Q. 1122.  Was any special promise made in favor of the united prayers of two or more persons?  A. A special promise was made in favor of the united prayers of two or more persons when Our Lord said:  “Where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Therefore, the united prayers of a congregation, sodality or family, and, above all, the public prayers of the whole Church, have great influence with God.  We should join in public prayers out of true devotion, and not from habit, or, worse, to display our piety.

Q. 1123.  What is the most suitable place for prayer?  A. The most suitable place for prayer is in the Church—­the house of prayer—­made holy by special blessings and, above all, by the Real Presence of Jesus dwelling in the Tabernacle.  Still, Our Lord exhorts us to pray also in secret, for His Father, who seeth in secret, will repay us.

Q. 1124.  For what should we pray?  A. We should pray (1) For ourselves, for the blessings of soul and body that we may be devoted servants of God; (2) for the Church, for all spiritual and temporal wants, that the true faith may be everywhere known and professed; (3) for our relatives, friends and benefactors, particularly for those we may in any way have injured; (4) for all men, for the protection of the good and conversion of the wicked, that virtue may flourish and vice disappear; (5) for our spiritual rulers, the Pope, our bishops, priests and religious communities, that they may faithfully perform their sacred duties; (6) for our country and temporal rulers, that they may use their power for the good of their subjects and for the honor and glory of God.

LESSON TWENTY-NINTH.  ON THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

Q. 1125. {310} Is it enough to belong to God’s Church in order to be saved?  A. It is not enough to belong to the Church in order to be saved, but we must also keep the Commandments of God and of the Church.

Q. 1126.  Are not the commandments of the Church also commandments of God?  A. The commandments of the Church are also commandments of God, for they are made by His authority and under the guidance of the Holy Ghost; nevertheless, the Church can change or abolish its own commandments, while it cannot change or abolish the commandments given directly by God Himself.

Q. 1127. {311} Which are the Commandments that contain the whole law of God?  A. The Commandments which contain the whole law of God are these two:  1st.  Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, with thy whole strength, and with thy whole mind; 2.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Q. 1128. {312} Why do these two Commandments of the love of God and of our neighbor contain the whole law of God?  A. These two Commandments of the love of God and of our neighbor contain the whole law of God because all the other Commandments are given either to help us to keep these two, or to direct us how to shun what is opposed to them.