In a life packed with innumerable fortuitous breaks, one of the most joyous was my meeting Catherine Kiehl. The introduction was arranged by her dog, Elfie, who for years would greet me with great cordiality on my morning walks.
In time, Catherine and I became dear friends and I count that friendship one of my fondest blessings. As I am an ardent believer in prayer, so too is Catherine, and during our visits I am always deeply moved when she tells me she prays daily for Dr. Fauvre and me. I believe that is one of the contributing factors to my good state of health. Dr. Fauvre is another. When I mention to him that Catherine is praying for us, his face lights up. It is very comforting to have an emissary saying a few good things to the Almighty on one's behalf.
Catherine is, and has been for years, an ardent Dodger fan. She will sit up late in the evening long past her customary bed time to watch their games. Recently I asked, "So, how are your Dodgers doing?"
"Terrible," she replied. "I'm praying for them."
"You're praying for the Dodgers?" I answered not believing what she had just said.
"Yes," was her reply.
"Are you praying for the Dodgers in the same prayer you're praying for Dr. Fauvre and me?" I inquired.
She hesitated a moment and then said, "Well, not in the same breath."
"I hope not. But in the same prayer?" I persisted.
"I pray for you and Dr. Fauvre differently than I pray for the Dodgers," she said.
"In what way?"
"I pray for you and Dr. Fauvre from my heart."
"I hope so," I said. "And how do you pray for the Dodgers?"
"With my voice," she answered.
I felt considerably eased when she said that. After all, a prayer from the heart is what praying should be about. Furthermore, I suspect millions of people are praying for the Dodgers, while Dr. Fauvre and I, along with all noncelebrities, need all the help we can get.
While there is no proof God prioritizes the prayers he receives, it wouldn't surprise me if prayers for people get more attention than prayers for victories in sports, except in the case of Notre Dame, as Catherine's nephew Don Heidt pointed out. With formidable legions in both the Catholic laity and the priesthood praying for a win in South Bend, God undoubtedly pays attention.
While honored to be coupled with Dr. Fauvre, were I to express a preference, I would choose not to be mixed in with prayers for the Dodgers. I have nothing against the team. It's just that I feel God is so preoccupied with serious things he doesn't want to be bothered with sports, lottery wins, and stuff like that. In fact, I don't even think he pays attention to entreaties of this nature. But that theory, too, is not backed up by clinical proof.
For 58 years millions of Chicagoans have been praying for the Cubs to win another pennant. Those prayers haven't been answered. It's possible the drought is the atonement for the city's earlier nefarious years with Al Capone. This also, is just a half-baked notion with nothing substantial to certify it.
Still, as I pointed out to Catherine, it's her prerogative to pray for the Dodgers and if it comforts her, she should continue.
But I am touched with her assurances which followed our discussion that from here on Dr. Fauvre and I will have our own prayer and the Dodgers will have their's. As Shakespeare said, "All's well that end well."

P.S.: Since Catherine has been praying for the Dodgers, they are now only two games out of first place.