Each day at our Conventual (or Community) Mass, the Holy Eucharist, the principal intention or fervent prayer to God, is for the well-being, needs and intentions of all of our families, friends, benefactors and associates who are alive, and for eternal happiness in God’s sight for those who have died.
The mystery of offering prayers for others stretches back millennia in the Judeo-Christian tradition and still has a very important place in our Christian faith.
There is a story of a woman who had two sons. One sold umbrellas and the other sold sunglasses. She was in a dilemma when both sons asked their mother to pray for the success of their jobs. If she prayed for rain, the umbrella-selling son would be delighted in the hope of selling many umbrellas, but the sunglass-selling son would likely sell nothing.
In the end, the mother simply prayed, “Lord, your will be done, but please let both my sons sell their products and be happy men.”
We never know the efficacy or success of our prayers, but Scripture tells us: “Pray without ceasing.” Monks strive to do just that and hopefully all who believe in God do likewise.
