Prayer is basically a relationship with God. It is a time when we
allow God to love us. We give prayer a priority of place in our lives. Apart
from the Eucharistic service (Mass) from which we draw infinite enrichment,
since it is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross re-lived we have what we call
the Prayer of the Church which is biblical in character, morning and evening.
Here we praise and thank God with the whole of creation and we also intercede
for all those in need, keeping in mind the pressing needs of the church, country
and the world at large. In addition to this, we have the rosary to the Blessed
Virgin Mary-a chaplet-through which we re-live the mysteries of Christ’s life
and Mary’s participation in the same. There are also a few devotional prayers
for our well being and the well being of others.
The year 1886 was very momentous in the annals of the history of the church in
India.
On September
1st of that year Pope Leo XIII established the Hierarchy of India; and all the
Vicariates Apostolic
of India and Ceylon were raised to the status of Dioceses. Seven Dioceses,
including
Verapoly,
were elevated as Archdioceses in India. Verapoly thus became the only
Archdiocese
for the whole of Malabar, and Dr. Leonard Mellano of St. Louis OCD, the last
Vicar
Apostolic
of Malabar, became its first Archbishop.
Since our personal prayer nourishes our community prayer and vice
versa,
each of us spends an hour in personal prayer normally called meditation.
We prepare diligently for this, through reading of the Scriptures and other
religious books.
This is usually done during the morning hours.
We integrate our prayer life with our daily life.