Questions tagged [prayer]
The way in which believers communicate to God
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What are the differences between the various Liturgy of the Hours volumes?
I'm guessing there are other publishers, but I'm speaking specifically about the Catholic Book Publishing English version of the Liturgy of the Hours. I was on a retreat last weekend where we used ...
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Is there a biblical theory that tries to explain the mechanism of prayer?
I ask this question because there are some verses that imply that, although God hear our prayers immediately, there is some kind of bureaucracy in heaven that causes a delay in the answer to our ...
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When to repeat antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours?
I've been praying the Morning and Evening prayers in the Liturgy of the Hours pretty consistently for the past few weeks. I've got the four volume set. I'd been praying the Invitatory for Morning ...
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Does Our Lady purify our intentions?
Does Our Lady purify our intentions?
For example, if one says a Hail Mary with mixed intentions (e.g., with the intention to please himself, though also with a virtual intention to please God), does ...
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According to Catholic Scholars, what did the original text of Agnus Dei read as?
We read in Leviticus 16: 7-10 :
He shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting; and Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats, one lot for the Lord and ...
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Is there a prayer to God for the supplicant to believe in Him? [closed]
Is there a prayer to God for the supplicant to believe in Him? I've not studied Christianity barely at all, and am interested in whether there isn't any, and what that means, especially in comparison ...
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According to Catholicism, can Satan read lips?
According to Catholicism, can Satan read lips?
Generally speaking is Satan and/or the Demons capable of reading lips when we speak.
What if we simply mouth our prayers while we are praying?
Can he ...
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According to Catholic scholars, is Satan privy to our prayers, and can he act on them?
During the discussions of a group comprising members of different denominations, a Catholic friend of mine stated that he had strong belief in fruitful intercession of saints. A Non-Catholic member ...
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Have other group visitations of the Holy Spirit similar to Acts 4:23-31 been reported in church history?
Acts 4:23-31 (ESV):
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices ...
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According to Christians who believe that we cannot pray to Jesus, are we allowed to communicate to Jesus via song?
I know there are some Christians who believe that praying to Jesus is not allowed, and only praying to God(the Father) is allowed, such as certain Biblical Unitarian groups who teach that Jesus was ...
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Does the Catholic Church recommend `pestering 'God with intercessions?
We read in Lk 18:1-5:
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for ...
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Do Muslims pray like Christians should?
This is how it's mentioned in the Bible:
Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and ...
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How long has it been a custom to bow at the mention of the Incarnation?
I asked a question a few years ago and it was mentioned in a anecdote concerning the devil from 1374 that people were genuflecting at the mention of the incarnation
https://christianity.stackexchange....
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Is the phrase "for Jesus’ sake" compatible with Catholic theology?
From wels.net (emphasis mine):
“For Jesus’ sake” means that we are coming to God in prayer, not pleading our own merits, but (“on account of”) Jesus’ merits... When we end our prayers with “for Jesus’...
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Are we called to love and pray for the demons and Satan? [duplicate]
This may sound silly at first but there seems to be some logic to it. If we are called to "... love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us]" and Saint Paul claims that our real ...
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Does the Catholic Church teach that we need to pray for Jesus?
We read in Mtt 26: 37-41 (NRSVCE), of an emotional appeal from Jesus to pray for him:
He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, ...
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How can I trample on snakes and scorpions?
I was reading Luke 10:19
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
and I said to myself: &...
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Does Catholicism say that it is ok to pray at inter-religious thanksgiving services?
I have noticed some denominational Christians (Episcopalians, Lutherans) engaging in joint community oriented prayer services for Thanksgiving in the United States that involve Islamic, Hindu and ...
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Do any Christian groups pray for the sick to get healed of medically incurable diseases?
The practice of praying for the sick, anointing them with oil, is based on James 5:13-18 (ESV):
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone ...
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Shall I pray for what I want but I think I do not deserve? [closed]
I am a student very interested into spirituality and religion. I must admit that I am immensely blessed, God has given me a lot. But still there are some materialistic things that you want in your ...
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Should hands be folded or clasped together when praying? What's the difference and does it matter?
I grew up being taught to pray with my hands this way:
(hands clasped together)
Though I also often see Christians praying this way:
(folded hands, put together)
What's the difference? When should ...
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Do any mission agencies wait for divine empowerment in communal prayer before embarking on evangelism efforts?
My question is inspired by the extraordinary example set by the early Church as recorded in Acts 4:23-31 (ESV):
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief ...
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How does God communicate to people today?
We all know that prayer has always been considered the standard way in which people can communicate to God, but what about the different ways in which God can communicate back to people?
I'm ...
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Which translation of the bible does this version of the Lord's Prayer come from?
When I was very young, the version of the Lord's Prayer that I was taught went like this:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in ...
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According to 'Intercession of Saints' adherents, is two-way communication between the dead and the living possible?
Simple question: according to adherents of the doctrine of Intercession of Saints, just like the living can communicate with the dead, is it also possible for the dead to communicate with the living? ...
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Are there theological explanations for why God would condition his divine intervention and mercy on intercessory prayer?
Ezekiel 22:29-31 (ESV):
29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. 30 And ...
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Do any Christian groups or denominations believe that miracle-working faith can be cultivated through prayer and fasting?
I've been putting together an answer to my own question What is an overview of conditional Biblical promises for truth seekers that can be empirically tested in their lifetime?. While doing this ...
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Do the teachings of Catholic Church prohibit the use of “Amen” for purposes other than prayers?
Amen is a secular word of Greek and Hebrew origin, and is used to express solemn ratification (as of an expression of faith) or hearty approval (as of an assertion). The Church has been associating ...
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When was it claimed for the first time that Christians could "pray in tongues" in private for self-edification?
Very simple question: in the history of Christianity, when was it claimed for the first time (outside of the Bible, to avoid exegetical controversies, please) that the gift of tongues could be used in ...
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Prayer and accepting God's will in Catholicism
Is prayer supposed to be the unique means of accepting God's will under Catholic theology? How is a good Catholic supposed to overcome resistance to or confusion about God's will? What do key ...
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What was the early Church's understanding of the practice of "praying in the Spirit" during the ante-Nicene period?
The Apostle Paul alludes to the practice of "praying in the Spirit" in at least two of his epistles, namely:
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV):
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and ...
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Why did the members of the Local Churches not mention the name of Witness Lee in their prayers when he was on his deathbed?
When Witness Lee was terminally ill, all the members of the Local Churches (also known as Recovery) around the globe were asked to pray for him, yet without mentioning his name in their prayers. Why ...
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Homilies during liturgical seasons?
I would like to know the differences, if any, seen in homilies offered at Mass during different liturgical seasons. For instance are both Marian and Rosary-based prayers included customarily or are ...
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When the Pope says "We commend to the Lord the souls..." what does it mean exactly? It it a symbolic gesture, a prayer, something else?
The recent NPR news item Pope Francis Expresses Sorrow But No Apology For Indigenous School Deaths In Canada includes the following quote:
"We commend to the Lord the souls of all the children ...
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Do Biblical Unitarians believe that Christians can pray to Jesus and, if so, that he can answer a prayer in which he is asked about his divinity?
I personally believe that there are biblical grounds for praying to Jesus (e.g. this and this), and, as far as I'm aware, many Christians believe the same. However, I'm currently in ignorance with ...
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What can be deduced from the Gospel of John about prayer?
I´m looking for resources for a seminar paper about prayer in the Gospel of John. Unlike other gospels, it does not use the words proseuche or proseuchomai. It contains no explicit instructions on ...
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What is the origin of closing one's eyes during prayer?
I have been a Christian since my youth, but I have never received a satisfactory answer to this question.
Why must a Christian close their eyes during prayer?
In large services in the west, (I am not ...
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Did the Jansenists deny the gratuity of grace?
Did the Jansenists deny the gratuity of grace? That is, did they think praying more or doing more works of supererogation could always coerce God into granting them more grace, not that God grants or ...
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What are the meaning of and the biblical basis for the practice of pleading the blood of Jesus in prayer?
I've heard people say this phrase in prayer many times. A simple Google search for the exact phrase "plead the blood of Jesus" confirms that this is the case, returning about 280,000 hits (...
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Is prayer obligated in Christianity, and if so how many times a day? [closed]
Is prayer obligated in Christianity (as it's in Judaism and Islam), and if so how many times a day?
I've heard so many different pieces of information and I'm confused about it.
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About the intercessions of Saints to God, on one's behalf?
From a Catholic standpoint, and AFAIU, one prays to saints to intercede for one, on one´s behalf, to God. That being said, if you ask for help or a miracle to a saint through a prayer, and if you at ...
user52179
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How do Catholics make sure that the supposed saint they are asking intercession of is truly saved?
The doctrine of the intercession of saints states that deceased saints can be asked (via prayer) to intercede for the living. This assumes that there is:
A living Christian.
A deceased saint.
A one-...
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What did Jesus mean by saying "Watch with me... "at Gethsemane?
We read at Mtt 26: 36-45 an account of Jesus' Prayer at Gethsemane:
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And ...
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According to Catholicism, was there a co-relation between the time of Transfiguration of Jesus and that of his Prayer at Gethsemane?
We read in Luke 9:28-32 an account of the Transfiguration of Jesus:
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And ...
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According to Trinitarianism, should prayers always be directed at one Person at a time, or can we pray to the whole Trinity simultaneously?
According to Trinitarianism, is it valid to pray to God "in general" (the whole Godhead) without specifying the Person (Father, Son or Holy Spirit), or should we always be explicit about ...
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What is the purpose of the ten Hail Marys in the Rosary if you should not focus on them?
Many Catholics pray the Rosary every day. This is very good. They are meditating on the holy Mysteries. What I don't really get is the ten Hail Marys. I am not saying that it's vain repetition. That's ...
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I've heard it said that Pope St. John Paul II wrote in front of the blessed sacrament. Is this true?
I occasionally get the dirty look from people in the adoration chapel, when writing, and was wondering if it's true that Pope St. John Paul II wrote in the adoration chapel.
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Our prayers should be aimed at who? [closed]
I know that Jesus died for my sins, and I know that we pray in Jesus' name, but should we ask Jesus or God the Father?
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What is the biblical basis for praying to the Holy Spirit?
There is a question about praying to Jesus already, but I noticed there is no question about praying to the Holy Spirit. What is the biblical basis for praying to the third person of the trinity?
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In Luke 18:8, does the Geek word translated “quickly” mean “suddenly” in this instance?
We know that in our lives on planet earth the Lord does not always quickly protect those who are suffering injustice. Definitely, he will on the day of his visitation correct injustices and he will ...
