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Proclaiming Christ through prayer

This is one in a series of columns on evangelization. The Year of Evangelization officially began Dec. 2, 2007, with a proclamation by Bishop Thomas Wenski. The year 2008 also marks the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of Orlando. Bishop Wenski asks the faithful of the diocese to observe this year with gratitude and to share the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ.

LAURA CURLL | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 06.18.08

My hope is that we all will seize every opportunity to “evangelize in the moment,” bringing Christ to the world by praying unceasingly.

I have always viewed prayer as a chance to “live in the moment with God.” Having this real–time experience with Him has also led me to see prayer as an opportunity to “evangelize in the moment.” In fact, I like to pray that everyone has an evangelizer near in his or her hour of need.

As Catholics, we are very familiar with the importance of prayer in our daily lives. We hold the great prayers of the Church as sacred vessels of our faith, and offer up our own prayers of supplication, contrition, thanksgiving and adoration as means of purification which spur us on to hope, the everlasting hope of Jesus Christ. Intercessory prayer, or prayer on behalf of others, can help us to be ministers of this same divine hope for our fellow brothers and sisters. In essence, we can proclaim the Good News by praying for others to be transformed as St. Catherine of Siena wrote in one of her letters, “praying that He would fulfill you in His will.”

Though referencing the Church in that letter, we know this kind of prayer speaks to the building up of God’s kingdom and of oneness in the victory of the Cross. What a humble but profound way to say “yes” to serving others as Jesus did!

I’d like to close with some well–known lines which I have turned into prayer sentiments. Though simple, I find they remind me of the rewards of prayer and encourage me to pray even more.

My hope is that we all will seize every opportunity to “evangelize in the moment,” bringing Christ to the world by praying unceasingly.

• The time to pray is now. • Share, smile, pray awhile. • A prayer is time well–spent. • Dream big, start with prayer. • Every day is a prayer day. • Happiness is just a prayer away. • Till the soil of your prayers. • Keep growing, keep praying. • Prayer, like friends, brightens every day. • Live, love, pray and be happy. • Remember to pray a little each day. • Prayer is the spice of life. • Let the Spirit shine through prayer!

Curll is a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and serves as chairwoman of the Evangelization Commission. She is a member of Holy Family Parish in Orlando.

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