God's Mercy - Bp. Donald Sanborn 01-23-94

SummaryBishop Sanborn meditates on why some prayers are answered (as with the leper and centurion) and others (like Herod’s) are met with silence. He explains that prayer must have four essential qualities to be pleasing and effective before God: confidence, humility, fervor, and faith. He teaches that God always hears prayers for our salvation, but withholds many material or temporal favors either for our perfection, or to test and strengthen us. He emphasizes a spiritual attitude rooted in faith and trust in divine wisdom, not murmuring or entitlement. Even when God seems silent, He is working toward our eternal good.Key Qualities of Effective PrayerConfidenceWe must trust in God's mercy, not just His justice.Approaching God with fear or doubt offends Him, as if He is reluctant to help.HumilityWe must not presume that God owes us anything.Like the Pharisee, the proud are rejected; like the centurion, the humble are heard.FervorTepid, casual prayer is ineffective.Intensity of desire—shown in fasting and sacrifice—pleases God and amplifies prayer.FaithTrue faith sees beyond appearances.Even if nothing visibly changes, we must believe God hears and acts for our good.“The just man liveth by faith.” (Romans 1:17)Dealing with Silence or Delay in PrayerLike Saint Bernard, we may wonder why God is silent.But prayer must tip the scale, as if God is waiting for the weight of perfected petition.This delay is for our perfection.God is never surprised by our crosses; He wills or permits them from all eternity.Miracles are rare, intended to convert unbelievers, not to remove every trial for the faithful.Material Requests vs. Spiritual GoodsNot every temporal good is good for our soul.Even health, wealth, or comfort may draw us from God.We must pray with wisdom and detachment, accepting what God knows is best.Asking for Spiritual GracesWhen we ask for graces that pertain to our salvation, God infallibly grants them:“Ask and you shall receive.”Example: The Good Thief asked for mercy—and was saved instantly.But even spiritual sufferings (like temptations) may remain because they are for our growth in virtue.Intercessory Prayer for OthersAsking for another’s conversion is entering a mystery of divine mercy.God may withhold grace to another soul—yet not out of injustice, but because only mercy grants that grace.Often, God delays conversion to draw out more fervent prayer and sacrifice from us.This was the case with St. Monica, who prayed for decades for her son St. Augustine and was rewarded not only with his sanctity, but also her own.Final ExhortationWe must imitate the leper and centurion by praying with:FaithConfidenceHumilityFervent desirePerseveranceAnd, most importantly, we must thank God both for what He gives and for what He refuses—for all is ordained for our salvation.Traditional Catholic Commentary (Sedevacantist Perspective)In Harmony with Traditional Catholic DoctrineBishop Sanborn’s teaching is deeply aligned with pre-Vatican II theology:Echoes the doctrine of merit, grace, and Providence.Highlights traditional teachings on fasting, humility, and perseverance in prayer.Refers to St. Bernard, St. Paul, and traditional martyrdom theology.Faith is emphasized as a supernatural virtue, not psychological hope or optimism.The doctrine that God infallibly grants graces necessary for salvation is grounded in Trent and Scripture.A Rebuke to Modernism and Vatican IIThe modern Novus Ordo sect often:Avoids preaching on petition, mortification, or the perfection of the soul.Treats prayer as self-care or emotional relief, not a supernatural act of virtue.Emphasizes emotional well-being over sacrifice and sanctification.Herod symbolizes modern man—curious, presumptuous, seeking signs, but without faith or humility.The emphasis on miracles as rare signs for unbelievers directly counters modern charismatic abuses and the presumption of daily miracles on demand.Final Reflection“Faith sees the value of prayer and esteems it more highly than anything else we do.”This sermon is a masterclass in Catholic spirituality, reminding us:God is not our servant, but our Father and Judge.His delays are not neglect but invitations to perfection.We are not home yet—this life is not Heaven.Our crosses, losses, and unanswered prayers are precisely the tools God uses to shape saints.“All things shall pass. We shall all pass away. And eternity will come.”Let us learn from the centurion and the leper—and approach God as children, not murmurers.