God has given each of us an extremely powerful weapon. We need only the discipline and trust to wield it. St. Padre Pio, the great Italian demon fighter, called it his favorite tool against evil. In the 16th century, St. Pius V called upon it when Christianity was on the brink of being conquered by the Muslim armies of the Ottoman Empire. St. John Paul II used it as a powerful spiritual weapon during the Cold War.

This weapon of which I speak, you all know well. You are probably carrying it, concealed in your pockets, at this very moment in church. I am talking about the mighty Holy Rosary. My friends, this Rosary, uttered millions of times every day throughout the world, makes the demons tremble, causes heretics to flee, and converts even the most hardened of sinners.

Traditionally attributed to a gift given to St. Dominic in the 12th century, the Rosary calls us to meditate upon the pivotal moments of Jesus' life here on earth, from His birth in Bethlehem to His death on Calvary. You see, the answer to the mountains we face in our lives is simple: more Jesus Christ.

Prayer is not a polite request made once and then abandoned if the answer does not come. God calls us to something more stubborn and more trusting: to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. When heaven seems silent, we are tempted to conclude that our prayers have failed. But perhaps the silence is itself part of the lesson. Persistence teaches us that we are not merely asking for a thing; we are learning to desire God Himself, and to remain at His door even when we cannot yet see what He is doing.

So do not cease asking simply because the answer is long delayed. Bring the same burden before God again tomorrow, and the day after that, without shame or weariness. The child who keeps returning to his father is not an annoyance but a sign of trust. We may not understand why God delays, nor should we pretend that every prayer will receive the answer we desire. But we may be certain of this: the act of turning again toward God is never wasted. Keep knocking—not because God is reluctant to hear, but because He is teaching us never to stop coming to Him.