Episode 2930: Trusting God to Hear Our Prayers - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”

Trusting God to Hear Our Prayers"
Introduction:
Welcome to Faithful Reflections, where we explore timeless lessons from Scripture and the saints to inspire and deepen our Catholic faith. In today's episode, we reflect on the remarkable faith of St. Scholastica and her powerful witness to trusting in God's providence when human solutions fail.
We'll anchor our discussion with this profound quote from the saint herself:
"I asked you for a favor and you would not listen, so I asked God and He did listen."
This statement captures not only the beauty of persistent prayer but also the lesson that when we are met with resistance or rejection in our human relationships, God remains our refuge and hears the cry of our hearts.
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Segment 1: The Story of St. Scholastica’s Persistent Prayer
St. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict, the great father of Western monasticism. Their bond was one of deep spiritual love and mutual respect. Tradition holds that once a year, the two saints would meet near a monastery to discuss spiritual matters.
During one such meeting, Scholastica sensed that her earthly time was drawing to a close. As night approached, she begged Benedict to remain with her so they could continue their holy conversation. However, St. Benedict refused, insisting on returning to his monastery to observe his rule.
Rather than argue, Scholastica turned to the one who never refuses His faithful servants: God. She bowed her head in prayer, and immediately, a violent storm broke out, preventing St. Benedict from leaving.
Benedict, astonished, exclaimed, "What have you done?"
Scholastica humbly replied, "I asked you for a favor and you would not listen, so I asked God and He did listen."
This event highlights a profound spiritual truth: God delights in hearing the prayers of the humble and faithful.
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Segment 2: Lessons from St. Scholastica's Faith
1. God Is Our Ultimate Refuge:
Like St. Scholastica, we may face moments when others refuse to listen to our pleas. In these moments, we are reminded to turn to God, who hears and answers according to His divine wisdom. Scripture assures us:
"Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:3)
2. Persistence in Prayer:
Scholastica's story is a beautiful example of the importance of persevering in prayer. Even when human efforts fail, God remains attentive to our cries. This echoes the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8, where Jesus teaches that persistence in prayer is never in vain.
3. Humility in Asking:
Scholastica did not demand or manipulate her way to getting what she wanted. Instead, she humbly brought her desire before God, trusting in His providence. Her simple faith moved heaven and altered nature itself.
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Segment 3: The Power of Intercessory Prayer
St. Scholastica's story also reminds us of the power of interceding for others. Just as she turned to God when her brother would not listen, we, too, are called to pray for those around us—especially when they are in spiritual or physical need.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church beautifully describes prayer as a response to God's invitation:
"Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him." (CCC 2560)
In intercessory prayer, we participate in God's divine love, uniting our hearts with His desire for the salvation of all souls.
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Conclusion and Concluding Prayer:
St. Scholastica's faith teaches us to trust God completely, knowing that He hears and answers every prayer according to His perfect will.
Let us now end with a prayer asking for her intercession and the grace to trust God more deeply in our lives:
Heavenly Father,
You are the God who listens, even when the world turns a deaf ear to our cries. We thank You for the example of St. Scholastica, whose humble and persistent prayer moved heaven and changed the course of nature.
Grant us the grace to trust You in all circumstances, to bring our needs before You with confidence, and to persist in prayer, knowing that You always hear and respond in love.
St. Scholastica, faithful servant of God and powerful intercessor, pray for us that we may grow in humility, perseverance, and unwavering faith.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you for joining us on Faithful Reflections. May St. Scholastica's example inspire you to turn to God in every need, trusting that He will always listen. God bless you.