LIFE WITH JESUS AND MARY | LESSON 1: PRAYER | APRIL 1, 2020

1. What is prayer?
Prayer is talking to God
Prayer is listening to God
Prayer is loving God

2. Is prayer necessary to get to heaven?
Yes, prayer is necessary to get to heaven.
He who prays much will certainly be saved. He who does not pray will certainly be damned.

St John Bosco
St. John Bosco was a priest who worked and prayed to lead young people to heaven. He founded a school for them. Jesus and Mary spoke to him through many dreams in his life. In one of these dreams he and some boys were in a boat that was going toward heaven. He invited all of them to pray. Some of them did not obey him. They fooled around instead of praying. Suddenly a storm came and a wave carried into the ocean the boys who did not pray. The wave is a symbol of sins that other boys continued to pray, and the sea calmed down. Those who were obedient and prayed eventually reached heaven.

3. What will prayer do for me?

In prayer, God changes my heart and makes me better.
Prayer makes our hearts like the heart of Jesus.
Much prayer is necessary to become holy.
All the saints spent much time in prayer.
We are all called to holiness, so we are all called to pray.

4. What is the heart of our prayer life?

The heart of our prayer life is going to Mass every Sunday and on the Holy Days of Obligation.
Our Lord would prefer that we go to Mass every day, but we don´t have to. People go to Mass every day, not because they have to, but because they love Jesus and need Jesus. Those who want to become saints do all they can to come to Mass daily. Mass and Holy Communion make us good and holy.

5. What are the Holy Days of Obligation?
The Holy Days of Obligation are Christmas (December 25), the Assumption of Mary into Heaven (August 15), All Saints Day (November 1), and the Immaculate Conception (December 8).

August 15 and November 1 are not Holy Days of Obligation if they fall on a Saturday or a Monday. December 8 and December 25 are Holy Days of Obligation even if they fall on a Saturday or on a Monday.

6. What is the Mass?
The Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary made present upon our altars.
It is the greatest act of love and worship that we can offer to God, because it is the love and worship of Jesus Himself.
The Mass is also God´s greatest act of love to us. He gives us His Son, Jesus Christ, in his Word, and especially in Holy Communion.

7. What type of sin is it to miss Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation?
Missing Mass on Sunday or on a Holy Day of Obligation is a mortal sin, if one is able to go and does not.

8. What is Holy Communion?
Holy Communion is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
Holy Communion is Jesus who is loving us.
Receiving Holy Communion frequently is the shortest and surest way to heave.

9. What is the tabernacle?
The tabernacle is the golden shrine where the extra Hosts (Jesus) are placed after the Mass.

10. What is the red candle near the tabernacle for?
The red candle is the sign that Jesus is really present in the tabernacle.
If the Hosts (Jesus) are ever removed, the red candle is removed also.

11. What is a genuflection?
In a genuflection the right knee of the person touches the ground.
We make a genuflection to the tabernacle when we enter the Church, when we leave the Church, and every time we pass in front of the tabernacle.
It is a gesture of adoration. We do this because Jesus is God.
It is also a gesture of love for Jesus.

12. How often should we receive the Sacrament of Confession?

If we are conscious of mortal sin, we should go to Confession immediately.
Otherwise, it is good to go to Confession at least once a month. Jesus forgives us through the priest in the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus gives us the strength to overcome temptations in the Sacrament of Confession.

13. Besides Sunday Mass, when should we pray?
Besides Sunday Mass, we should pray every day.
It is good to pray in te morning and at night before we go to bed.
It is good to pray before and after meals. We should pray whenever we are tempted.

14. What prayer does Mary want us to say every day?
Mary wants us to say the rosary daily. She asked us to do so at Fatima, and she continues to insure us to do so. When we say the rosary, she is able to give us many graces.

15. What are some things that keeps us from prayer?
Laziness keeps us from prayer.
Believing that prayer does not do anything keeps us from prayer.
Watching too much television keeps us from prayer.
-Lack of prayer is the major reason why people are unhappy
-Lack of prayer is the major reason why people fall into sin.
-Lack of prayer is the major reason that people go to hell.

THE “HAIL MARY” AND OUR LADY’S PROTECTION

The ‘Hail Mary’ is more from heaven than it is from earth. It is the most important prayer that we say to Mary (See Lesson 5) We should try to say at least 3 “Hail Mary´s” every day. The following famous story of a damned soul helps to convince us. This story was told by the Franciscan, Blessed Richard of St Ann, who died for Christ as a martyr in Nagasaki, Japan in 1622.

In 1604 two college students in Brussels (a city in Europe) were living a very bad life. They were committing many mortal sins. God was very sad, because their souls were in great danger. God tried to warn the in many ways through friends, and through their own thoughts and feelings. A sinful life makes people sad. God speaks to people through that, telling them, “This is not the way to happiness.” They did not listen to these warnings, but continued to sin. One night they both went to a house o prostitution where many wicked things were done. There they committed some big mortal sins. One of them left early. Before going to bed that night, he said three “Hail Mary’s.” He said three “Hail Mary’s” every day. He did not say them very well, but he always said them. After he had been asleep for a couple of hours he heard someone knocking at his door very loudly. HE got up and opened the door. It was his friend, but his friend looked horrible. He looked like a devil. He asked his friend, “What happened?” His friend told him, “My body is dead in the street, and my soul is in hell.” I was murdered after I left that wretched house. You also should have been murdered. But the Mother of God prayed for you so that you would be protected, because you said some “Hail Mary’s” every night. Happy are you if you know how to profit by this information, which the Mother of God gives you through me.  This is your last chance.”  While finishing these words, the soul from hell partly opened his shirt, allowing the flames and serpents that were tormenting him to be seen. He then vanished. After this vision the man knelt down and cried. He thanked Mary for saving his life from hell He begged her to help him to live a better life. The following morning he went to confession, and with the help of Mary began to live a good life. He became a Franciscan brother.

Such is the terrible fact which struck fright into may souls and which inspired Blessed Richard also to give himself entirely to God in the same order as the student who had been so wonderfully protected by Mary.