Anthon was a very pious farmer. After an hour walk from his house and upon reaching his farm, he starts his work always with a prayer --- a prayer that he reads from his little prayer book. He has been so faithful in this routine since he was in his twenties and was constant in this habit of praying before working. However, one day after forty years of working in the field, as he was about to start with his morning prayer, he discovered that he forgot his prayer book in his house for the first time. He felt sad and was so sorry. As he paused for a moment wondering what to do, an idea came to him. And then he said this prayer:
“In the name of the Father, of the Son and the Holy Spirit. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L….. X. Y, Z… A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L….. X. Y, Z… A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L….. X. Y, Z… A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L….. X. Y, Z… A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L….. X. Y, Z… (he recited the alphabet ten times). Then he said, ‘Lord Jesus, you know how these letters of the alphabet that I have just recited are arranged to form the words found in my prayer book at home, can you be the one to arrange them for me…’ In the name of the Father, of the Son and the Holy Spirit.“ Then Anthon continued to work in his farm. On his way home late in the afternoon, an angel appeared to him and said, “You know Anthon, among the millions of prayers said by people today, it was your prayer that really touched the heart of God.”
Chris