“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Did you ever have a blank moment of not knowing what to pray about? Not knowing what else to say to God? Especially when we should commit in increasing our prayer time? Praying continuously? I had that blank moment. I wanted to strengthen my prayer life and wondered what else I can do to achieve it. Then, I came across “The Pieta Prayer Book.”
I perused through the book and was engrossed in the beautiful prayers it held. The prayers spoke to my heart and expressed exactly what I wanted to say to God. I shared about my thoughts on these prayers with my friend. She had the same sentiment and further explained that she never thought of praying in those words. By reading prayers such as “The Memorare,” “Prayer to St. Michael,” or “Anima Christi,” it allowed her to sit in the place of the writer and feel the words in her heart. It encouraged her to develop a deeper relationship with God, just as the saints and religious who wrote those prayers.
After reciting various prayers from “The Pieta” daily, I feel that I know God, inside and out. Because of this knowledge, my love for him deepens. It grows, most especially through my favorite prayers: The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, The Angelus and The Holy Rosary.
As I recite the Divine Mercy, I think about the mercy and forgiveness of God. I realize how much prayers are needed for the poor souls in purgatory. When I contemplate on the injustices of the world, I am led to pray for people to seek God’s mercy. While I pray, I recall my own sins. I ask for God’s mercy to wash over me and fill the void with his love. He, then, calls me to be loving and merciful toward others.
The Angelus is such a beautiful prayer of Mama Mary’s “yes” to God. When I reflect on the words, it moves me to be humble and obedient before God, taking courage toward the unknown. God fulfilled his promise to Israel by sending a Savior. I am reminded that God, too, will fulfill his promises to me. Referring back to the Divine Mercy, I recall the Incarnation of Jesus - mercy was made flesh through Jesus. He died for my sins. I need to humble myself before him and seek forgiveness frequently.
The Holy Rosary draws me close to heaven. I sense that all the angels and saints are praying with me, as I ask for Mama Mary’s intercession. I feel incredibly blessed as I meditate upon the mysteries and notice the benefits in praying the rosary. I understand Jesus more, which makes me love him more. I seek to grow in purity of heart, mind and body so that I can be one with God. Above all, I realize that all problems are resolved or easily carried through reciting the rosary.
These prayers, among those in The Pieta, are my treasures and it increased my prayer time. When I do not know where to start in my prayer or lack the words to pray, I open up this book. God calls me to “pray without ceasing.” Reciting these prayers help me to do that. When Jesus came down from Mt. Gethsemane prior to his arrest and found Peter, James and John asleep, he said to them, “Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Everyday I am reminded of that question and look forward to that one-hour to recite those prayers for my family, friends, church, community and country, most especially for the unborn. An intimate relationship with God, through prayer, abounds in graces.