If you haven’t heard yet, Marian Mindset is hosting a 5-day online prayer retreat from September 8–12 — Mother, Teach Us to Pray.

Together, we’ll walk through the five forms of prayer taught in the Catechism, with each day led by a different speaker from a Catholic brand you already know and love. You’ll learn simple, doable ways to deepen your prayer life — even in the middle of your busiest days.

The best part? It’s completely free to attend — and if you want even more, our two VIP packages give you lifetime access to all the talks, an audio playlist for on-the-go listening, and bonus resources to help you pray long after the retreat ends.

With the VIP Experience Box, you’ll even receive a beautiful package delivered right to your door — filled with hand-picked Catholic goods and prayer tools to make the retreat feel tangible, memorable, and a little bit like Christmas morning.

Save your spot here!

Most of us know that prayer is conversation with God. But the saints and Scripture show us that it’s far richer and more mysterious than we often realize. Here are five surprising truths about prayer that can transform the way you pray.

No. 1: Prayer Can Transcend Time

One of the most astonishing truths about prayer is that it can work outside of time because the One Who hears our prayers is outside of time. For God, everything is “an eternal present.”

In her book, “Praying With the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory,” Susanne Tassone wrote:

A doctor who was very close to Padre Pio received a letter from a woman whose daughter was near death. The mother implored the future saint for his priestly prayers and blessings. The doctor was unable to get this letter to Padre Pio until several days after he had received it. After reading the letter to Padre Pio, this physician asked how should he answer it. Pio responded, “Fiat.”

The doctor knew that some time had passed since he had received the letter, and that the girl was at death’s door. He was perplexed by Padre Pio’s assurance that all was done, that the request for prayer would work. The Capuchin priest continued, “Maybe you don’t know that I can pray even now for the happy death of my great-grandfather.” “But he has been dead for many, many years,” replied the doctor. “I know that too,” said Padre Pio. “Let me explain by giving you an example.

“You and I both die, and, through the good fortune and the goodness and mercy of the Lord, we are obliged to stay in purgatory for 100 years. During these years nobody prays for us or has a Mass offered for the release of our souls. The 100 years pass, and somebody thinks of Padre Pio and the good doctor and has Masses offered. For Our Lord, the past does not exist; the future does not exist. Everything is an eternal present. Those prayers had already been taken into account so that even now I can pray for the happy death of my great-grandfather! . . . 

This is incredible, right?! We often believe that nothing can be done once our loved ones leave this earth, but the saints tell us—and actually, implore us—to keep praying even beyond our understanding of time. It’s never too late to pray. Whether for someone’s past struggles or even their final moments, God can apply our prayers where they are most needed.

Try it: Pray today for someone’s past—a loved one’s death, a decision you know was hard for them, or even your own earlier sins. God has already gathered those prayers into His eternal present.

No. 2: Your Guardian Angel Can Carry Your Prayers

We often picture our guardian angels as silent protectors — shielding us from danger, watching over us while we sleep. But the Church’s tradition suggests something even more intimate: our angels don’t just guard us; they pray with us and for us. They are our lifelong prayer companions.

From Genesis to Revelation, angels are shown as mediators who stand in the presence of God, lifting up the cries of His people. The prophet Zechariah saw an angel intercede for Israel, pleading with God to show mercy (Zech 1:12). In the book of Job, angels appear as heavenly witnesses who can plead a man’s case before the Lord (Job 16:19; 33:23–24). And Revelation gives us the most breathtaking image: an angel standing before the throne with a golden censer, offering incense mixed with “the prayers of all the saints” (Rev 8:3–4).

The Fathers of the Church loved this truth. St. Basil taught that “beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” St. Jerome went further, insisting that it was the “mind of the Church” that every soul is entrusted to an angel from the moment of birth. 

And Aquinas explained that our angels not only guard us, but illuminate our minds, stir our imaginations, and even shape our prayers, carrying them like precious incense into the very heart of God.

Every time you sigh a weary “Jesus, help me,” your guardian angel bears it upward, placing it before the throne of the Almighty. Even your distracted, whispered, half-formed prayers are not lost — they are purified in angelic hands and offered as a fragrant gift to God.

Try it: The next time prayer feels impossible — when you’re too tired to string words together or too overwhelmed to focus — lean into the companionship of your angel. Simply ask: “Guardian Angel, carry this prayer to Jesus for me.” You may not see it, but heaven stirs when even the smallest cry is borne upward by one who always beholds the face of your Father in heaven (Matt 18:10).

3. Dry Prayer Is Still Powerful

If you’ve ever sat down to pray and felt like nothing “happened” — no consolations, no profound thoughts, no sense of God’s presence — you’re in a crowded club. Every saint has walked through this experience.

The Catechism names this trial “dryness” and explains:

“Finally, our battle has to confront what we experience as failure in prayer: discouragement during periods of dryness; sadness that, because we have ‘great possessions,’ we have not given all to the Lord; disappointment over not being heard according to our own will; wounded pride, stiffened by the indignity that is ours as sinners; our resistance to the idea that prayer is a free and unmerited gift; and so forth. The conclusion is always the same: what good does it do to pray? To overcome these obstacles, we must battle to gain humility, trust, and perseverance.” (CCC 2728)

Saints like Teresa of Ávila, Thérèse of Lisieux, and even Mother Teresa all endured long seasons of dryness. Teresa confessed that sometimes she could barely focus enough to pray the Our Father. Thérèse wrote about her prayers feeling like “nothing but aridity,” yet she clung to faith. Mother Teresa endured decades of spiritual darkness, but remained faithful in prayer out of sheer love.

Why does God permit this? The saints suggest that dryness purifies our love. If prayer always felt sweet, we might begin to seek the experience of prayer instead of God Himself. In dryness, we learn to love God for His own sake—not for how He makes us feel. This makes our offering even more precious in His eyes.

So when prayer feels empty, remember: you are most like Christ in Gethsemane when you remain present in silence, whispering “Thy will be done.” Heaven treasures that fidelity.

Try it: When prayer feels dry, don’t quit. Simply say: “Jesus, I’m here because I love You.” Then rest in His presence, trusting that love is deeper than feelings.

4. The Souls in Purgatory Can (And Do!) Pray for You

We often imagine prayer for the souls in purgatory as a one-way street — we pray for them, and that’s the end of it. But the saints remind us of something astonishing: the holy souls, even in their purification, can also pray for us.

The Catechism teaches:

“From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them… Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.” (CCC 958)

That last line is striking: our prayers for them make their intercession for us effective.

St. Catherine of Bologna testified that she received more graces through the intercession of the souls in purgatory than from the saints in heaven. They cannot merit for themselves, but they can still love — and in love, they can pray. Once they reach heaven, their gratitude becomes even more powerful, and they do not forget the ones who remembered them.

So when you pray for the dead, know that you are not only helping them; you are weaving a bond of charity that endures into eternity. You are surrounded by friends who long to thank you by interceding for you before the throne of God.

Try it: The next time you offer prayers or Mass for the faithful departed, add this simple line: “And dear souls, please pray for me too.” Heaven hears them — and their prayers may be among the most powerful gifts you receive.

5. Even the Simplest Prayers Shake Heaven

You don’t need lofty words to pray powerfully. In fact, the Church teaches that even the smallest vocal prayers are a vital part of Christian life:

“Whether or not it is interiorized, vocal prayer is an essential element of the Christian life. To His disciples, drawn by their Master’s silent prayer, Jesus teaches a vocal prayer, the Our Father. He not only prayed aloud the liturgical prayers of the synagogue but also raised His personal prayer aloud, from exultant blessing of the Father to the agony of Gethsemane.” (CCC 2701)

In other words: Jesus Himself prayed aloud in short, simple words — and so can we.

St. John Vianney once said that a single heartfelt Our Father shakes the gates of hell. The tradition of the Church is filled with short, powerful prayers: the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”), St. Faustina’s Divine Mercy Chaplet, and countless invocations of the holy name of Jesus and Mary. Each one is like striking a match in the darkness.

The beauty of short prayers is that they sanctify the ordinary moments of life. Whether rocking a fussy baby, folding laundry, or waiting in the carpool line, a whispered “Jesus, I trust in You” or “Come, Holy Spirit” is enough to pierce heaven. These little acts may seem small, but they keep the heart turned toward God and transform the mundane into holy ground.

Try it: Throughout your day, whisper short prayers: “Jesus, I trust in You.” … “Come, Holy Spirit.” … “Mary, be with me.” Heaven delights in these little offerings of love.

Prayer Is a Mystery, Yet Wonderfully Near

Prayer is so much more than words spoken into the air. It is stepping into God’s eternal love — a place where time bends, angels carry our petitions, hidden grace flows in silence, and even the smallest cry matters. In prayer, the ordinary is touched by the eternal.

The saints teach us that prayer is a mystery: at once deeper than we can ever comprehend, and yet as close as the next word on our lips. Padre Pio could pray across time. St. Catherine of Bologna received help from souls we thought were silent. Thérèse of Lisieux clung to God in dryness, proving that faith doesn’t need feelings to be real. St. John Vianney believed a single Our Father could shake hell itself.

All of these remind us that when we pray, we step into something cosmic and eternal — and yet astonishingly personal. Heaven bends low to listen.

So this week, don’t be afraid to experiment with these surprising truths:

• Pray for someone in the past, trusting God’s eternal present.
  
• Ask your guardian angel to deliver your prayer when words feel weak.
  
• Stay faithful when prayer feels dry, offering God your presence as love.
  
• Invite the souls in purgatory to intercede for you as you intercede for them.
  
• Whisper a simple invocation in the middle of the chaos: “Jesus, I trust in You.”

You’ll discover that heaven is nearer — and more responsive — than you think. Every prayer, no matter how small, becomes part of God’s great tapestry of grace.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you’re longing for a prayer life that feels steady, alive, and woven into your real, everyday moments — you’re not alone. And you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

In our upcoming Mother, Teach Us to Pray retreat, we’ll spend five days walking together through simple but powerful ways to pray — exploring the five forms of prayer from the Catechism: blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.

Each day will be led by a different speaker from a prominent Catholic brand you already know and love, sharing both spiritual wisdom and practical tools you can use right away. 

The best part? It’s completely free to attend — and if you want even more, our two VIP packages give you lifetime access to all the talks, an audio playlist for on-the-go listening, and bonus resources to help you pray long after the retreat ends.

With the VIP Experience Box, you’ll even receive a beautiful package delivered right to your door — filled with hand-picked Catholic goods and prayer tools to make the retreat feel tangible, memorable, and a little bit like Christmas morning.