IN STUDYING THE verse: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13), we must note further: “ask in my name” changes the basis on which prayers are answered. If anyone asks in My name, in My spirit, then he is heard and answered, no matter who he is. That broadens the basis of the possibilities in prayer. The usual thought is that if you lead a good life and are especially good, your prayers are answered. You are praying in your own name—in the name of your goodness. This reverses that—you are not heard at all according to your goodness—you are heard if you pray in His name, in His Spirit, and for no other reason.
Therefore there are no big names in prayer—people who are heard because they have a special standing with God. They are heard just like anyone else because they pray according to the Spirit of Jesus—a privilege open to anyone.
The following prayer was used in a huge meeting to crown. “Our Blessed Mother in heaven”—Mary:
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the church of Thy Son, His Vicar on earth. . . . Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of heresies, hasten the hour of mercy.
Here Mary, who was hitherto prayed to in order that she might intercede with her Son, appears to be prayed to directly as though she is the source. She from her “throne . . . dost dispense pardon and graces” and is asked to mercifully regard “the church of Thy Son.” She dispenses pardon and graces and protects the church of her Son, vanquishes heresies, and hastens the hour of mercy. This prayer is the heresy of heresies, another religion, not Christianity, but Mariology, another mediator, not Jesus the one Mediator.
O Jesus, men do not reject Thee, they reduce Thee—reduce Thee by substituting this, that, and the other in Thy place. May I not be guilty; may I be single-minded in my devotion—Jesus is Lord! May my whole life say it. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: A reduced Christ is the same as a rejected Christ.
