When Pope Benedict visited the Cistercian monks of Heiligenkreuz last fall, he praised them for their prayer that is “free of any useful purpose.” I’ve never thought of prayer in precisely these terms, but it’s worth reflection.
The recent update to the Pew Forum survey on religion in America tallied prayer efficacy , based on denomination. Historically black churches rank the highest, with 34 percent of members reporting having their prayers answered at least once a week. Evangelicals fall close behind at 29 percent, and Catholics and Mainline protestants trail at 15 and 14 percent, respectively. Jews and “unaffiliated,” it seems, come in last, with 8 percent of each receiving frequent answers to their prayers.
Of course, God can’t answer if we don’t ask; the efficacy and frequency of prayer are closely correlated. Almost 80 percent of historically black church members and Evangelicals pray every day, while only 58 percent of Catholics and 53 percent of Mainline protestants do. Jews and unaffiliated again lag behind, at 26 and 22 percent.
In short, crunch the numbers and you’ll find where the effort-response odds are best. If you want to chose a denomination based on the likelihood that your prayers will be answered, historically black churches still rank first with an impressive batting average of .425, with Evangelicals and (surprisingly) unaffiliated believers coming in next at .372 and .363. (Jews—.307, Mainline—.264, and Catholics—.259.)
So much for the numbers. The Cistercian monks, whose entire lives are dedicated to prayer, do not seek answers at all. They are the special forces of the spiritual life —armed with the Psalter in the regiments of the choir stalls—but storming heaven with petitions is not on their mission statement.
“Free of any useful purpose,” the pope said of their prayer, and one of the monks explained: “That is to say, we don’t pray for health or success or such things, rather we praise God simply because He is good. We do this on behalf of the whole of creation, and especially for all men and women, most especially those who have lost sight of the final horizon of their lives. We monks pray for the Church and for the whole world; that is our service, our duty, our office or officium.”
Thus, their prayer is not the source of God’s love and blessing; it is the overflowing of that love freely bestowed on our hearts. True prayer, one might say, is God’s blessing. “Happy are they who dwell in your house!” chants King David, and the Cistercian monks with him. “For ever they are praising you.” (Ps. 83:5)
Batting average?—infinity over zero.
