Keywords: prayer, service, piety, priest, Communion, Church, faithful
Abstract:
Prayer is food for the soul, talking to God, a source of comfort and divine gifts, grounding of the virtues and means to reinforce and grow in spirit. Through prayer, God grated us the power to know Him, to glorify Him and to permanently maintain the communion with Him. The priest, being a servant of God and steward of His Mysteries (cf. 1 Corinthians 4, 1), is generally seen as a man of prayer. Through prayer, he brings upon his faithful the grace of God, an essential condition for redemption. Therefore, he should constantly pray to God, not only within the worship place, alongside the other believers, but also within his house, where he must pray as often as possible during several times of the day for the peace, tranquillity, and redemption of his soul, and for the aid, protection, and deliverance of his faithful from all dangers, needs and troubles. Prayer is the refuge of peace, tranquillity, and a way to restore man’s relation with God. It is the heavenly ladder through which the heavenly blessings and the divine gift descend upon us. Therefore, the priest must pray with spiritual warmth, faith, zeal, and deep humility, to enhance his spiritual life and receive from God all those that are necessary to the Christian community, that persists in the unity of faith and love. Once familiarized with the practice of prayer, the priest can maintain his calm and spiritual balance, prevail over life’s tests and hardships, and will present himself as a protecting wall and a shield for the defence of his believers, against the wave of life’s temptations and troubles.
Pages: 76-84