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September 15, 2020Brothers and Sisters,
Pray for me! Very often in the Christian life you will hear these three simple, but very profound words uttered. A request for prayer can come in many forms. Some- one may ask for himself, herself or another person. Additionally, you may communicate your own need for prayer to a family member, friend, to members of our parish community in person, or by phone, mail, email, or social media. A few months ago, we sent a text to Holy Name of Jesus parishioners through Flocknote asking how we could pray for your needs… over 1,100 parishioners asked for specific prayers (which we obliged). Regardless of how prayer is requested, Christians for generations have come to learn that the power of prayer is great and strong, whether it is be for one’s personal relationship with God or communally, when the Church prays united together.
The beautiful reality in the Catholic Church is that our prayers for one another do not end here in this life. According to the Church’s teaching on the communion of saints, we can offer mutual prayer and support past this life into life to come. St. Pope Paul VI upon speaking of the Communion of Saints said,
"We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always attentive to our prayers.”
Our Church is more than what we see. Our Church encompasses the unseen reality of the mystical communion of saints described above… how easy it is for us sensory human beings to forget that we are part of a vast cloud of witnesses who care deeply about us! Praying connects us to that loving Body of Christ that we cannot see with our eyes or embrace with our arms. Through prayer, we traverse physical boundaries. In as much as the pandemic’s physical restrictions remind us of the value of our relationships with friends and family here on earth, these restrictions also underscore our need to strengthen our connection with Christ and with the Church triumphant in heaven. Prayer is an incredible gift we can offer one another whether for us pilgrims on earth or for the repose of the souls of our loved ones who have died.
The Mass remains the most powerful way to pray for one another for there is no greater prayer on earth than the living gift of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. St. Pope Paul VI once said, “The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer.” And it was also St. John Vianney who shared about the power of the Eucharist; “There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us.”
Remember, you are part of the mystical Body of Christ and nothing can separate us from Christ’s love – not death, fires, or even a pandemic. Love is such a powerful bond and it is prayer that keeps this bond alive and well. Keep me in your prayers as I pray for all of you. I look forward to every Mass where we can powerfully pray for and with each other!
When we pray together, we glorify Christ’s Holy Name!
Father Erik Esparza
