Father Hecker’s reflections on prayer were written in 1850s and used in his early morning class on prayer that he often conducted during the parish missions. Hecker would hold class often at 6 a.m. to prepare people to receive Baptism, Reconciliation or First Communion. The class was often a jumble of different people from potential converts to cradle Catholics who had never received the sacraments of initiation.

Servant of God Isaac Hecker taught:

God grants our soul the general assistance of his grace, but this is not always sufficient. A special assistance is necessary which can only be obtained through prayer. If you work to be men of prayer – the gates of heaven will open and the mercy of God will descend. In our lives you will be able to exclaim with King David, “Blessed be God who has not separated his mercy from our prayer.”(Psalm 66:20).

Whoever you may be, never forget your prayer, the daily act of a Christian – for prayer is our strength. Through prayer, you will prevent many temptations that would otherwise assail you. Prayer finds the strength and power to conquer the enemies of your soul. The saints were saved by means of prayer and the reprobate were lost for need of prayer. Had they prayed, they would not be lost.

Reflection by Father Paul Robichaud, CSP

Servant of God Isaac Hecker speaks about the importance of daily prayer. They are so easy to forget, and we have so many other things to do. Even at the end of an evening, people would rather head for a bar to have a drink with friends of read a novel rather than reflect on the day and make a good act of contrition for mistakes made and sins committed. Yet Father Hecker reminds us that the extra grace that comes from God through prayer is really not an extra at all but something that is oftentimes necessary to grow in Christian virtue.

You can always pray wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Some people argue that their work keeps them from prayer, as Hecker writes. Our work should be a subject of our prayer. If prayer encompasses all of your life then there is nothing we do that we cannot bring into our prayer and discuss with God. There is nothing that we cannot use as a platform for our prayer.

Father Paul Robichaud, CSP, is the historian of the Paulist Fathers and postulator of the Cause of Father Hecker. His office is located at the Hecker Center in Washington, D.C.

If you have asked Father Hecker to pray for you or another person who is ill and you believe something miraculous has happened, please phone Father Paul at 202-269-2519 or write to [email protected] and tell him your story.