Prayer and Fasting League
p.37
1994 American Life League

Prayer and Fasting has become a very important, if not the most 
important, aspect of A.L.L.'s campaign to stop the erosion respect for 
innocent human life that has now spilled over into so many areas of our 
social consciousness. Thus I am grateful to A.L.L.'s Spiritual 
Director, Father Denis O'Brien, M.M., for providing us with this sermon 
delivered by St. Peter Chrysologous on the topics of prayer, fasting 
and mercy.

Three Components to One Goal:Loving God

Brethren, three things maintain faith, keep devotion fervent and 
preserve virtue. These three things are prayer, fasting and mercy. What 
prayer seeks fasting attains and mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and 
fasting: three things that are one thing, because they vivify one 
another.

Fasting is the soul of prayer; mercy gives life to fasting. Let no one 
try to separate these things, since they are inseparable. He who 
practices only one of them instead of all three at the same time is 
like one who does nothing.

Therefore, let him who prays fast as well; let one who fasts be 
merciful also. Whoever desires to be heard in prayer must listen with 
the heart to the one who is seeking help from him! He who shuts not his 
own ears to the petitions of others opens those of God to his own 
supplications.

He who fasts must understand the meaning of fasting: that he must be 
alert to the hunger of others if he wishes God to be attentive to his 
own. If he hopes to obtain mercy, let him practice it. If he hopes for 
pity, let him pity others. If he hopes to obtain favors from God, let 
him be generous. It is a dull petitioner indeed who hopes to obtain 
something for himself that he denies to others.

Let each one be the measure of mercy; in this way he will obtain mercy 
in the way he likes, in the measure he wants, as quickly as he desires. 
It is only necessary to be compassionate to others with the same 
alacrity and in the same way.

Let us be sure, then, that prayer, mercy and fasting be our united 
shield before God, our defense; all three together one prayer under 
three distinct forms.

May we reconquer through fasting what we lost by not appreciating it. 
Through fasting let us immolate our souls, since this is the most 
acceptable sacrifice we can offer to God, as the Psalmist bears 
witness: My sacrifice is a distressed spirit; a humble and contrite 
heart you will never despise.

Offer your soul to God. Offer, then, the sacrifice of fasting, in order 
that the offering may be pure, the sacrifice holy, a living victim 
which, without leaving itself, may be offered to God. No one may excuse 
himself if he denies this to God because everyone may offer himself.


No matter how much one cultivates his heart or cleanses his flesh or 
uproots bad habits or sows virtue, the waters of mercy must flow if 
fasting is to produce fruit.

You who fast, if you are fasting from mercy, your fields are also 
parched. On the other hand, prodigal mercy overflows into your barns. 
Be careful, then, not to lose out by thinking of yourself. Harvest 
abundantly: giving to the poor, you take care of yourself. What you do 
not leave for others you will never yourself enjoy. 
 - St. Peter Chrysologous, Sermon 43


Let us know what you use for daily reflection, what your favorite 
prayer is, and how prayer and fasting are working in your life. God 
bless!
 - Judie Brown

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