Story by Joe Pisani

There’s no Catholic who isn’t worried about the future of their children, their country, their world. Do you want peace? Do you want to protect your family from the pernicious influence of society? Then, do something.

That sounds like a glib response, but I’m convinced all of us are guilty of one major miscalculation in our spiritual lives: We vastly underestimate the power of prayer.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m always a little bewildered whenever I hear the Gospel passage where Jesus says to his disciples, “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

The first thing I think — being someone who teaches public speaking — is: “Nice use of hyperbole, Jesus. Great metaphor.” But when I consider the possibility that my prayers can move Sleeping Giant from Hamden to Cheshire, I have my doubts. That, of course, is the key word here … “doubts.” My faith is weak.

Years ago, when my father was diagnosed with throat cancer, doctors at one of the finest cancer centers in the country gave him six months to live.

He needed a miracle. However, instead of going to sit in front of the tabernacle, I went to Barnes and Noble and scoured the shelves to learn what I had to do to get a miracle. I came upon a book titled, “Nothing Short of a Miracle,” which contained accounts of 25 healings attributed to modern saints such as Padre Pio, Mother Teresa, Frances Cabrini and Pope John Paul II.

I perused the stories until I came upon a Capuchin Franciscan named Solanus Casey, the sixth of 16 children born in 1870 of Irish immigrants on a Wisconsin farm.

Throughout his life, he comforted and consoled and encouraged people to pray to God and Our Lady. Healings attributed to his intercession involved troubled pregnancies, skin diseases, tumors and injuries.

I started praying to him. I prayed and prayed and prayed.

One of Fr. Solanus’ favorite sayings was “Thank God ahead of time” for any favor you request because it’s a sign of faith that you believe God is going to deliver. I took his advice and began to thank God every time I prayed — “God, I just want to say thank you for healing my father.” “God, that’s terrific what you’re going to do for my father, and I want to thank you.”

When the doctors did surgery, they discovered the tumor was gone. They couldn’t believe it. Neither could my sister, who practices medicine. To them, it was “inexplicable.” To me, it was entirely explicable. My father lived another 12 years.

Which finally brings me to my point. Do you want peace? Do you want a better world for your kids and grandkids. Then, there’s something you can do that has nothing to do with political causes.

In her approved apparitions at Fatima to three shepherd children, the Blessed Mother asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart, which Pope Francis did on March 25. She also requested “the Communion of Reparation on First Saturdays.”

She told St. Lucia, one of the visionaries, that she wanted Catholics for five consecutive Saturdays to receive Holy Communion, go to confession, say five decades of the Rosary and keep company with her for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.

This devotion came to be known as the Five First Saturdays, and it was intended as a reparation for the blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Our Lady promised that if we dedicate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart with this devotion of reparation that wars and disasters would be averted and souls would be saved. In addition, those who make the first Saturdays, she said, would be given all the graces they need for their salvation when they die. This is doing our part to bring about the triumph of her Immaculate Heart and the promised era of peace.

You have the assurance of the Mother of God, and it doesn’t get any better than that.

The day will ultimately come, when we meet Jesus face to face, that we realize the powerful effect our prayers had — results that we never imagined possible, results that Jesus achieved through our minimal efforts. And at that time, we’ll think, “Lord, I wish I had prayed more.”

So pray more now. Pray without ceasing and make the Five First Saturdays.