Plants need light and air to live and grow; an eagle needs two wings to fly. Our love of God also needs light and air and wings. If it lacks these things it becomes weak and fades away. We all need the wings of prayer. We need the nourishment of prayer and the ability to renounce ourselves for a greater good.

Every act done in union with God could be called prayer.

However usually, we call prayer the times when we lift up our hearts and minds to God. Prayer is a dialogue of love with God.

Prayer is when we try and enter into the world of values that God gives us. We do this when we can really pray the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”.

Lifting up the heart and mind to God means setting my soul free from purely worldly concerns, and renewing the personal bond of love with God. Prayer is necessary because it brings us grace. It brings us new life and it brings us the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is our greatest inspiration in the life of prayer. Mary has always been regarded in the life of the Church as a woman of prayer.

The spirit of sacrifice means that we try and heal and diminish selfishness and egoism. Prayer and sacrifice should always be connected to the power of love. How did Christ save the world? Through sermons and meetings or through his passion and death. His sacrifice was the key to redemption. An authentic Christian life always includes both: prayer and sacrifice.