Catholics and Protestant Christians, what do you think of this?

Question

If we don’t pray for each other, who will?

While re-embracing my prayer life, a curious thought occurred to me: how many people WILL actually pray for me?

Seriously wondering who realistically would, I decided to left-brain it and crunch the numbers. The way I figured it was like this:

Take a family of six – mom, dad, two boys and two girls. Generally speaking, they care for each other very much. Then I counted the related family – aunts (4), uncles (4), grandparents (4), friends. That’s 12+ more people, so now we’re at 18+. The question I asked was when I look at each person individually, from what I know about them, who actually has a dedicated prayer life? Grandma? One or two aunts? Any friends? What about their own parents and siblings?

If it’s only one grandmother, two aunts, and a parent, that is 4 people out of 18+. That’s not even 30%!

Now I know there are probably a lot more people praying for me than I realize, but if I go on what I can actually count, the numbers are abysmally low.

There are about 1.6 billions Catholics worldwide, and I think we generally assume that we’re sort of automatically prayed for, but is that really the case? How many people can you think of that you actually know are praying for you?

Now, please understand I’m not trying to depress anyone; I’m simply trying to share a bit of thought that occurred to me and is actually DRIVING me to pray more. If I don’t get off my butt and pray, who will? Does this help to show anyone the urgency for prayer?

Catholics, if we don’t need daily prayer, then why do we bother going to Mass? Isn’t that what the Mass is – one big prayer?

Answer 1

You make a good point. Prayer is powerful, and when we pray to God, that is a form of worship.

Although not a Catholic (one of them Protestants), I can testify to the power of prayer. My sister prayed for me for 10 years when I was in a spiritual wilderness, and God answered those prayers, bringing me to saving grace.

The Bible admonishes us to pray constantly, especially for all the saints. It also tells us that where 2 or 3 are gathered in the name of Christ, he is with us. So, whilst quantity of prayer can have impressive results (look at all the revivals), quality of prayer is vitally important. Thank you for this timely reminder to develop a daily prayer habit.

Answer 2

Your concern for your fellow human beings is admirable. Certainly, extra prayer never hurt anybody, and your desire to make sure people have "enough" prayers said on their behalf sets an example for all religious people.

There are a couple of important things to remember, here. First, *yes*, Mass is one big prayer if you look at it in broad strokes. At least twice that I can think of off the top of my head, the priest indicates that prayers are offered for "the Church throughout the world", or for people in general. Secondly, as Catholics, we believe in the Communion of Saints, or the gathering in prayer of all the faithful alive on earth and all the holy men and women who have gone before us. Their prayers are ever joined with ours, so your 30% of 18 people rapidly becomes a chorus of thousands upon thousands. I suppose the lesson to be learned here is that we should pray diligently for our fellow human beings (all of them, no exceptions), but do not despair that your prayers are insufficient, for they are magnified many times over.

Answer 3

Why do you eliminate your relatives under 18. Children's prayers are much stronger then ours can be. When I was a little girl and someone in our family was sick, our parents would gather all the children together for a prayer. When you're Catholic what do you do with your children at night, you ask them to not forget their prayer and to include grandpa, grandma, uncle tom and Fido right.

Answer 4

Newell... that's with the aid of fact "some", no longer all, don't think that Sacred custom is important. as a effect, "some" will say that we Catholics are no longer Christians. the rationalization i take advantage of the be conscious "some" is that i do no longer decide to easily generalize the completed lot, with the aid of sentiments of "some". regrettably, there are a number of Protestants which will generalize Catholics as an entire, in accordance with what they think of we do and don't prepare. interior the top, "some" generalize and have their misconceptions, with the aid of fact they might fairly isolate a single verse in scripture and make that an absolute, all on an identical time as ignoring the verses which might serve to contradict their statements. GOD BLESS...

Answer 5

Yes, teh catholic Mass is the greatest communal prayer. It is celebrated EVERY DAY, throughout the world, not just on Sundays. It is pretty safe to say that there is a Mass being celebrated somewhere in the world at any time of the day. And being Catholic and united in Christ as the Body of Christ, you are part of it.

Part of the Catholic Mass is prayer for those "who have gone on before us marked with the sign of faith and are now at rest." Yes, this is rather general in nature, but it does include those who we do not know by name. There are also general prayers during the Prayers of the Faithful that include lots of people.

CJ - my prayer and hope for you is more understanding and wisdom and less presumption, bigotry, and prejudice.

Answer 6

I moderate a small prayer list in Yahoo Groups, and I can attest to the power of prayer. We've seen many glorious answers when people pray, and God has richly blessed the faithful intercessors. We're predominantly Catholic, but people of all faiths are welcome to join us. We all need to pray for each other, our government, the nations of the world, and most of all, for an increase in faith and the outpouring of grace.

And yes, CJ, you *are* prejudiced against your Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ. We love our Father in Heaven, our Lord and brother Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We know that the only means of salvation is by accepting Christ's atoning death on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. That makes us Christians.

The difference between you and us is that we know hating a brother in Christ is considered no different than murder by God. That's why we pray for you and all those who hate us -- we love you and don't want to see you condemned to Hell for such a serious sin.

Don't believe me? Here's the Scripture to prove it:

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

-- and --

1 John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Answer 7

Prayer is the way we communicate with God. He knows our hearts and needs even before we ask.
Before school starts each year it is fascinating to hear what the kids want each year. Now as a father I know they need clothes, but I find it not only fascinating but a blessing to learn more about my children, how they grow and change over the summer(depending on who they hang with). Okay, enough of that....
Just like I enjoy my children's attention, "Oh, come on Dad, All my friends have "Nike shocks."
So does God love our attention. However, what God enjoys most of all is what this dear Sister has mentioned. When we go to God, may we go as children, but not asking for ourselves, but the needs of others. Oh. how this will please our Heavenly Father.

Answer 8

Catholics believe in a community, we are all helping each other out with prayer and doing good things, or hurting each other when we sin.

Peace!

Good question.

Answer 9

It is sadly true that our catholic brothers and sisters do not pray as we should for if we did the world would be a different place

Answer 10

Part of being the Comunion of Saints is praying for each other and for everybody in, for,with,to,through and by Christ.