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Introduction

This is a book about answered prayer. It illustrates how Catholics pray in a lot of different ways and in a lot of different situations. It shows how God responds to those prayers in ways that are sometimes ordinary and sometimes extraordinary.

In reflecting on why there is a need for a book like this, my editor, Mary Beth Baker, suggested:

God is so close to us. Sometimes we have to see him acting in other people’s lives to be reminded of that. God listens and more than listens; he is constantly at work in our lives, through our lives, for our good and the good of everyone we meet. This book is a reminder of that fact, and a call to each of us to open our hearts to God in prayer, trusting that he’s hearing every word and answering in his own way, even if it’s not the way we might think we want. Ultimately, his answers to our prayers are always directed to one thing: to bring us to a place where we can live in deeper union with him.

The stories that you will read in this book are all written in the first person. Other than shortening them a bit, I did very little editing so as not to interfere with each person’s account of what happened. I organized the stories into chapters that reflect different styles of prayer. I have also included sidebars with brief explanations of Catholic prayers, traditions, saints, and ministries.

Maybe you are reading this book because you want to know more about prayer. Maybe you feel as if your prayer life needs a boost. Maybe you are just curious about how other people pray or how God responds to people’s prayers. Whatever the reason, my prayer is that in the pages of this book, the Holy Spirit will offer you new insights and deeper understanding about your relationship with God. I pray that you will experience the peace of Christ. And I pray that you will grow in faith, hope, and love.

— Lorene Hanley Duquin