The Power of Intercession
“I don’t intend to use my eternity just sitting around but I will shower the earth with roses.” Thus did St. Therese, the little flower, indicate the great role and power of Intercessory Prayer. What is the power of our intercession? The protestant attitude says that the only mediator is our Lord Jesus Christ and no other. It is an interesting statement and quite contrary to the ways and the will of God. Let us take a trip through the history of patriarchs and see what God desires. Our principle is very sound and simple: “God is the same today, yesterday and forever.” If God does not change, then does it not stand to reason that what He approves yesterday will remain the same for our modern era.
Consider the story of the Israelites coming from bondage to Egypt under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They come to a spot in the desert in which they find no water and they begin to complain to Moses. Did you bring out of Egypt to die of thirst in this miserable desert? In response Moses interceded with the people before God and God told Moses to strike the rock and water will come forth for the people. And so it did. Remember God was going to strike down the rebellious crowd but for the intercession of Moses. First aspect of the power of intercession: it causes us to speak on behalf of others to our God. Our intercession, like Moses’, has the power to aid another.
In the Gospel passage the friends of the paralyzed man come and present their request for their friend. The paralyzed man says nothing. “Thy sins are forgiven.” Our Lord answers the intercessory prayer of the friends by healing the paralytic spiritually first and creates a stir among the Jews: “Who can forgive sins, but only God.” In response our Lord speaks to the paralytic: “Arise, take up thy palette and go home.” Now the interior is manifested externally with the healing of the man. The intercession of the buddies proves effective and approved by our Lord.
In the story of Job after the devil did all in his power to cause Job to complain against the justice of God, Job’s friends came to console him. They spoke the wisdom of the world and Job rejected it all. He challenged God and God did speak in questions. Job found the questions of God more satisfying than all the wisdom of the world. He bowed humbly before God and God told him to intercede for his friends that spoke so stupidly. Intercession has the power to correct our sinfulness.
Our Lady appears at Fatima on this Oct. 13th in order to give a sign that what she asked of the children would be conveyed to a waiting world. Prayer and penance are the order that brings about the salvation of others. Intercession opens the way for conversion and spiritual salvation. Many came to the Cova that day; Catholics came to pray and others came to mock the whole affair. When that sun began to gyrate in the air and the eyes were not hurt as all looked on, then souls began to cry out for mercy. The sun’s dance ended in a plunging to the earth. One after the other dove into the mud and not an atheist could be found in that group at that moment. They prayed for each other and for the salvation of their souls. When the sun returned to its orbit in the sky and the ground was completely dry. People looked at one another; they no longer needed umbrellas; they were cleansed internally and externally through the intercessory act of our Blessed Mother.
Intercession gives us the power to unite with the soul of another; intercession has the power to heal the difficulties in all fields of life; intercession is a necessary prayer form to open our eyes to the needs of those around us. We can intercede for the Church; for the missions; for the priests; for the hierarchy; for the sick; for our families. Intercession leads us to realize how dependent we are on the graces that God bestows upon us. Our best prayer of intercession is the prayer of the holy rosary which opens our Lady’s heart to our request. This is all she asked of us that our families might remain faithful to the teachings of our Lord. So many people are taking this request of our Mother lightly and so the families are falling apart and losing their faith. If we wish to change this world, then we must return to the daily recitation of the most holy rosary to conquer the evil that is threatening our world in this very hour.
During this whole month of October we are asked to make a special effort to pray as often as possible for the conversion of Russian and the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for a peace that only God can grant. The times are serious and the Synod on the Amazons is already tearing apart the doctrine of our Lord. The Hand of Satan is at work there and we must respond with as much prayer as possible. Take the rosary in hand and offer the sorrowful, joyful and glorious mysteries each day that the paralysis affecting our world and our Church might be crushed under the beautiful heel of our Mother. Please pray the holy rosary and intercede on behalf of all Catholics everywhere.
In the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Fr. Richard Voigt, S.D.B.
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