Living in a society that constantly bombards me with words can lead me to take my words less and less seriously. It seems at times as though my words have little consequence, and yet I’ve also experienced the tremendous impact words can have. I’ve been comforted by a simple encouraging word, and I’ve been stunned by a harsh and critical word.
Jesus reminds me in today’s Gospel that it’s the sincerity with which I pray rather than the number of my words in prayer that really matters. He gives me the simple, yet transforming, words of the Our Father as a model for my prayer. I don’t need to rattle on in my prayer; God already knows what I need. Mary must have known this well, for several times in the Scriptures we’re told, “She pondered all these things in her heart.”
I’m so grateful for the witness of my Sisters who faithfully give voice to intercession for others in their prayer. This is especially evident in our Congregational practice of Perpetual Adoration. Our Sisters around the world take turns praying before the Blessed Sacrament for the needs of the Church and world and all those with whom we come in contact. Our Toledo Province has the hours from 4:00-5:00 p.m. and 8:00-9:00 p.m. It is there in a special way that we speak our needs, your needs, to Our Loving God.
Submit a prayer request here or click on the “Prayer Request” tab on our web site: www.toledosnd.org. For what intentions would you like us to pray?
2 Responses
Yes, I have learned over the years how much people count on us to remember their personal intentions in prayer. Therefore, I made a clay prayer bowl to hold such intentions; we keep the bowl in our convent chapel and pray for those intentions daily. You may be sure that the bowl is always full. Intercessory prayer is one form of prayer that binds the hearts of people, placing them in the heart of God.
Thank you for all of the intentions you have included in your prayers for me and my family over the years. We are so grateful.