The Secret to Having Your Prayers Answered

You are experiencing trouble today, my friend? As ludicrous as it might seem, during trial Saint Paul recommends we rejoice. Yes, rejoice because Jesus is on your side and all will work out for your best, as God promises in Scripture.

"Yes, and I will continue to rejoice," says Saint Paul, "for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance." (Philippians 1:18-19)

"Your prayers." Ahh, there is the secret I mentioned in the title of today's letter to you, my friend. Yes, your prayers are powerful. They can actually "oblige" God, as Saint Padre Pio says below, to answer those prayers. But according to Padre Pio, your prayers must be humble; you must accompany them with sorrow for your sins; and you must be confident as you pray, trusting that God will hear and answer your cries of the soul and heart. And He will! In the meantime, Saint Padre Pio, like Saint Paul, recommends you rejoice when you are afflicted. These two great Saints know the rewards of suffering, and yes, there are rewards for you, believe it or not. So now gather comfort and strength from St. Padre Pio's words to you:

"Never fear the snares of Evil because," says Saint Padre Pio to you, "for even though your trials may be harsh, they will never succeed in displacing a soul who keeps attached to the Cross. Be vigilant and fortify yourself more and more with prayer and the beautiful virtue of humility. You will find that you will not be submerged in the stormy sea. May the little ship of your spirit have a strong anchor of trust in Divine Goodness and keep before the eyes of your soul God's promise in Scripture: 'Whoever confides in Him will not be confused,' and 'He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble' and you should 'watch and pray that you might not enter into temptation.'

"So when you feel oppressed by temptation," continues St. Padre Pio to you, "the means to oblige God to come to your aid is through humility of spirit, contrition of heart, and confident prayer. It is impossible for God to be displeased with this demonstration; impossible for Him not to come to your aid and give in. It is true that God's power triumphs over everything; but humble and suffering prayer triumphs over God Himself!" (Saint Padre Pio's Letters, Volume 3, page 97)

May God richly bless you, my friend!

Eileen

P.S. For further consolation and encouragement, you might read the Book of Psalms and make the author's pleas and cries and complaints to God your own, allowing all the pent-up misery in your heart and soul to pour out so that Jesus might heal you. Today, especially, Saint Padre Pio's words above echo for you Psalms 51:17: "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."