The Power of Prayer

  In her apparition, Mary insisted once again on the holy practice of persevering prayer, something we are never to give up on. She then tells us of  the four wonderful fruits that prayer produces in our lives: desire for heaven, joy, holiness and power.

1) desire for heaven:

   The minute we start praying, Mary purifies our heart with God's grace and makes us  able to truly see everything in its right and true perspective. The scales from our eyes are taken away and we can see everything clearly in God's light. We are no longer blind or near-sighted, but now appreciate and value the preciousness of eternity, the shortness and brevity of time, the incalculable price of our soul, etc. We are no longer those who simply live for this world as if it were the only thing that really mattered, existed and had any importance. Mary introduces us to the ineffable world of God's Divine Life.

2) joy:

    Of course, such graces could only produce joy in our hearts as our minds and wills are filled with the thoughts of an unending future of eternal bliss. We are happy to know that we are finally on the right path and our life from now on is fruitful in spiritual riches and Divine Love. Even if our journey should meet up with rough ways, darkness, stumbling blocks, rain and storms, we know that this will only increase our happiness and merit for the future life. No one, now, is capable of taking away the joy of possessing God and His wonderful promise. St. Paul did ask: "Who will or can separate us from the love of God?"
It is told that when a certain monk was asked why he was always smiling, he answered:"..Because no one can take my God away from me!"

3) holiness:

  As we persevere in prayer, we get closer and more familiar with God, and therefore become holier. We actually begin to live God's Life itself on earth. Our mind, hearts and will are purified and we become sensitive to this mysterious presence of God and do everything to conserve His love and friendship in our lives, especially by avoiding sin. Sanctity is as unique as the person who lives it. There are no two saints alike in this world (as there are no two stars, snowflakes or flowers alike). Each one must live the holiness that God calls and inspires him or her to live. In our modern society, A  Catholic, for example, practices holiness by refusing to vote for a pro-abortion candidate. A Catholic journalist will show himself or herself holy by refusing to promote the culture of death. A Catholic doctor or politician will prove his holiness when he defends life instead of destroying it. That is the holiness we must live today.

4) power:

  There is no one more powerful on earth than he or she who prays. Our Lady's prayers got us Jesus to come from heaven. The saints have moved mountains, overthrown demons, cured many people and converted thousands of others through prayers, besides causing fear and planting respect in their enemies hearts. They were the ones who wrought significant changes in society. Nothing was impossible to them, but God made all things possible through their prayers. No political leader, general, wealthy or famous and talented person is more powerful than he or she who prays. Those who pray stay on top of the world and dictate the direction it is to take. Their spiritual power is obeyed and no one can resist it. Once we feel the power that comes through prayer. we are animated to ask for the conversion of the whole world and are able to move forward with a wonderful zeal. Nothing can stop us and we will truly establish the reign of God on this earth with full and complete confidence.

Anthony Mellace