Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19

rch.
The necessity Of prayer cannot be better
exempliaed than by recalling that 1t was
while wrapt In prayer that the great
apostle of the Gentiles learned the ''Mys-
teries of the Kingdom Of God" And who
was more successful in his undertakings
than David, who made it a habit to recur
to prayer before embarking on any one Of
them? So much SO is prayer a means that
Divine Providence has placed at our dis
posal for the attainment of our end that
the poet hardly exaggerates when he ex-
claims that prayer moves the hand that
moves the universe" Prayer Is Of almost
incalculable worth In keeping man ever
cognizant of his dependence upon God, and
thus insuring a careful use Of the gifts
he has already received from Him. Oper-
ating against a constant tendency which
Is in every man to draw him away from
God. prayer impels the creature to God: IL
teaches him to master his faculties more
easily. whereas II everything should come
to hand unsought God might be soon and
totally forgotten. 1t Is a natural impulse
for human creatures to depend On some
one of a higher station and to look up to
him for assistance: and thus it should be
with all men in respect to God As the
child finds 1t advantageous to hug closely
to its parent when 1t is anxious for some
favor. so mankind, while kept conscious
of their dependence on God, will also stick
rather close to Him, and communicate with
Him perhaps through the medium Of
prayer.
God wishes to hear our prayers. Is It
not reasonable that the Supreme Author
Of all Being. after bringing a creature from
mere nothingness into existence. would be
naturally solicitous as to his future well
fare?
Indeed, God is ever ready to accede to a
request provided it is conducive to an In
dividuars eternal welfare. If prayer, then.
has been made a means so useful in the
economy Of salvation. does it not appear
as moral necessity for the possession Of
the best of all His good gifts-fnal per-
severance? That We need the assistance
OF God is evident only after the most
cursory study of poor human nature. May
not any creature exclaim with ST. Paul:
Il do not that good which 1 will. but the
evil which 1 hate, that I do?" The great
apostle of the Gentiles knew his weakness
and. seeing his inability to overcome it by
merely natural efforts, had recourse to
God through the medium of prayer. When
consideration is made of the sovereign
majesty of Him of whom we are to ask
such aids, and the facility with which we
can approach this Throne of Grace" the
obligation to pray becomes still more i'm
The necessity of prayer is we'll demon
strated from its universal usage among
men. While the forms of religious wor-
ship have dfered-and that very widely
among men-the world has never yet
heard of a nation or people, whether an
Client or modern, savage or civilized. pagan
or Christian. which has not poured forth
applications to the Supreme Deity in one
form or another. Prayer is the expression
of a sentiment deeply engraved in a soul
of every man: 1t was for other men what
1t cannot but be for each and every one
Of us-light for the intellect. comfort for
the heart and strength for the will Why
then can it not follow that prayer is a
necessity since 1t springs from an instinct
so common among men?
This widespread practice Of prayer, this
universal aspiration, springs from an In
nate sense Of our own misery and depend
ence and our Unborn conviction Of Gods
infinite power and boundles mercy. In fine,
since prayer holds so conspicuous a place
among the elements that go together to
form human actions. since 1t is not only
SO advantageous, but even morally neces-
sary for the attainment Of our eternal hap
piness. we should endeavor to remain free
from the reproach which Christ Himself
cast upon His own disciples for their neg
lect Of prayer. when He said: Hitherto
you have not asked anything in My name:
ask and you shall receive. that your joy
may be full"