The Infallible Prayer

The Infallible Prayer is "Thy will, not mine, be done."

Mary prayed this way

"Be it done unto me according to thy word" (Lk 1:38).

Mary recommended obedience

"Do whatever he tells you" (Jn 2:5).

Jesus taught us to pray this way

The Lord's Prayer

"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven" (Mt 6:10).

Building on Rock

Mt 7:21-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Soul Food

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work" (Jn 4:34).

Jesus prayed this way

"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will" (Mt 26:39).

Saints prayed this way

"For in his will our hearts have found their peace" (Dante).

CCC #313

"We know that in everything God works for good for those who love him." The constant witness of the saints confirms this truth:

St. Catherine of Siena said to "those who are scandalized and rebel against what happens to them": "Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind."

St. Thomas More, shortly before his martyrdom, consoled his daughter: "Nothing can come but that that God wills. And I make me very sure that whatsoever that be, seem it never so bad in sight, it shall indeed be the best."

Dame Julian of Norwich: "Here I was taught by the grace of God that I should steadfastly keep me in the faith. . . and that at the same time I should take my stand on and earnestly believe in what our Lord shewed in this time - that 'all manner [of] thing shall be well.'"

Short and sweet

An easy prayer for me to pray when I am feeling distressed is "God help me."

It is not as elegant or courteous or presentable as the longer prayers on this page.

I do think it means the same thing.

When I call on GOD, I am acknowledging His "essence, presence, and power," and His kindness, compassion, and mercy.

When I ask for help, I am asking for help according to His wisdom and love.

When I ask for help, I confess that I cannot save myself from the bondage of self nor from any of the sins, wrongdoing, or character defects that are rooted in self.

When I distinguish between me and God, I admit that I am not God and that I am powerless over "people, places, and things."