Intercessory Prayer

You have to check out this awesome Fr. Mike homily.  It was the inspiration for one of what I think is the most fruitful elements of our ministry.

Every Thursday night the missionaries and some of the students get together from 10pm to midnight to pray for the campus.  We pray specifically for each of the people in our bible studies or those we're working with or have met on campus and then we lift up intentions for the campus in general.  We're trying to grow in our zeal for souls through this as well as become more firm in the resolve that it is the Lord that bears fruit through our personal ministries, and not us.  All we can do is bring our experiences and intentions to Him and sit back and watch His will unfold.  Sometimes we don't see anything sometimes we get to watch a miracle, but either way we will pray.

This past week we reflected together on St. Faustina's "General Exercises" (I've inserted them below) that she recorded in her diary.  They're stellar and really helped us to internalize what it means to spread the message of mercy that God has for these students.

O Most Holy Trinity! As many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many thousand times do I want to glorify Your mercy.

I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection, 0 Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor. 


Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors' souls and come to their rescue. 
Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.

Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.

Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.

Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me. 


You yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy-if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer-if I cannot show mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically. 
O my Jesus, transform me into Yourself, for you can do all things.