A Prayerful Remembrance
“You must not only pray for yourself but also for those for whom you are guiding.”
—Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Prayer is a pillar of the Christian Brothers’ daily lives. It is a way to remember those who have influenced us personally: the Brothers that continue to heed the call, the students and teachers we serve, those that came before us, and those that will come after.
The image you see above is the real manifestation of prayer in the Brother’s lives. It shows Br. Joel McGraw and his handwritten prayers and remembrances from decades of intentions. Smears of ink, fingerprint smudges, and pages worn with age serve as insight into the fervency with which these prayers are said. Br. Joel shares his thoughts on the importance of prayer in our lives with the reflection below.
De La Salle tells the Brothers that the first thing to learn on entering the community is to learn how to pray…and to pray! Prayer is the “back and forth” between us and God. We speak to God. God speaks to us. We listen to God. God listens to us. Prayer is interior and exterior. It is silent. It is vocal. It is prepared. It is spontaneous. It is part and parcel of the Brothers living in the presence of God. Prayer in community is vital. And so is the Brother’s private prayer! Both the communal and the private prayer feed one another. Both are necessary. We are not hermits. We are not monks.