J.M.J. When we consider the earthly life of Our
Blessed Lady, we are struck by Her attention to the marvelous ways in
which God was moving in Her and around Her. Mary possessed a delicate
soul that considered carefully what the Lord was doing in Her midst (see
Saint Luke 2:19, 51).
Our Blessed Mother's prayer was steadfast. What is "steadfast prayer"? Let us ponder each word.
According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, the
adjective "steadfast" has two meanings: 1.) immovable; 2.) loyal. An apt
synonym for steadfast is "faithful."
Seemingly there is an almost countless number of definitions
of "prayer." A very helpful and disarmingly simple one is easily stated: "communication with God."
Therefore, one who is immersed in steadfast prayer is
faithful in listening and speaking to the Lord. The person will not be
deterred because of weariness or what appears to be discouraging results
from his prayer.
Now it is easy to see how the phrase steadfast prayer applies
to Our Blessed Mother. She was loyal in Her contemplation of God and
all things divine. Not only did She spend innumerable hours in prayer
but She also surrendered Herself completely to every period given to
meditation. In other words, Her prayer was intense; it did not waver.
Her desire to pray never slackened . . . She fixed Her will firmly on
the path of prayer. Her Will was immovable.
There is a troubling current today that has gained adherents
in some circles--in Religious Life and elsewhere--whose mentality is
expressed in the declaration: "My work is my prayer." Often this
assertion signifies that instead of parceling out moments for prayer
during the day, one rather counts his apostolic work, which, sadly, may
even push aside time necessary for prayer, as being his communication
with God.
This attitude is erroneous and eventually harmful for the
soul. True, our labors are to be like the incense rising to our loving
Creator in praise and gratitude. Yet, each of us requires time daily
earmarked specifically for prayer in which we hear His voice and respond
without attending simultaneously to any other concerns--noble as they
may be.
No human person worked with so much diligence as Our Blessed
Lady. But no human person ever prayed as much and so devoutly as She
did. Yes, She made Her work Her prayer. Yet, She still designated long
periods to communicating with Her Lord.
To the end of Her life here on earth, the Ever-Virgin
persevered in prayer. And now in Heaven, She continues with unceasing
prayer for us and our intentions.
May we, like Mary, be steadfast in prayer? Yes! We can be
loyal in prayer like Our Blessed Lady. Our intention to pray, like Hers,
can be unshakeable. And when we pray, we can yield ourselves entirely
to our conversation with God. We can avoid the fallacy of regularly
omitting our prayer under the banner of engaging in work, even if
becoming and legitimate.
Like Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Blessed Mary is our
model in prayer. In Paradise She prays for us. On earth we pray that the
Everlasting Life that She knows now in Heaven will be ours, too. At
Fatima in 1917, Our Blessed Mother told little Francisco Marto
(1908-1919) that he must pray many Holy Rosaries before reaching
Paradise. He accepted the kind, maternal challenge to pray much and
devoutly. Will we?
(Originally published in the June 2007 issue of the Missio Immaculatae
International [English edition], page seven. Used with permission.)
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