As we approach the 18th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, it may be helpful to remember the wisdom of the saying, "Work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God." While we are certainly given the task and the challenge of working for peace on earth, let's never forget the power of an important tool in that work: our dependence and our avenue of communication to God.
The following reflection is by Dale Zanetti, Director of Visitation Adult Faith Formation Team

Intercessory Prayer

What a wonderful tool God has given us, the gift of prayer. This gift is our weapon against sin and death, sickness and tragedy and all that assails us. Prayer is more than just a means of gaining an advantage or defending oneself in a conflict or contest. It is our direct line with heaven. It is a communication process that allows us to talk directly to God.
In 2 Corinthians Paul says “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” God invites us to use prayer to communicate with him. Prayer will break those strongholds that keep us from experiencing God and his grace. We should all be praying for each other, but even better than just praying we can become intercessors for each other.

Taking each other’s burdens to the Cross. Beseeching our savior to hear and answer our pleas. Jesus says in John’s Gospel “I came to serve, not to be served.”
Which is our command to be there for each other-serve each other by becoming interceding for each other. In 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul tells us, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” An intercessor takes the burdens beyond just the daily prayer and more into a continuous, fervent action. We become warriors using our powers, our prayers, our weapons for good. Intercessory prayer is asking God’s help or favor on behalf of others.

When we take up the call to intercession, we come to learn in a deeper way that the sufferings of the present time cannot compare to the joy that will come as God heals and transforms us. We learn to trust in the Lord, because we have experienced in prayer how infinitely
compassionate God is. Intercessors participate in God's magnificent plan to raise us to a deeper level and give us a great share in divine life.
How exciting would that be to have those prayers, the ones that are entered into our book of petitions and offered at Mass, to have the entire assembly praying and then having someone take that prayer home with
them and bring it to the throne of God for his grace and healing. What a gift of service that would be!
All of us are aging, some more than others. Some of us are finding that we are not able to volunteer for the same things we have always done in the Church. Does that mean your mission is completed? No, it is not, God always calls us to more. Are you too busy? Have too much to do already? You can take that one moment to pray for another. It won’t add much time to your prayer time. But it will reap abundant rewards.

We want to create a ministry here at Visitation forming
intercessory prayer warriors who will serve to pray for our community and our needs. Is God calling you to be that warrior? Is he calling you to use your already scheduled prayer to time to pray for the needs of
others? Maybe even a stranger?

If you think God is calling you to this ministry contact the Adult Faith Formation Office at 732-477-7049 Ext.
214 or dzanetti@visitationrcchurch.org. You can also visit our parish website at https://visitationrcchurch.org/contact-us