Prayer #4: Intecerssory Prayer

"Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do." 

(Luke 23:34)

On the feast of St. Monica I felt it fitting to have a post on intercessory prayer. 

First, what is intercessory prayer?

"Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did." (CCC 2634) What the Church is trying to say here is that intercessory prayer is when we pray for others. As we pray we ask the Father to help those whom we are praying for. In praying as such we are imitating the Son's perfect prayer to His Father as seen throughout Jesus' life. 

Jesus, Himself, is intercessory prayer incarnate. This means His Being was always about petitioning God to forgive us. His life and especially His Crucifixion was a request to His Father to forgive His creation. That is why Jesus gave His prayer from the Cross in Luke 23:34 and He did so hoping we would imitate Him. 

"But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

(Matthew 6:15)

We imitate Jesus by offering intercessory prayer for others. On a practical note, this type of prayer is simple. All you need to do is ask God to forgive yourselves and others. You can ask God to help others to find Him. You can ask God to assist the poor and needy. The hardest part of this prayer is the necessary disposition behind it. We need to want others to have these things. I know it sounds like that is a given, but there are a lot of times I do not really care or want the ones I am praying for to have what I am asking God to give them. Love is the prerequisite for intercessory prayer. Love is necessary for any communication with God, as He, Himself, is Love.

"It's a sweet duty... praying for our friends. I always feel I've had a brief meeting with them when I do. Perhaps it is a meeting, of the best kind! 

--C.S. Lewis

The main reason we honor St. Monica is because of her preserving in intercessory prayer for her son St. Augustine. St. Augustine grew up away from God and carrying more about the things of the world than of God. St. Monica was a holy and great lover of Jesus. She wanted nothing more than the conversion of her son. It took a long time, but finally St. Augustine converted and was baptized. After this, St. Monica said there was no other reason to still be on Earth. She had lived long enough to see the answer to her prayers.

"Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest your weary ones. Bless your dying ones. Soothe your suffering ones. Pity your afflicted ones. Shield your joyous ones. And for all your Love's sake. Amen."

--St. Augustine

We can learn a lot from St. Monica's prayer. Is there someone you love away from the Christ and His Church? Is there someone you know who is struggling who could really use God's grace? Do you really want that person(s) to receive God's help? If so, imitate Jesus, imitate St. Monica in praying for them. Pray without ceasing. God answers those who ask with a sincere heart and who have confidence in Him. Never give up praying!

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

(Matthew 7:7)

AMDG

St. Monica pray for us!