Sacrifice and Prayer: Supreme and Necessary Acts of Religion

Brother Matthew explains that religion is the most excellent of the moral virtues, presupposing faith, hope, and charity, and connected to justice. Religion inclines us to worship and reverence God through adoration, sacrifice, and prayer. Sacrifice, the supreme act of religion, acknowledges God’s majesty and man’s dependence, fulfilled perfectly in the sacrifice of the cross and daily renewed in the mass. The holy sacrifice unites earth with heaven as adoration and thanksgiving ascend, and grace and mercy descend, channeling blessings to souls. We are called to appreciate the mass as the supreme act of religion and assist frequently at this holy sacrifice.

Prayer, the third act of religion, is lifting mind and heart to God in gratitude, petition, and forgiveness. It is necessary for salvation, consecrating our day through offerings and ejaculatory prayers. We are urged to pray morning and night, before meals, and during temptation, with attention, reverence, humility, faith, confidence, resignation, and perseverance. No prayer is left unanswered, as God grants grace in His will. True devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary unites us more deeply to Jesus Christ, for she is inseparable from Him, glorifying Him more perfectly than all creatures. Join Brother Matthew in this episode and be inspired to live the virtue of religion more fully.