Catholic during the Great Apostasy

The most difficult prayer that exists is the prayer for the healing of another person. It is one of the most demanding forms of prayer imaginable. Contemporary so-called Catholics, often lacking a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith, may find this notion absurd. They may think it is enough to simply bring a request to God. However, it is far from simple if we truly understand what proper prayer should look like.

When beginning a prayer, it is important to realize that one of the most significant phrases and the most essential truth of faith, conveyed to us by Jesus Christ, are His words spoken in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Thy will be done, not mine.” This very short sentence seems simple to many. Yet, in reality, it is one of the hardest truths of faith we must accept. There is nothing more demanding or burdensome than fully embracing this fundamental principle.

The foundation of Catholic faith lies in these words. Complete surrender to God’s will, rejecting personal whims, desires, and cravings, and accepting God’s will constitutes the essence of Christian life. God, in His infinite goodness, knows what is best for us—whether it is suffering or joy, rain or sunshine. He knows, and we should and must submit to His will. In human terms, such an approach often involves very difficult choices.

Every prayer should end with these words, or perhaps even begin with them: “Thy will be done, not mine.” Without them, prayer becomes mere empty words sent into the void. While we cannot say this with absolute certainty, as we do not know God’s judgments, there is a high likelihood that such prayers remain unanswered.

Why? Because when praying for healing, we often do not realize what we are truly asking for. A prayer for the removal of suffering does not mean that we should dictate how it should occur. We should leave that decision to God, who knows best what is good both for us and for the person suffering. Any healing, whether spiritual or physical, will not occur until the person accepts God’s will. We must assume that any solution God provides is the one we should accept and carry out with full trust.

We must understand that when praying for healing or the removal of someone’s suffering, our prayer might actually mean asking for their death. By accepting God’s will, we must recognize that He might consider this the best way to free someone from suffering. Although such a perspective may fill us with despair, especially when it concerns someone close to us, we should embrace it peacefully and include it in our prayer. That is why we say: “Thy will be done, not mine.” God knows better what is good for both us and that person. He knows how to relieve suffering in a way that benefits both their soul and ours.

In my prayers, I have experienced a moment when I was one hundred percent certain that my request had been heard, and the person’s suffering was taken away—through death. From a scientific or medical perspective, it seemed like the best solution. Even so, the awareness of this event often returns to me. The death of that person occurred during my fervent prayers for their suffering to be removed. Sometimes I ponder over this and revisit those thoughts. It is a difficult experience that still stays with me.

Healings have nothing to do with the satanic performances of pseudo-charismatics. For a normal person, what happens in such shows will never be a manifestation of God’s work. It is hard to associate the gibberish they call “speaking in tongues” with any action of good, or the sight of people writhing on the ground like the possessed—with anything other than possession itself.

A prayer to relieve suffering is like stepping into another dimension of spirituality. It is a beautiful surrender to His will, but only a person who can pray for suffering for themselves is capable of experiencing it. A prayer for suffering is a test of faith for a person. If you are afraid but still pray, it is like overcoming all the obstacles standing between you and God. If you are not afraid, it means you do not believe in God’s power. You may be afraid and therefore avoid praying for such things. This too is a sign of faith, but one lacking trust in God, who knows what you truly need.

Faith can make the sea part, and therefore anyone is capable of healing and bringing another person to health if they believe strongly and are ready to fully submit to God’s will. Yes, in words, it sounds so simple, yet it is so challenging and responsible for our souls.

I do not know if I have the strength to witness the suffering of a loved one, but I also do not know if I have the strength to see such a person witnessing my suffering.

These human dilemmas are best replaced by sincere spiritual prayer combined with surrender to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is better to carry the cross together with our beloved Savior than to do so alone in the darkness of our desires and cravings.

God, give me strength! If You can, take this cup away from me, but Thy will be done, not mine!

……

I am sorrowful, O God, unto death…

Arkadiusz Niewolski