Episode 2610: Prayer that Touches Christ’s Sacred Heart - Morning Episode

Welcome to today’s episode, where we explore the nature of prayer from a traditional Catholic perspective. St. Arnold Janssen teaches us that what truly touches the heart of God is not lengthy prayers, but generous deeds done with love and faith. At the same time, authors Dan Burke and Connie Rossini emphasize the importance of forming a deep and fruitful mental prayer life—one that goes beyond surface-level petitions and finds inspiration in the mysteries of the Rosary and Sacred Scripture.

In this episode, we’ll reflect on how prayer, when combined with generous deeds, draws us closer to God and how learning to pray more contemplatively can transform our interior life. We’ll see how the saints used mental prayer to foster deeper union with God, and how the Rosary offers a gateway into that same contemplative life for all of us.

Let us open this time with prayer.

Generous Deeds: Prayer in Action
St. Arnold Janssen, a missionary priest and founder of the Society of the Divine Word, offers us this profound truth:
"It is not lengthy prayers, but generous deeds that touch God's heart."

While prayer is essential, it must flow into action. Prayer alone is not enough if it doesn’t inspire us to live out the Gospel through works of love and mercy. This teaching reflects the essence of James 2:26, which reminds us, “Faith without works is dead.” The saints knew that prayer must lead to tangible acts of charity. It is through these deeds that we embody the love of Christ for the world.

Yet, these “generous deeds” don’t have to be grand gestures. Simple, everyday acts—like helping a neighbor, forgiving someone who hurt us, or performing duties with love—are the very things that move the heart of God. The Catechism reminds us that love is the fruit of prayer:
"Prayer and Christian life are inseparable. For they concern the same love and the same renunciation, proceeding from love" (CCC 2745).

Our prayers are not measured by their length but by the transformation they bring to our lives, inspiring us to serve others in humility and joy. The saints exemplify this: St. Teresa of Calcutta’s entire ministry was grounded in prayer, but her legacy is remembered for the countless deeds of love she performed for the poorest of the poor.

Mental Prayer and the Role of the Contemplative Rosary
While prayer must inspire action, we also need prayer that feeds our soul and deepens our relationship with God. This is where mental prayer becomes indispensable. Dan Burke and Connie Rossini remind us of a common struggle many Catholics face in prayer:

"Unless someone instructs us as adults, our mental prayer is likely to be a rambling monologue about our day or a list of petitions."

Without proper formation, prayer can become repetitive or dry. Mental prayer, however, invites us to move beyond words into a deeper awareness of God’s presence. As Burke and Rossini suggest, the Contemplative Rosary offers us a path toward this interior encounter. The Rosary, when prayed slowly and attentively, teaches us to meditate on the mysteries of Christ's life in a way that transforms mental prayer.

The saints—especially those like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross—relied on mental prayer to foster their profound relationship with God. They discovered that the goal of prayer is not merely to ask for things, but to encounter God in the depths of their hearts. St. Teresa called mental prayer a “conversation with a friend,” and it is precisely this friendship with God that the Rosary can help cultivate.

Each mystery of the Rosary reveals a profound truth about God’s love, inviting us into contemplation of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. As Burke and Rossini explain:
"The Contemplative Rosary teaches us how to meditate on the powerful images and truths revealed by the Holy Spirit in Sacred Scripture, so we can employ similar meditation in our time of mental prayer."

Through the Rosary, we can enter into a deeper communion with Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, allowing the mysteries to take root in our souls and bear fruit in our lives.

Living a Life of Prayer and Action
The wisdom of St. Arnold Janssen and the insights from Burke and Rossini remind us that prayer and action go hand in hand. Generous deeds are the fruit of a heart deeply united with God in prayer. And mental prayer, especially when aided by the Rosary, forms the interior life necessary for these actions to be truly fruitful.

Luke 11:28 tells us, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Mental prayer helps us to listen to God's voice, and generous deeds are how we respond. In this way, our entire life becomes a prayer—one that is pleasing to God and touches His heart.

The saints show us that living this way requires discipline, perseverance, and love. St. Paul of the Cross recommended building an “oratory” within ourselves, placing Christ on the “altar of our heart.” Similarly, when we make time for mental prayer and generous action, our lives become a living prayer, offering glory to God in everything we do.

Conclusion
In summary, the path to holiness involves both interior prayer and outward generosity. St. Arnold Janssen teaches us that deeds of love matter most, while Dan Burke and Connie Rossini remind us that mental prayer, especially through the Contemplative Rosary, deepens our union with God.

Let us strive to live a life where prayer inspires action and action flows from prayer. May our hearts be attuned to God’s will, and may we generously serve others with the love we receive through prayer.

Let’s close in prayer.

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of prayer and the grace to serve others. Help us to grow in mental prayer, contemplating the mysteries of Your life and love, so that we may imitate the generosity of the saints. May our prayers transform us, and may our deeds be pleasing in Your sight. Guide us by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lead us ever closer to Your Sacred Heart. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Thank you for joining me today. Remember, it’s not the length of our prayers that touches God’s heart, but the generosity with which we love Him and serve others. Let us pray the Rosary with greater devotion, allowing it to shape our mental prayer and transform our daily actions.

Until next time, may God bless you abundantly and keep you close to His Sacred Heart. Go in peace!