478 PRAY CONFIDENTIALLY TO GOD

YOUCAT Lesson 478

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

478  Why can we be confident that our prayer is heard by God?

Many people called on Jesus during his earthly life for healing, and their prayers were answered.  Jesus, who rose from the dead, listens to our petitions and brings them to the Father.  [2615-2616, 2621]

A woman prays before Pope Francis arrival in Madhu Sri Lanka, CNS photo by Paul Haring. …..478

Even today we know the name of the synagogue official: Jairus was the name of the man who begged Jesus for help, and his prayer was answered.  His little daughter was deathly ill.  No one could help her.  Jesus not only healed Jairus’ little girl, he even raised her from the dead (Mark 5:21-43).  Jesus worked a whole series of well-attested cures.  He performed signs and miracles.  The lame, the lepers, and the blind did not ask Jesus in vain.  There are testimonies also of prayers answered by all the saints of the Church.  Many Christians can tell stories of how they called to God and God heard their prayer.  God, however, is not an automat.  We must leave it up to him how he will answer our petitions.  40, 51

“He (Jesus) prays for us as our priest; he prays in us as our Head; we pray to him as our God.  Let us therefore hear our voice in him and his voice in us.”  St. Augustine (354-430)

 “If you would really pray to him for conversion, it would be granted to you.”  St. John Vianney (1786-1859)

  [2615-2616, 2621]

 Jesus teaches us how to pray

2615 Even more, what the Father gives us when our prayer is united with that of Jesus is "another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth."( John 14:16-17.)⁸¹ This new dimension of prayer and of its circumstances is displayed throughout the farewell discourse.( Compare John 14:23-26; Jn 15:7,16; Jn 16:13-15; Jn 16:23-27.)⁸² In the Holy Spirit, Christian prayer is a communion of love with the Father, not only through Christ but also in him: "Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."( John 16:24)⁸³ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

Jesus hears our prayer

2616 Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection: Jesus hears the prayer of faith, expressed in words (the leper, Jairus, the Canaanite woman, the good thief)( Compare Mark 1:40-41; Mk 5:36; Mk 7:29; Compare Luke 23:39-43.)⁸⁴ or in silence (the bearers of the paralytic, the woman with a hemorrhage who touches his clothes, the tears and ointment of the sinful woman).( Compare Mark 5:25; Mk 5:28; Luke 7:37-38.)⁸⁵ The urgent request of the blind men, "Have mercy on us, Son of David" or "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" has-been renewed in the traditional prayer to Jesus known as the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!"( Matthew 9:27, Mark 10:48.)⁸⁶ Healing infirmities or forgiving sins, Jesus always responds to a prayer offered in faith: "Your faith has made you well; go in peace." –CCC

 St. Augustine wonderfully summarizes the three dimensions of Jesus' prayer: "He prays for us as our priest, prays in us as our Head, and is prayed to by us as our God. Therefore let us acknowledge our voice in him and his in us."( St. Augustine, En. in Psalm 85,1:Patrologia Latina 37,1081; compare GILH 7.)⁸⁷ –CCC

IN BRIEF

 2621 In his teaching, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray with a purified heart, with lively and persevering faith, with filial boldness. He calls them to vigilance and invites them to present their petitions to God in his name. Jesus Christ himself answers prayers addressed to him.  --CCC

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