Praying in God

• By Debby Higgins

   “But when you pray, go to your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Mathew 6:6

   My late father in his later years did not attend regular church services. Although he was devout in his beliefs, he said he did not need to go to a church that man had built when he had the trees, the sky and mountains that God created all around him. They established, as he said, the most beautiful cathedral ever created. This is where he went to pray among the beauty of nature. “Prayer is a dialogue, not just requests, including thanksgiving, worship and confession.” This quote is not mine but cannot be attributed to anyone I can find by name, but it certainly sums up the true meaning of prayer. And, God or Jesus did not stress that prayer had to be conducted within a structure to be heard. We have created some of the most magnificent cathedrals, churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and other houses of worship throughout the world. Buddhists and other Eastern religions have established places that reflect their particular beliefs and where they can pray in their own fashion. All are acceptable and deserve respect in my mind because they are true to their faith and devotion.

   Having visited Notre Dame in Paris before the fire was one of our most breathtaking moments in our travels. It truly is a magnificent edifice built long before modern equipment was invented to aid in construction. Aside from the grandeur of the cathedral, an overpowering sense of spirituality almost instantly greets you as you enter, compelling an overwhelming need to kneel and pray. It almost always is filled with the faithful of many religions who come to pray in their own way. Another awe-inspiring cathedral is located in Czestochowa, Poland. Our Lady of Czestochowa is more than one house of worship. It contains several chapels and alcoves and small altars. When we visited, it was filled with only a small path to walk around the hundreds seated in the pews and on the floor. People from all over the world came to pray that day and see Our Lady of Czestochowa or The Black Madonna. Many miracles have been attributed to the painting. Whether you believe in miracles of that nature, seeing so many faithful praying was unbelievable. What perhaps touched me most of all were the walls that were covered with tokens of all kinds left in gratitude and thanksgiving by those whose prayers were answered. Such is the power of prayer.

   We at Prince of Peace are fortunate to have such a beautiful church in which to pray. Our own Jesus who looks down on us with outstretched arms inspires many to speak from the heart in prayer. But, I suspect He doesn’t hold it against me if take my late father’s lead and look out on the trees, sky and mountain as I sometimes pray for His intervention or to say thank you for prayers answered. Prayer is that dialogue that opens the passage to the receptive ear of our Lord and Savior no matter where it emanates from.

•  I would be ungrateful if I didn’t say I often pray to the patron saint of impossible causes, St. Jude, for his intervention. For more than 43 years St. Jude has listened to me ask for help and for 43 years he has listened and passed my prayers on to Jesus. I can say without hesitation, I believe in the power of prayer because they all have been answered one way or another. How great is that?