re: Going under the knife, again.

There is no wasted prayer and God is outside of time, so pray unceasingly. Your prayers will be heard and applied to those who are in need.

As a Catholic, I understand the "communion of saints" that Christians have understood for 2,000 years. We can as easily pray to our brothers and sisters in heaven, asking them to join THEIR prayers to ours, the same as Mullen can ask US to pray for HIM, and the same as we can ask any of our brothers and sisters here on earth to pray for us. How much more are the prayers of the righteous, and how much more righteous are those already in heaven. As Paul tells us, nothing separates us from the love of Christ- nothing here on earth or in heaven, or death. With that backdrop, here is a beautiful prayer, the Angelus, for Mullen:

L: The Angel of the Lord appeared unto Mary.
R: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

L: Behold the handmaid of the Lord
R: Be it done unto me according to thy Word.

[pray the Hail Mary above]

L: And the Word was made flesh.
R: And dwelt among us.

[Hail Mary..]

L: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us Pray: Pour forth, we beseech thee O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross, be brought to the Glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.