By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ •  St. Josaphat Formation Center • Phoenix, AZ

With every day’s headlines bearing yet another tragedy, crisis or emergency from far and near to our consciousness and sometimes to our very lives or those of loved ones, countrymen, fellow Christians or to our common neighbor in this world by natural disasters and those perpetrated by men, the prayer of intercession has to become for all of us a more frequent and fervent remedy to these challenges to the good of mankind.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came to redeem the whole human race; and one of His frequent activities was prayer. Before and/or after every major event in His public ministry, the Gospels relate how Our Lord would spend the night in prayer to His Heavenly Father. Before He called the Apostles, after curing all in Capernaum or feeding the multitudes and especially in the Garden after the Last Supper, He prayed. Early on His disciples saw Him praying so often and for such long periods of time that they begged Him – as good disciples – to teach them to pray. He taught them the “Our Father.” He taught by this prayer to be concerned for our brothers and sisters whose Father is the Same: “give us,” “forgive us,” “lead us,” and “deliver us from evil.”

When St. Catherine Laboure asked Our Lady why some of the rays of grace coming from her hands in the miraculous medal image didn’t reach the earth, Mary said they were graces not prayed for! We have to pray frequently and fervently for the needs of all – especially the ones whom the Lord makes known to us – even by the headlines. While we pray much, we cannot leave undone whatever good work we can do in addition to and in union with our fervent prayers.

Yet, there will be, of course, multitudes of particular needs that we could never be aware, but not Our Lady – attentive to all her children’s needs as she was for the newlyweds at Cana. Then let us offer our Masses, prayers of all kinds, good works, sacrifices and vigils to Jesus through the hands and heart of Mary His Mother so she can ask her Son for what her children need. The Lord knows what we need before we ask, but wants us to ask so we become attentive to the needs of others and share His concern for all and with Him continue to save mankind!

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