WHY PRAY TO GOD?

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 251, 22 February 1878, Page 19

WHY PRAY TO GOD?

Why should one pray ? God knows all one wants, and is unchangeably set on either supplying or denying us. He can not be moved by coaxing. Why coax then 1 Skeptic. In logical justice, a " skeptic " has no right to ask the " why " of Christian practices. We pray, because Christ taught its to pray, and the Church commands us to pray. But to. meet the narrow ■ minded objection with reasoning instead of authority ; we pray, not to change God's will, but to fulfil it. We " coax " *not to wheedle Him out of what He is not inclined to give, but to fulfil the condition on which he has agreed to give it. "He knows one's wants," as you say. And He knows one chief want, is to acknowledge Him for Creator and Master. Prayer is not petition alone. It is the raising our hearts and minds to God. It is the understanding and acknowledgement of one place in the universe of life, of one grand immortality and His Infinite Perfection. Prayer is adoration, thanksgiving, sorrow for sin and petition. Does not " skeptic " ever feel himself in, to use the bombastic but not unmeaning words of Carlyle, "The centre of Immensities — the conflux of Eternities ? " Does he not feel that the surroundings which affect his understanding, will, fame, health, friendship, fortunes, are out of his control ? Have his well laid schemes never been thwarted, in a way unforeseen ? Has his good name never been endangered in some point undeserved 1 Has he never had cramps without eating green apples ? Shallow indeed, a skeptic must always be ; but idiotic is the one who imagines that he holds in his own hands the issues of life and death. The Creator holds these. "He that formed the eye— does He not see ? the ear, does He not hear? He that gave destiny for man's free will to achieve— does He not control destiny?" But the Creator is the Living God. He cares for all He has made according to the nature He has given them. Matter He controls unchangeably. Mind He governs as mind deports itself. " Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find."— Catholic ColumUan. ■