“A trust”—­with full confidence that God will grant our petitions if we really need or deserve what we pray for.  It is a fault with a great many to pray without the belief that their prayers will be answered.  We should pray with such faith and confidence that we would really be disappointed if our prayer was not granted.  Once when Our Lord was going about doing good, a poor woman who had been suffering for twelve years with a disease, and who, wishing to be healed, had uselessly spent all her money in seeking medical aid, came to follow Him. (Mark 5:25).  She did not ask Him to cure her, but said within herself, “If I can but touch the hem of His garment I know I shall be healed.”  So she made her way through the throng and followed Our Lord till she could touch His garment without being seen.  She succeeded in accomplishing her wishes, touched His garment, and was instantly cured.  Our Lord knew her desires and what she had done, and turning around told the people, praising her great faith and confidence, on account of which He had healed her.  Such also should be our confidence and trust when we pray to God for our needs.

“Perseverance.”  We should continue to pray though God does not grant our request.  Have you ever noticed a little child begging favors from its mother?  See its persistence!  Though often refused, it will return again and again with the same request, till the mother, weary of its importunity, finally grants what it asks.

St. Monica prayed seventeen years for the conversion of her son St. Augustine.  St. Augustine’s father was a pagan, and Monica, his wife, prayed seventeen years for his conversion, and he became a Christian.  Just about that time her son Augustine, who was attending school, fell in with bad companions and became a great sinner.  She prayed seventeen years more for him, and he reformed, became a great saint and learned bishop in the Church.  See, then, the result of thirty-four years’ prayer:  Monica herself became a saint, her son became a saint, and her husband died a Christian.  If St. Monica had ceased praying after ten years, Augustine might not have reformed.  We never know when God is about to grant our petition, and we may cease to pray just when another appeal would obtain the object of our prayer.  So we should continue to pray till God is pleased to grant our request.  Some say their prayers are not heard when they mean to say their prayers are not granted; for God always hears us.  But why does He not always grant our request?  There are many reasons:  (1) We may not pray in the proper manner, namely, with attention, reverence, humility, patience, and perseverance; (2) We may ask for things that God foresees will not be for our spiritual good.  This is true even for things that seem good to us, such as the removal of an affliction, temptation, or the like.  It often happens that God shows us His greatest mercy in not granting our prayers.  Suppose, for example, a father held in his hand a bright and beautiful but