Prayer can be found in spiritual reading as well. On Tuesday March 13, one of the readings in the Liturgy of the Hours was taken from a sermon by St. Peter Chrysologus:
"There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.
"Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God's ear to yourself."
Jesus had said to the apostles that they must fast as well as pray. In fasting we find our weaknesses and how very dependent we are on God's great love and mercy. During this season of Lent, find time to pray and take time to fast, even for just a day. God bless!!
St. Monica Parish
Why I Pray! Jesus is present in the Tabernacle. He promised to never leave us and his promise is true.
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