Strangers Praying for Me

This past summer during World Youth Day, as my group explored one of the many churches in Spain, I passed by a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I sighed with joy upon seeing her and moved closer to pray.  Next to me, a woman from Peru did the same.  We shared a smile and a warm glance.  Our Mary!  Our Patroness of the Americas!  Right here with us in Spain.  In a sea of people, languages, color, and chatter, it was a relief to relax and spend time with Our Lady.

Later that day, while wandering the streets of Madrid, I saw the woman again.  We smiled, our instant connection from the church still strong: we both had a mutual friend in Our Lady of Guadalupe and with that friendship came the joy, peace, and trust of friendship in, with, and arranged by the Saints.  I could trust that lady.  She was friends with Mary, so she could easily be a friend of mine.  We never exchanged words, but I know we prayed for each other and asked Our Lady to bless us.

The chance encounter and prayerful experience made me think more about the communion of saints.  As the Catechism of the Catholic Church  explains, “The term ‘communion of saints’ refers also to the communion of ‘holy persons’ (sancti) in Christ who “died for all,” so that what each one does or suffers in and for Christ bears fruit for all.” (961)  I may never know the names of all the saints or establish a deep relationship with each of them while I’m on Earth.  Despite this lack of intimate kinship, I am certain that they praying for me, interceding on my behalf, encouraging me by their holy witness, and cheering me on the path of holiness.

Communion of Saints*

We are one Church, whether living on earth, in Purgatory, or in Heaven, and my understanding of the communion of saints is furthered, strangely enough, by my experience in the online Catholic community (Catechism of the Catholic Church 962).  We are strangers.  Most of us live miles and miles away from each other.  We may not meet in person during our lifetime, but I know that I have your prayers and your encouragement.  I see this communion every day on Twitter, when someone asks for prayers.  I see it in the tender, uplifting comments left on blogs.  I experience it when my fellow Bright Maidens boldly urge me along the path of holiness.  I feel it even when I’m not in contact with the online community.  Your holy presence on the web, in our country, and in our world – just knowing you’re there and that you exist! –  is the extra push I sometimes need to live our faith more deeply.

“Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides [of death] always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father’s mercy.”

– Cyprian of Carthage

*Image credit.

Trista Garttner

Trista Garttner

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5 thoughts on “Strangers Praying for Me”

  1. Nicely said… especially when it is so easy to feel “alone” …like I am the only one feeling this passion for faith, or the conviction to follow my heart as Christ to others… and remembering the body of Christ, the communion of saints, the fact that I am surrounded by prayer even while I am in prayer, is the path to courage, and to helping others also know that they are not alone.

  2. Yes! When I fee like I’m alone in matters of the faith I go to different websites where I find kindred spirits and feel much better. I don’t know what I would do without the digital commmunity

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