PRAYING WITH DILIGENCE

Divine Appeal Reflection - 167

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 167: "I ask you to pray and I beg you not to grow faint.  I call you today to strive with diligence. I want you in the holy habit  of praying. Behold the very dawn found Me at prayer. Even in My  labours, I lifted Myself to My Eternal Father."

Our Adorable Jesus lovingly calls us to a life steeped in prayer and perseverance. This is not simply a suggestion but a profound invitation to imitate His own example of unceasing union with the Eternal Father. By embracing diligence and faithfulness in prayer, we respond to His Sacred Heart, which thirsts for our love and attention. He reassures us of the power and necessity of prayer, saying, “I ask you to pray and I beg you not to grow faint.” Our Adorable Jesus' abundant grace, which fortifies our faith and joins our hearts with His divine will, is made available to us through consistent prayer. Scripture elegantly affirms the need for constant prayer: "Pray without ceasing" (cf. 1 Thess 5:17), which exhorts us to maintain our commitment to God's communion.

The saints were aware of the transformational potential of persistent prayer. St. Teresa of Calcutta emphasized the importance of prayer in maintaining spiritual life by comparing it to the soul's breath. She encouraged simple acts of trust during times of dryness, reminding us to turn to Jesus with heartfelt love even when words fail. Likewise, St. Padre Pio’s unwavering commitment to prayer, despite immense physical suffering, teaches us the value of dedicating ourselves wholly to interceding for souls. These saints inspire us to follow our Adorable Jesus in striving for prayerful diligence, even amid life’s challenges and distractions.

Forming a holy habit of prayer transforms ordinary routines into acts of love for God. Our Adorable Jesus invites us to cultivate this habit, which sanctifies our lives and deepens our communion with Him. The Gospels reveal that Jesus began His day in prayer, rising early and seeking solitude to commune with the Father (cf. Mark 1:35). This example teaches us the sanctifying power of morning prayer, which allows us to dedicate our works and struggles to God, setting a prayerful tone for the day. Saints like St. John Paul II demonstrated the beauty of daily prayer, faithfully praying the Rosary as a source of peace and strength during his papacy. We are called to include prayer into our daily lives, whether it is through the Holy Rosary, Angelus, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, or silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. By accepting His invitation to partake in His divine life, we bring ourselves closer to His Sacred Heart.

Our Adorable Jesus also teaches us to sanctify our work through prayer. As He lifted His heart to the Father even in His labors, He calls us to do the same. This is clearly shown by St. Benedict's motto , ora et labora ("pray and work"), which invites us to combine our efforts with prayer. When we surrender our determined activity to God, it transforms into worship, and we grow closer to Him. Divine Appeal 167 emphasizes well that prayer is not only in times of stillness but also a form of activity. Let us pray, inspired by the saints, trusting that each moment spent with the Adorable Jesus brings us nearer to His Sacred Heart and the eternal embrace of the Father.

Prayer

Our Adorable Jesus, teach us to persevere in prayer as You lovingly invite us to commune with You. Strengthen our hearts to seek You with diligence, offering our works and struggles to the Eternal Father. May our lives reflect Your love and draw souls closer to Your divine presence. 

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.