The Role of Prayer in the Lives of Young Adults
Our world is increasingly busy and rushed. There can be little time for reflection and stillness. Prayer can be sidelined to the margins as we traverse the busy road of life. In this Friday Focus article, we ask does prayer such as the Divine Mercy still have a role to play for young people in Ireland today?
Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. It is a devotion to Jesus which includes the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The Feast Day came into being in the year 2000 on the occasion of the canonization of Saint Faustina Kowalska of Poland by Pope John Paul II, who took an active interest in her work as she had strong connections to the his native city of Krakow, Poland. Faustina Kowalska was born in 1905. She joined an order of nuns at the age of twenty, following many callings and visions. Her devotion to the Divine Mercy became stronger with each passing year. She received support from Fr Michael Sopocko. After Faustina’s death in 1938, he continued with her wish to promote the Divine Mercy. Two central concepts to the Divine Mercy is to trust in God’s Mercy and to show mercy to others.
Do prayers like the Divine Mercy have a role to play in the lifes of young people?
Donal Walsh (centre) with his sister Jema (left) and parents Finbarr and Elma. Image courtesy of Elma Walsh.
At the age of twelve, Donal Walsh was first diagnosed with cancer. The brave teenager from county Kerry battled cancer for four years. During this time Donal wrote about his experiences and the importance of faith in his life. Donal’s writings received much media attention and his message resonated with many teenagers across Ireland. Shortly before his passing in May 2013, at the age of sixteen, Donal spoke about reaching the top of ‘God’s mountain’ and the powerful role faith played during his difficult ascent.
Donal’s mother, Elma, recently recounted how faith and the Divine Mercy prayer were a central part of his life.
“We were no different from any other Catholic family. We would go to Sunday mass and attend the Sacraments’ of the church. We were not a family who said family prayer at home, but I suppose from the example of us, his parents, and his grandparents, both Donal and [Donal’s sister] Jema would find comfort in prayer.
“From the very beginning of his illness, Donal would pray. He always carried his rosary beads and some relics my mother would have passed on to me. It was not unusual for Donal to suggest while in his hospital bed to pray the Rosary. He loved this prayer and the Jesus, Mary and Joseph prayers. This seemed to give him great comfort, he would always be happier after praying. Donal was a great man too for the candles, again, they seemed to relax him. I think it was the repetitiveness and mantra of the prayer that he liked.
“Some time into his illness, a priest that called to the house frequently, Fr Pierse, showed Donal the Divine Mercy prayer and he also prayed that, after taking a photo of it on his mobile phone, along with the Creed.
“Donal’s friends knew he prayed and fully respected him for it. It never seemed to faze his friends or any one in his company. They loved to talk and spend time with Donal. He loved their company too.
“After Donal was diagnosed terminal, he began to really take in the things that were happening around him, especially the difficulties of young people in Ireland.”
Donal wrote an article called ‘Living Life’ in response to his situation and the prevalence of youth suicide in his local area. It struck a chord with the entire Irish nation.
“The message he was trying to give to young people focussed on appreciating all the beautiful things in life, to get or ask for the help they needed and to live their long lives into the future.”
Donal’s father, Finbarr, along with his mother, Elma, set-up the Live Life Foundation after he passed away. It focused on three issues close to Donal’s heart: teenage hospital conditions, teenage suicide and supporting the faith among teenagers.
Elma feels that Donal’s legacy lives on and continues to leave an indelible footprint on the lives of many young people:
“Donal knew if teenagers had help with their thoughts, faith and mind, they would go a long way towards living a very fulfilled life. It has been almost four years since Donal died and we are still being asked to speak in schools by young people and for young people.”
Pope Francis echoes Donal’s ideals
Sr Faustina Chapel in Krakow, Poland. Image courtesy of Sr Patience Ezimigbo, OLA.
In November 2013, Pope Francis made specific reference to the ‘spiritual medicine’ of prayer during an Angelus address. He began by holding up a box, which resembled a packet of tablets, before announcing:
“I would like to recommend a medicine to you. It is a medicine that consists of 59 threaded beads; a ‘spiritual medicine’ called ‘Mercy’. This little box contains the medicine, and will be distributed to you by volunteers as you leave the Square. Take them! There is a rosary, with which you can pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, spiritual help for our souls and for spreading love, forgiveness and brotherhood everywhere. Do not forget to take it, because it is good for you. It is good for the heart, the soul, and for life in general!
World Youth Day 2016 and St Faustina
Sr Patience Ezimgbo holding the Nigerian flag at entrance to the St Faustina Chapel.
During his visit to Krakow, Poland for World Youth Day in July 2016, Pope Francis visited the Divine Mercy Church and prayed before the relic of St Faustina in an adjoining chapel. Nigerian native Sr Patience Ezimigbo, a member of the OLA community in Dublin, was one of the many OLA Sisters who made the pilgrimage to the Divine Mercy Church during the World Youth Day event.
Sr Patience recounted:
“On our way to the Divine Mercy Church, I sat with one of the young people on the bus, a young lady. She shared her excitement about going to see the Divine Mercy Church and St Faustina’s Chapel. She said: ‘I have always prayed the Divine Mercy prayer and I have a great devotion to St Faustina. I believe strongly in the mercy of God and I have received God’s Mercy. How? God Has been merciful to my family. In our times of pain and sorrow, He comforted us. We do look at the picture of the Divine Mercy but now I am going to see where the saint who had a great devotion to Divine Mercy was buried’.
“When we arrived I could see people writing a petition and putting it in the prayer petition box. We all took it in turns to kneel at the relics of St Faustina and prayed for our loved ones. The atmosphere was calm and we were all in a prayerful mood. One cannot touch faith but the reverence and the determination of the youth to touch and pray at the altar of St Faustina shows the faith of the people in the Divine Mercy God.
“The flags of each country were displayed at the entrance of the Chapel and everybody could identify themselves with their country and feel that prayers are offered for them. It was a strong symbolic gesture.
Image courtesy of www.olaireland.ie
Faith among young people in Ireland
In May 2016, the OLA Sisters conducted a survey among 220 young adults. The survey found that:
- Over 58% felt God would have a role in their future lives either every day or when times were difficult.
- 19% were unsure what role God would have in the future.
- A further 14% did not feel that God would have a role with just 10% certain that God had no role.
One respondent to the survey commented:
“God is my guardian angel. God puts food on my table and a roof over my head. God gives me love, affection and education.”
Contrary to reports in some quarters, the flame of faith among young people continues to burn brightly. Thanks to the example of role models such as Donal Walsh, the Live Life Foundation and Pope Francis among others, faith and prayer continue to play a central role in the life of many Irish teenagers today. The future is bright.
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