Questions tagged [prayer]
The way in which believers communicate to God
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Why does the Trinitarian Formula start with "In the NAME…" and not "In the NAMES…"?
Today the Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. In the Trinitarian Formula, we invoke the NAME (singular) of the Three Persons of the Trinity. In English we say: "In the ...
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Ex-muslim, How to pray?
I converted to Christianity about 3 years ago and since then it's a "work in progress". I do pray once a day for a short time. I feel like I'm not devoted enough.
When I was Muslim there ...
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Are you aware of any statistical evidence for the benefits of prayer?
Assuming that most Christians would pray for help in time of need, is there any statistical evidence for better outcomes among Christians compared to other groups? For example, a Christian would ...
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Is praying futile given that God respects our Free Will and is omniscient?
If God respects our free will and doesn't interfere in our decisions, why should we pray for things (petition)?
For example, if I pray for my daily bread, God cannot force me to go to the store, buy ...
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Quote source for St. Leopold Mandić on Continual Prayer
In many places, here for example, I have seen (pretty much verbatim):
Father Leopold often said that whatever we do on earth, we should do it in the presence of God, then our whole life will be a ...
user60376
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What is the merit of praying for the souls of the faithful in purgatory compared to for the living?
From the preface by the publisher to Rev. Schouppe's Purgatory Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints:
Our suffrages or offerings for the dead are more agreeable to God than our prayers and ...
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Is there a "Church Approved" alternative text for the Hail Mary?
The quintessential part of the Hail Mary prayer is certainly the first two sentences coming straight from the Gospel of Luke and as I understand it, the second petition part was a later composition ...
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Does the bible command us to pray three times a day or how many times a day we should pray?
The Bible is very detailed on a lot of things (ie salvation, sin, morality) but does the bible command us to pray three times a day or tell us how many times a day we should pray?
user60738
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What is a better virtue to ask for than self-control? [closed]
Self-control, even though it is praised in the Bible as something wonderful, and even though Proverbs warns of the consequences of not having it (Proverbs 25:28) looks less and less like a foundation ...
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Does the Holy Sprit prevent one from praying for those to whom the intended prayer is of no use?
We read in Jn 11:5-6 (NRSVCE):
Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
We ...
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How many prayers (to Heaven) by believers are in the 66 books of the (Protestant) Bible? Are any literally addressed to anyone except God?
I have counted over 200 prayers by believers (though not being thorough in Psalms) but find none addressed to anyone else in Heaven but God, or exhortations to do so.
While support for this is ...
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How can the congregation know whether a hymn is also a prayer after Mass?
I recently heard that at the end of Mass, if the recessional hymn has the form of a prayer that the priest is supposed to remain at the altar until the hymn/prayer is done. I'd imagine this is ...
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Did the Early Church Fathers believe in praying for the dead?
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that praying for the dead is not only deeply rooted in the scriptures but also the apostolic church (ie the church fathers), but did any of the Early ...
user60738
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In the Catholic Church, does the private Act of Contrition require a specific prayer?
I'm aware that there is a specific act of contrition read in confession. However, when one seeks to make a private act of contrition (such as in the case where a mortal sin has been committed but a ...
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What is the meaning of "rest in peace" ("RIP")?
According to the New Testament of the Holy Bible, what is the interpretation of the phrase "may his/her soul rest in peace. RIP"?
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What are Christian apologetics refutations of the objections posited by the site "Why Won't God Heal Amputees?"?
The site: https://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Relevant quotes:
Is God real, or is he imaginary?
Is God real, or is he imaginary? It is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself.
If God ...
user50422
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Why are transgender prayer requests "too far"?
Many theologians have said that transgender people shouldn't pray that God would change their sex because God doesn't make mistakes. But, every petitionary prayer is based on the premise that you know ...
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Asking for help or saying thanks? [closed]
I ask for help from the good Lord every day to assist me in my daily endeavours.
I also say thank you to the good Lord for the assistance he has provided since the last time I spoke to him.
If time ...
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Does God ever answer prayers from non-believers?
Does God ever answer prayers from people that aren’t Christian or even from other religions? From what I see, it looks as if Scripture tends to say no. For example:
We know that God does not listen ...
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Is it sinful to be a "prayer squirrel"?
My question arises from a preacher's Facebook post condemning the practice of being a "prayer squirrel" (i.e., getting distracted while praying). He offers the following as an example of ...
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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 ...
user18084
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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 ...
user50422
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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 ...
user50422
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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 ...
user50422
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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 ...
user50422
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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? ...
user50422
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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 ...
user50422
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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 ...
user50422
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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 ...
user50422
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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 ...
