Prayer transforms the “terrible state of existence”

I recently read a good book by a German sociologist. The book is titled “Democracy Needs Religion.” In it, the author paints a picture of a frenzied society that is unable to stabilize itself and is constantly forced to escalate without making any progress. He calls this “frenzied standstill.” It then awakens a certain aggression towards the world and other forms of being. For him, it’s a “terrible state of existence.” Therefore, a democratic society needs a factor of stability: the church, or more precisely, the liturgy. The liturgy, the author argues, offers people a new way of being in the world. The church is dimly silent. The aggressive relationship with the world doesn’t exist there. The rooms are high, almost tempting you to stop. The liturgy brings about an amazing peaceful serenity and calm. The Eucharist can make a different form of being-in-the-world tangible.

Sunday’s Gospel is about the prayer that Jesus wants his disciples to learn for they asked him to teach them how to pray. But Jesus only learned what he himself practiced. The entire New Testament is full of scenes in which Jesus prayed. The prayer on the Mount of Olives is one of the most outstanding scenes. Confronted with his own violent death on the cross, Jesus addressed a prayer to his Father. He remained remarkably calm. He spoke in a contemplative tone and with inner peace. Prayer takes away his fear of death and thus transforms his inner attitude. Prayer is clearly a powerful stabilizing factor for him.

A psychologist writes: Prayer can be a powerful tool for cultivating inner peace. By connecting with a higher power or engaging in spiritual practices, individuals can find solace, reduce anxiety, and experience a greater sense of calm and well-being.

I am proud to point out that the original Church of St. Michael’s was enlarged in 1925, with stone, which once formed part of the old St. Mary’s Cathedral, being donated by Archbishop Kelly. This makes it exactly 100 years old. It was also expanded to address the needs of people who longed for an anchor in their lives. This Sunday is also 45th anniversary of the dedication of St Michaels’ church in 1980.

In this context, we want to look for ways to unite our two communities within one parish. A suggestion: We want to set up an evening prayer online (around 30 minutes). After a long, tiring day, it might not be so bad to remain silent and find inner peace with God and our neighbours. To organize this, we want to set up a group to take over the design of the liturgy.

I’m thinking of families who could take on a reading, while another musical family could offer the music, and another family can give the mediation so on. In this way we form a prayer community that also transcends localities.

We are looking for maybe 4 to 5 people to take over this prayer initiative and the organization. It would be good if there are people from two communities.

Another note: Due to the security situation at Our Lady of Lourdes, the locks and keys need to be replaced. It will take about two weeks until all the locks and keys are ready. I wish we didn’t have to do this, because it costs a lot of money, which we don’t have. We have no other choice, and we must do it for the safety of our schoolchildren. .

Have a great Weekend
Fr Joe