power to move mountains, they might also possess the strength to move the smaller hills that surround and occupy our life.

Some years ago, I had the "fortune" of listening to a priest speak of a "bad week" that he had once encountered, one that included a series of events that had all but consumed his sanity. Now I should make it clear that I do not relish in the misfortune of others, however, given that I am also not from a different universe, I found myself easily able to relate to his story. For him, a litany of weeklong problems would continue through late Friday morning, when a knock on the door of the rectory brought a different insight. 

It was a soft knock, and when he opened the door, standing on the doorstep was a mother, father, and their teenage daughter. After inviting them inside, the priest listened to the mother explain that they had found him through the diocesan website and that he was the priest who, many years ago, had baptized their infant daughter. Now standing before him, the mother noted that from the time she was able, her daughter had always included him in her evening prayers, that God might continue to bless him, and always remain close by.

When it was the daughter's turn to speak, she smiled and said mostly the same. And in thanking him for baptizing her, she noted that she had always prayed for him, and would continue to do so. She wanted him to know that her prayers were always for his happiness and that God would keep him safe.

And as they left, the priest not only thanked them, but thanked God, too.

Despite the hills and obstacles of life, the power of prayer and God's love really does cut through.

How good indeed it is to know that someone is praying for you. 

This reflection originally appeared on Deacon Kurt's blog, The Practical Deacon, the week of January 1, 2011.