Father John Gerard Hillier

What people often miss when reading or reflecting on the Priestly Prayer of Christ in Saint John’s Gospel (17:1-26) is the fact that it contains, unlike the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ longest recorded prayer. Highlighted by scholars as one of the most profound theological and spiritual documents in the entire New Testament, Jesus prays this prayer after He finishes His final instructions to the disciples and before He is betrayed, arrested, and crucified.

The Catechism explains: “The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle,” a battle “against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn us away from prayer, away from union with God” (CCC 2725).

Have you ever wondered who was ultimately responsible for setting you on the path of your Catholic faith? I don’t mean just your parents or even your grandparents. I am referring to that mysterious family member who first acquired the faith and passed it on. How many generations would you have to go back in order to find that first special person? How many people (with your DNA) lived sacrificial, holy lives so that you would be the person you are today with the beautiful faith in Jesus Christ that you have?