A Blue Chalice, An East German Coin, and The Power of Prayer

What a title, huh?

Our Vice-Rector at the seminary has a very interesting chalice with a very beautiful story, so I thought I would share it here.

The chalice was left to our Vice-Rector in the will of another priest, who was ordained in the 1970s. This chalice was made for his ordination. It's short, wide, and yes, it's blue. Don't ask me why, as I've heard said "it was a different time". But, it's blue, and lined with silver, so it's totally legal to use. Anyhow, on the front of the chalice are some jewels that I believe belonged to his mother.

But what makes this chalice interesting is what's on the bottom.

This priest studied in Belgium (I'm guessing at the American College at Leuven). While he was in Belgium, he came to know some people who lived in East Germany. Now, this is when it's important to think about the times he was living in: East Germany wasn't some foreign concept that was read about in history books--it was history being made. It was a very real place. The Berlin Wall divided the city and families, any sense of hope was gone, and East Germany was stuck under communism. As a German student, I've learned a lot about East Germany. If you don't know much about it...let's just say it wasn't a pleasant place to be.

After meeting these East Germans and coming to know them, this priest came up with an idea that I think not very many would have. He asked for an East German coin. He promised to pray for these people, and for their freedom from communism. When he was ordained, he placed the coin on the bottom of his chalice, as a reminder of this promise.

So, every day when he celebrated Mass, this priest had a reminder of those who are less fortunate than he was--a reminder of those who were really less free than he was. He had a reminder to be constant in his prayer, and believe in the power that it does have.

During his priestly ministry, a lot started happening in East Germany. The people were growing tired of East German life and longed for the freedom, economic stability, and better way of life in the west. President Reagan made his famous speech in which he said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Saint John Paul II, the Roman Pontiff at the time, continuously called for an end to communism.

Finally, on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Western culture immediately started replacing the old Eastern way of life. The communism of the east was gone for good and it looked as if the capitalism of the west was here to stay. The people no longer had to ask permission to go places, they no longer had a curfew, they didn't have to wait five years to get a car. They were free.

When I'm in my German classes, and I learn about East Germany, or die Berliner Mauer, I'll still think of the influecne of the leaders of the time. But, now I'll think of this priest too, and it's all because of his belief in the power of prayer.

Prayer is likely the most unused "weapon" of our times. We don't realize that power that prayer has, because often, we don't see the results play out according to our own agenda or timeline, because when we pray, we are, or at least should be, placing everything in the hand's of God, and trusting in His will.

When I think of the power of prayer, I think of the Dominicans. This is because of what's on their religious habit. On their left side, they wear a large Rosary. When the Dominicans were being formed, people who fought would wear their weapons on their left side. The followers of Saint Dominic believed in this power of prayer, so much that they believed it to be the weapon that it is--a weapon to fight evil.

Like the Dominicans throught the centuries, this priest also whole-heartedly believed in the power of prayer. This simple task--placing the East German coin on his chalice--reminded him of his duty to pray. He trusted in God's timing, and during his priestly ministry, saw his prayers answered.

Prayer is a weapon that we still need today. We are facing challenges every day--a lack of understanding of the Truth preached by Christ's Church--a morally relativistic society--the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters. All too often we think of evil as a popular theme for a movie, but, whether we like it or not, evil is a reality in our world. If you don't believe me, look at the situation of our fellow Christians in the Middle East.

But, I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that good will always overcome evil. It may not happen according to our own plans or our own designs, but I've come to learn that God's plans are usually better than the ones that we come up with.

May we, like the priest with the blue chalice, believe whole-heartedly in the power of prayer. May we, like him, trust in God, and in all things, may He be glorified. Amen.

#prayer