We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. I find this word of St. Paul incredibly consoling. Try as I will, I never seem to be praying right. Despite courses and workshops and years of practice I still am not sure that my efforts are, in fact, reaching the throne of grace. St. Paul reminds us that prayer is not an accomplishment, not something we can do with our own will power. Prayer instead is a surrender to what the Spirit of God can do with the likes of us. The Holy Spirit takes our feeble attempts at prayer, our “inexpressible groanings,” and transforms them into the intimate language of love between creature and Creator.
