Questions tagged [prayer]
The way in which believers communicate to God
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questions
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How common is the practice of praying for the devil?
On The Patristics Project website there is a blog post entitled "Patristic Universalism", which provides quotes from twelve of the ancient Christian writers popularly known as the Church Fathers, ...
3
votes
3answers
102 views
What is the basis for the Apostles devoting themselves to prayer for nine days in Acts 1:14?
We know that in Acts the Apostles prayed in the upper room consecutively until the Holy Spirit descended on them. Oftentimes I heard that this was calculated to be for nine days. How did people reach ...
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1answer
33 views
The Glory Be prayer and consolation - Catholic Spirituality
Is there a Catholic author who discussed how praying the Glory Be prayer can provide consolation? I am looking for a book/article on that topic.
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2answers
149 views
According to the Catholic Church, why should we pray if God has already decided the best future for all of us?
According to Roman Catholic Church,
if God knows everything, including the future (which he does, if he's
omniscient)
Refer : What is the biblical evidence for God's omnipotence and ...
3
votes
1answer
155 views
Who changed the Fatima prayer?
From the Fatima prayer we read where Mary says:
I want you to continue saying the Rosary every day. And after each one
of the mysteries, my children, I want you to pray in this way: O my
Jesus, ...
1
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2answers
82 views
According to Catholicism, how can a relic help a sick person?
I took several holy cards to view and touch relics of the saints. Now do I keep the relic and pray for someone or give it to the person so that he/she can pray for healing?
-4
votes
3answers
722 views
Why did Jesus ask for forgiveness?
If Jesus lived a perfect life, for what was he asking forgiveness when said the Lord's prayer? What "debt" or "trespass" had he committed that he felt needed to be forgiven?
If he was just giving a ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Is there a prayer to rebuke storms at sea?
My mom comes from a family of fishermen and ship captains, the vast majority of all men in her city are still doing of those professions, I live in Lebanon, middle east.
She told me more than once ...
2
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0answers
128 views
How is praying understood within the “Death of God” theology?
Theologians like Hamilton and Altizer defend a "secular Theology" that tries to banish the Deus ex machina of traditional Theism. So far so good, but how does one pray before God etsi Deus non ...
5
votes
2answers
649 views
How do I know when to cross myself during Mass (Novus Ordo)?
I've been going to Catholic (Latin Rite) Mass my whole life and am constantly surprised by the different times that people will cross themselves during the Liturgy.
I only do it when the Priest says ...
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0answers
53 views
Why do Catholics venerate Our Lady? [duplicate]
This is a simple question. Why do Catholics venerate and pray to Our Lady?
God says not to do it.
2
votes
1answer
168 views
Modern Hesychasm in Christianity
There is a hindu contemplative tradition called self-inquiry, where a seeker of God asks "who am I?" to expose the person as unreal (a collection of self-image, body, identification, etc.) The ...
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268 views
Did St. Anthony of Padua write the “Be Satisfied with Me” prayer?
There is a prayer floating around online called "Be Satisfied with Me" that starts off as follows:
Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,
To have a deep soul relationship with ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
According to Jesus in the New Testament, where by name are the three places one ought to worship God?
Someone in The New Testament mentions two places where one ought to worship God. Jesus says that in the Messianic Era neither place will be where one ought to worship God. Which are these two places ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Are there any trinitarian Christian denominations that believe one should only pray to the Father, not to Jesus?
Are there any trinitarian Christian denominations that believe one should only pray to the Father, not to Jesus?
If so, what are they and what is there scriptural basis for believing so?
2
votes
1answer
38 views
What is the justification for relying on faith healing and conventional medicine?
As a contrast to What is the justification for relying on faith healing over conventional medicine?, I thought I'd ask the opposite. What is the justification for relying on faith and conventional ...
6
votes
4answers
273 views
What is the biblical basis for praying to Jesus, as opposed to praying to God in the name of Jesus?
What is the biblical basis for praying to Jesus, as opposed to praying to God in the name of Jesus?
My question is based on John 14:13–14:
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the ...
5
votes
2answers
138 views
What happens to a rejected grace?
When I pray for someone's conversion and God gives him the grace to convert but he/she rejects it. He won't end up converting and constantly is rejecting God's grace. I can see that God was putting ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
What was the Angelic Psalter that Our Lady told St. Dominic to preach?
In St. Louis de Montfort's The Secret of the Rosary he quotes the Blessed Virgin Mary talking to St. Dominic:
"I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the battering ram has always been ...
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vote
2answers
716 views
Is it only Catholicism that says grace on food?
edit:
Why is saying a prayer before eating called "saying grace?" God has grace in giving the food but wouldn't it be man's grace if we're "saying" it? or has it come from earlier when people were "...
0
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1answer
94 views
What do JW, Evangelicals and Mormons believe about hastening the Return of Jesus? [closed]
I've found some Protestant and Catholic articles about interpreting (Peter 3:12, Revelation 22:20, Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 18:1-8) as the opportunity, for Christians, to hasten the Return of the Lord ...
1
vote
3answers
337 views
1 John 5:16 “you don't need to pray for that”?
1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he
shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do
not lead to death. There is sin that ...
5
votes
1answer
91 views
How does the divine office compare between the different rites?
I'm wondering how the liturgy of the hours looks different in different quarters of the church. When Byzantine Christians pray the Divine Office, how is it different to when Latin Christians pray the ...
2
votes
1answer
122 views
According to Lutherans, do angels pray for us?
I was looking at this question, and the answers don't really cover any viewpoints aside from that of the Roman Catholic Church. The second answer quotes Grudem, but the answerer's claim that he speaks ...
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vote
3answers
605 views
Abraham's bosom and Praying to Abraham
I have discovered recently that some Christians believe Abraham's bosom is an literal place.
For those who have this view, was Abraham believed to be the ruler of this place? And was it perfectly ...
2
votes
2answers
269 views
Did the early church devote themselves to prayer or to “the prayers”, and if the latter, which prayers?
I couldn't decide if this fit better in Hermeneutics or here, but anyways:
Acts 2:42 NIV - They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
...
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Do Mormons secretly pray about you and then consider you included in their church?
I met two men on the street who were Mormons. We had a nice discussion and they gave me their book with a bookmark pointing to a verse in it.
Later that day I met with my friend and he said I ...
2
votes
1answer
259 views
How does “Lead us not into temptation” need to be interpreted? [closed]
When we Christians recite the "Our Father", we always say:
... and lead us not into temptation ...
From this quote I understand very clearly that God can lead us to temptation thus contradicting ...
16
votes
1answer
536 views
What is the earliest known instance of a petition directed to Mary?
A recent answer on this site says that "People have always prayed to Mary as a chief intercessor on their behalf." Such a statement will surely seem excessive to Protestants, who would normally ...
2
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2answers
122 views
How to propose a change in a prayer?
How can I go about proposing a change in a prayer? Or how can I have the change approved by the Catholic Church or their theologians?
I'd like to change the prayer of Hail Mary from:
Holy Mary, ...
7
votes
1answer
137 views
Has the Catholic Church ever attempted a local substitute for the word Amen?
The suffix 'Amen' has been in use in the prayers of virtually all Christian denominations across the world, though the pronunciation differs from place to place. Given that the names of God and Jesus ...
asked Apr 29 '17 at 14:10
Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan
2,4182 gold badges8 silver badges27 bronze badges
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3answers
3k views
Why pray to Jesus and not to the Father? (Catholic perspective)
Jesus always refers the Father as to be greater than himself.
For example:
You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to ...
0
votes
3answers
983 views
What is the biblical basis for the idea that God stores our prayers?
I've heard that God stores our prayers. Where does He store them; is it in a bottle, a scroll, a book? What scripture supports this claim?
4
votes
4answers
6k views
What is the Biblical support for praying for the dead?
In the question Absolution for a daughter an answer was posted that started by saying:
The Rites of the Church do include prayers for the dead. It's not
possible actually to absolve sins after ...
4
votes
1answer
919 views
Are LDS required to take their hats off when they pray?
Is it part of the LDS religion to remove your hat during prayer? Or is that just part of western culture as a sign of respect? Are LDS required to remove their hats when they pray? Or can they pray ...
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votes
2answers
14k views
Why do LDS cross their arms during prayer?
When praying, many Latter Day Saints will cross their arms during prayer:
This appears to be in lieu of folding hands as has been done by protestants and Catholics for centuries:
What is the origin ...
4
votes
2answers
472 views
Are Catholics not supposed to pray the St. Michael Prayer?
I was looking up exorcism stuff on the Vatican website and stumbled across this from (then) Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)
From these prescriptions it follows that it is not ...
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2answers
296 views
What is the prayer of faith as recorded in James 5:15?
James 5:15 says that the prayer of faith will save the sick. Is there a specific prayer of faith?
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3answers
112 views
Is it ok to pray different prayers in conjunction to one another? [closed]
I would like to know if it's appropriate to pray different prayers in conjunction with another?
For Example:
The Litany of Humility
Rosary
Prayer to a specific Saint
bedtime prayer
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3answers
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What's up with churches and guitars in this joke from The Big Bang Theory?
From The Big Bang Theory S10E12:
Mary: Thank you, God, for the food we are about to receive and for the nourishment of our bodies and bless the hands that prepared it. Amen.
Sheldon: Given ...
5
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1answer
2k views
What is the significance of a church being “consecrated”?
Related to this question. I've split it into two questions because I didn't want to ask too much in one go.
My local parish church has a sign out the front which says "Australia's oldest consecrated ...
3
votes
1answer
910 views
What is involved in the consecration of a Church?
What is actually involved in consecrating a Catholic church? Does a priest or bishop just come and say a prayer over/towards the building? If so, what is the prayer? Are there any liturgical gestures ...
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votes
3answers
768 views
Is it permissible for a Catholic to pray the Salat?
I'm thinking of visiting a mosque on Wednesday. I've done this before a couple of years ago and it was a very valuable experience. The last time I visited I joined in the Salat and thought it was a ...
2
votes
1answer
157 views
Connection between the Jesus Prayer and chanting “Jesus!” during worship?
According to Wikipedia:
The Jesus' Prayer (Greek: Η Προσευχή του Ιησού, i prosefchí tou iisoú; Syriac: ܨܠܘܬܐ ܕܝܫܘܥ , Amharic, Geez and Tigrinya: እግዚኦ መሐረነ ክርስቶስ,Slotho d-Yeshu' , ) or "The Prayer" ...
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1answer
263 views
What Prayer/words are associated with the solemn sign of the cross?
With the normal sign of the cross you are supposed to say "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit/Ghost" as you trace the cross on your body.
The solemn sign of the cross is the ...
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2answers
509 views
How do small groups pray the Liturgy of the Hours?
At my troop's Federation of North American Explorers meetings, the leaders and the boys pray the Liturgy of the Hours together sometimes for our prayer at the end of meetings. We often do it with ...
3
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2answers
232 views
Why do Catholics ask for things from an omniscient and omnibenevolent God?
Prayer as praise is rational. It makes sense for people to tell a loving God that they love him too. But I don't understand why Catholics ask things of a God who is omniscient (“all knowing”), ...
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1answer
416 views
Can a devil use one prayer to prevent us from praying different one? (Catholic perspective)
We all know the importance of praying the rosary. But I have also been praying The Twelve-year Prayer of S. Bridget of Sweden.
I noticed one very important thing. Anytime I got into a temptation it ...
2
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2answers
86 views
No non-Latin prayers in European churches before Reformation?
Is this true that before the Reformation, all Christians in Europe would have to study Latin in order to understand the prayers pronounced during Masses in Roman Catholic Churches?
3
votes
2answers
455 views
Is falling to the floor during blessings or prayers supported in Roman Catholic doctrine?
In the Pentecostal Church and some other Christian movements, during blessings or prayers people often fall to the floor. This is critiqued by some people. But today I saw a Roman Catholic priest and ...
