Dear Father:

Can you suggest a particular prayer or reflection to strengthen and/or re-new one's faith?

With all the evils and seemingly carefree times in the world today, I must admit that I fall by the wayside at times and ignore/dismiss my Christian life. Thanks

Dear Friend, Thank you for your note. I would like to suggest the following prayer which was written by Fr. William Hart McNichols, SJ to accompany an icon which he wrote for the National Catholic AIDS Network entitled Mary, Mother of God, Light in All Darkness:

"Mother of God, Light in All Darkness,

shelter Him

our flame of hope

with your tender hands.

And in our times of dread and nightmares,

let Him be our dream of comfort.

And in our times of physical pain and suffering,

let Him be our healer.

And in our times of separation

from God and one another

let Him be our communion. AMEN."

I pray that this prayer brings you much hope and consolation. Fr Rod