You know many of us here at this morning Mass can answer the question: “Where were you when you heard the news that President Kennedy had been shot.”  We are in the minority. Most folks here in the United States were not yet born on that fateful day 50 years ago.  But we tell the stories of our young war hero president, of his family, of Camelot, and all that made up the Kennedy legend.  And we tell the generations that follow.

Today we tell the story of the martyr St. Cecilia. We do not know much about here other than she lived in the 3^rd century and died for the faith. We tell the generations that come after us what we know. We tell them she is the patron saint of musicians.

For all the young people who aspire to be musicians, we can ask St. Cecilia to intercede on their behalf for perseverance.  Why perseverance? It is said that to achieve expertise, the fullness of the endeavor, one must be dedicated to 10,000 hours of practice. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.

I wonder if it the stories of the faithful in the readings this week from the Maccabees. The mother, her sons, the elders who persevered in the face of those who called upon them to deny their faith and to worship false gods. I wonder if these were people who had practiced 10,000 hours of prayer in the fullness of their life. It has been more than 2,000 years and we tell the stories of their lives. We keep the story alive for generations to come.

We let them know of the power of prayer, intercessions, and the habit of prayer. As the gospel points out: “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer”  The stories of the saints, the gospel, the example of Jesus.  All remind us to practice, practice, practice our life and habits of prayers.

Perhaps in 10,000 hours of prayer, the temple of our being will become that house of prayer. And imagine the stories that generations who follow us will tell.