PRAYER: AN INDISPENSABLE COMPONENT OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE By Fr. Francis Njau, AJ
Prayer is an essential component in the life of every human being. Prayer is the
communication with God. In prayer we converse with God and confidently express
ourselves to him. Prayer is the way God has given us to talk to him and to reach him.
Prayer is very crucial for anybody to grow in his/her spirituality. In prayer we open our
hearts to God and God nourishes us by his grace. The significance of prayer is evident
in the life and ministry of Jesus.
He taught his disciples how to pray. Through them he
gave us the prayer of Our Father:
“This is how you should pray: Our Father in
heaven…” (Matthew 6: 9-15). Jesus taught his disciples how to pray appropriately. He
exhibited to his disciples the importance of prayer in their lives. Hence, prayer is
obligatory in our lives as human beings. Jesus prayed continuously to keep the unity
and union with the Father. He spent time in prayer before performing miracles and
before he made major decisions. Jesus gave us great illustrations on how to follow the
path of prayer. He laid out the significance of prayer in the life of his disciples. Prayer is
the condition without which one cannot communicate with God. Whatever Jesus did is a
great lesson in our life. He demonstrated the importance of what matters in life so that
we may do the same.
We believers, are being urged to imitate Jesus, the perfect model
of obedience, unity and union with God. It is true that anyone who earnestly imitates
Jesus and follows his ways of prayer will certainly be successful.
In prayer we always remain in the state of grace and get more inspiration from the Lord.
St. Paul exhorts us to, “pray always, consistently and without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians
5: 16-18). All our needs, small and big should be brought to God in prayer (Philippians
4:6).
Prayer is a shared effort. We must pray, individually and in community, for
ourselves and for others (Romans 15:30). Above all St. Paul urges us to be watchful,
vigilant, and persevering in prayer (Ephesians 6:18). St. Paul faced many challenges
but because of prayer he was able to overcome all those obstacles and he continued to
shine while doing the work of God. St Paul shows us a great example to be followed
and practiced by the believers all the time. In any challenges we need prayer so that
God may help us to overcome whatever obstacles lay before us.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that, “Great is the mystery of faith … This
mystery, then requires that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate it, and that they
live from it in a vital and personal relationship” (CCC #2558). The Church reminds the
believers about the importance of prayer life in order to comprehend this mystery with
the help of God. The Church also shows us the necessity of prayer so that by prayer we
may get help from above to know God better. Certainly, when we pray God graciously
reveals himself more to us so that we may know Him in the way he wants us to do his
will. Prayer helps us to get the true sense of life, because through it, God helps us to
ascertain more of his love. The Catechism of the Catholic Church continues to teach us
that, “In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with
their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy
Spirits” (CCC #2565). The life of prayer is the most significant thing in life. The
Catechism urges the believers to pray so that they may live in the life of peace, hope,
love, and grace. When people follow the life of prayer they are like those who stand on
the rock that will ever sustain them, since their foundation is God himself. “Christian
prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ” (CCC #2564). It is
upon us, therefore, to abide with God in a spirit of prayer. Prayer is the bedrock of any
believer.
Bishop Sixtus Mazzoldi and Rev. Fr. John Marengoni very closely followed the ways and
teaching of the Lord about the importance of prayer. Despite the challenges they faced,
through prayer they always saw some green light at the end of the dark tunnel. For
example, in 1964 when they were expelled from Sudan, this bitter experience did not
diminish their missionary zeal and enthusiasm. Following their robust faith, our Co-
founders exhibited that they were men of fervent prayer, trust, devotion and
commitment. They valued prayer and prayed in pursuit of the example of Our Lord
Jesus Christ. They prayed constantly and they loved prayer.
In prayer they received much wisdom of knowing how to handle difficult matters in life. In prayer they deepened
their faith and they taught other people how to pray and love their faith. With prayer they
asked the Lord to give them some insight in order to transform the negative experience
of their being expelled from Sudan into something positive. Indeed, God answered their
prayer. They were enlightened to found our Institute, “Apostles of Jesus” in 1968, the
first Religious Missionary Institute for priests and brothers, ever to be founded in the
African continent.
Our Co-founders are models of prayer for all the members to follow.
They taught us and emphasized the significance and
indispensability of prayer in our life and ministry. They encouraged
us to pray through the intercession of St. Joseph who takes care of
all our material needs. They had an unshakable devotion to St.
Joseph and their prayers were always heard. They loved the Holy
Rosary very much. Whenever they were on a journey, they always
prayed the Rosary from the start to their destination. They
encouraged the students and members to pray the Rosary all the
time. Our Co- Fonders were often times seen taking walks in the
seminary compound while praying the Rosary.
This is one of the
clear types of evidence that they had a durable devotion to our
Blessed Virgin Mary. They insisted to the students to pray the
Rosary every day. They also prayed with the students. Our Co-
founders had a strong devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
They loved this devotion and encourage others to have such a
strong devotion. Their devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
is evidenced in our prayer book, “Apostles of Jesus Guide to
Prayer.” They encouraged all the members of the Apostles of Jesus and the students to
pray regularly. This illustrates how our Co-Founders valued prayer and put it into
practice. The “Apostles of Jesus Guide to Prayer” is full of prayers that are vital for the
spiritual nourishment of the members and the people they serve. In this book we find
the principal prayers of: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. The solid
foundation which our Co-Founders laid on prayer shows how the Holy Spirit inspired
them to found the Institute of the Apostles of Jesus, for the evangelization of Africa and
other parts of the world.
Bishop Sixtus Mazzoldi and Rev. Fr. John Marengon were great missionaries who
treasured the value of prayers and their fruits. They prayed in order to courageously
face the challenges they were encountering. Through their perseverance in prayer, they
left us a great lesson. We, members, must follow their example of praying without
ceasing.
St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina used to say that: “Prayer is the oxygen of the souls.” He
believed strongly and he demonstrated that throughout his life. He valued prayer all the
time in all situations. Through prayer God blessed him with many spiritual gifts. When
he came across difficult moments he relied on prayer and God continued to reveal more
spiritual gifts to him. Likewise, St. Faustina Kowalska whom Jesus appeared and
provided her with the image of the Divine Mercy; she used to pray most of the time and
reflect on the word of God. Due to her prioritizing of prayer and practicing all the
teachings of Jesus, she was highly blessed with many spiritual gifts. When she came
across challenges, she trusted in God and she kept on praying. Prayer is the most
important thing we are called to do in our lives. In prayer we are able to converse with
our God. Let us value prayer all the time. When we follow and put into practice the
inspiration which we draw from prayer, we are enabled to face the challenges of life.
When we pray, we put ourselves in the hands of God. God gives us the grace to
encounter any situation with his wisdom and strength.
Our Co-founders had the gift of prayer and they used it quite well. They taught us how
to entrust every challenge we face in the mission in the hands of God through prayer.
Let us draw an inspiration of perseverance in prayer from one of the moments of
distress in the history of our Institute. In 1986, a tragedy struck our Institute. Two
novices, Nicholas Okellokeko from Gulu Diocese in Uganda and Titus Massawe from
Moshi, Tanzania were brutally murdered in Moroto, Uganda. They were shot dead at
close range by Karimojong warriors in two bright afternoons. Their deaths occurred
within few days apart. Nicholas was killed on July 18, 1986 and Titus on August 11,
1986. What stood out very strongly during that moment of the devastation of losing two
novices through the barrel of the gun was how the community of Apostles of Jesus in
Moroto and the Institute as a whole was united in prayer. After that tragic incident the
seminary of Moroto was briefly closed. When stability and peace were reestablished in
the area, most seminarians courageously returned to Moroto to continue with their
formation. Once again life in Moroto could be experienced booming with the spiritual
fervor of prayers and devotions. Various prayer sessions were offered throughout the
day, weeks and months in the section of the minor seminary for aspirants, the major
seminary for postulants, the novitiate, and the community of junior and perpetually
professed members. Let us keep that flame of prayer burning and bright in all our
formation houses, institutions, and wherever we minister.
Bishop Sixtus Mazzoldi and Rev. Fr. John Marengoni left behind a legacy that will ever
endure. They continue to inspire us to go through the trials we come across in life with
prayer. It is upon us, members, to daily actualize the power of prayer in our lives.
Prayer is one of the components in life that cannot be ignored. It cannot be taken for
granted. As communication is necessary to maintain strong relationship with one
another, then prayer is indispensable to maintain our relationship with God. Our Co-
founders gave us great wisdom, that when we have any task/crisis in our ministry,
community, Institute or wherever we are working we are to daily turn to prayer. Currently
our Institute is passing through some challenges. While we wait for the Church’s higher
authority to give us some direction on our reorganization and self-governance, let us
keep on praying. Let us pray the Rosary more consistently in community and
individually as our Co-Founders did and taught us. Let us center our lives on the
Eucharistic Lord who is ever present in the celebration of Mass and in the tabernacles
all over the world. Let us focus on the Sacred Heart as we pray and call on the
intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through her Immaculate Heart. Let us pray, to
have the courage like that of our major patron saints: St. Joseph, the first Apostles and
the Martyrs of Uganda. In prayer we will always find the wisdom of God to guide,
protect, transform, direct, and give us strength.
Leave a Reply