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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
What is the proper way to speak to God?	Achillea	Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Question: I find myself fumbling when I try to speak to God, because very often, I read prayers or am told by people, that we are suppose to do things "through Christ" and since I've never gotten this concept or practiced it as a child, I feel nervous sometimes speaking to God, because I speak plainly, like I would to anybody, but more open. This form of speaking where you say that you offer up the precious blood of Jesus for this or that, just seems to escape me and causes me to feel like my prayers are less effective when I don't speak in this way. Sometimes too I am discouraged when I don't even know how to refer to God. Do I call God "God" or do I call him "Father"? Do I call Jesus "Jesus" or "Lord" And Mary, do I call her Mary, or one of here many titles? Do I call her, Blessed Mother, Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother? When I am asking for things, do I ask Jesus, or God? It would seem when you ask for things, you ask God, but Jesus IS God. Do you see why I am confused? I also get frustrated when I want to pray, and there are so many directions to pray too, since we are told, when you find your prayers not being answered, go to the Blessed Mother, or one of the countless Saints, or ask the Souls in Purgatory. Sometimes I can't even decide who I should be coming too! Please help me with this issue. Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Achillea: The Bible teaches us that we are to pray in Jesus' Name. Beyond that there are no specific requirements. St. Paul said that we can call God the Father, our daddy. (Galatians 4:6) "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' Abba mean daddy. Thus, we can be that familiar with Him. Lord, God, daddy, Father, Jesus -- any of these are good. Just say whichever of these that inspires you. Yes, Jesus is God, so when you pray to Jesus you are praying to God. There are some formal prayers that are addressed to the Father, and many addressed to Jesus, the Son, and some addressed to the Holy Spirit. All are in the Name of Jesus. Most often Catholics end their prayers with the sign of the Cross and the invocation of, "I pray these things in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Do not worry about all that -- just talk to God the best way you can and in a way that is comfortable to you. God understands and just wants you to talk to Him. The style of prayer and terminology does not matter. You can pray to God in a formal way through written prayers, or in spontaneous, yet formal-style, prayer using your own words. You can also talk to God in a casual way in the same manner you may talk to a friend or your daddy. Our Blessed Mother can be referred to in any of the ways you listed. She can be called mommy, Our Blessed Mother, Mother Mary, or any of the many titles that she is given. As for deciding who to pray to, Jesus and our Mother Mary are always top priority. Then in addition to that we can appeal to certain Saints according to our needs. Saints have difference specialties, so you can pray to a Saint that specializes in a particular problem you are having. In addition, you can have a patron saint, whom is usually the saint of your name. To help you browse though the saints to find who you may want to appeal to see the Directory of Saints. For example, you gave the name of Achillea. There is no saint by that name, but Achillea is the name of a flower. St. Thérèse the Little Flower of Jesus would be a good patron saint. I hope this helps. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

What is the proper way to speak to God?

Achillea

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Question:

I find myself fumbling when I try to speak to God, because very often, I read prayers or am told by people, that we are suppose to do things "through Christ" and since I've never gotten this concept or practiced it as a child, I feel nervous sometimes speaking to God, because I speak plainly, like I would to anybody, but more open.

This form of speaking where you say that you offer up the precious blood of Jesus for this or that, just seems to escape me and causes me to feel like my prayers are less effective when I don't speak in this way.

Sometimes too I am discouraged when I don't even know how to refer to God. Do I call God "God" or do I call him "Father"? Do I call Jesus "Jesus" or "Lord"

And Mary, do I call her Mary, or one of here many titles? Do I call her, Blessed Mother, Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother?

When I am asking for things, do I ask Jesus, or God? It would seem when you ask for things, you ask God, but Jesus IS God. Do you see why I am confused?

I also get frustrated when I want to pray, and there are so many directions to pray too, since we are told, when you find your prayers not being answered, go to the Blessed Mother, or one of the countless Saints, or ask the Souls in Purgatory. Sometimes I can't even decide who I should be coming too!

Please help me with this issue. Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Achillea:

The Bible teaches us that we are to pray in Jesus' Name. Beyond that there are no specific requirements. St. Paul said that we can call God the Father, our daddy. (Galatians 4:6) "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' Abba mean daddy. Thus, we can be that familiar with Him.

Lord, God, daddy, Father, Jesus -- any of these are good. Just say whichever of these that inspires you.

Yes, Jesus is God, so when you pray to Jesus you are praying to God. There are some formal prayers that are addressed to the Father, and many addressed to Jesus, the Son, and some addressed to the Holy Spirit. All are in the Name of Jesus. Most often Catholics end their prayers with the sign of the Cross and the invocation of, "I pray these things in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Do not worry about all that -- just talk to God the best way you can and in a way that is comfortable to you. God understands and just wants you to talk to Him. The style of prayer and terminology does not matter.

You can pray to God in a formal way through written prayers, or in spontaneous, yet formal-style, prayer using your own words. You can also talk to God in a casual way in the same manner you may talk to a friend or your daddy.

Our Blessed Mother can be referred to in any of the ways you listed. She can be called mommy, Our Blessed Mother, Mother Mary, or any of the many titles that she is given.

As for deciding who to pray to, Jesus and our Mother Mary are always top priority. Then in addition to that we can appeal to certain Saints according to our needs. Saints have difference specialties, so you can pray to a Saint that specializes in a particular problem you are having. In addition, you can have a patron saint, whom is usually the saint of your name.

To help you browse though the saints to find who you may want to appeal to see the Directory of Saints. For example, you gave the name of Achillea. There is no saint by that name, but Achillea is the name of a flower. St. Thérèse the Little Flower of Jesus would be a good patron saint.

I hope this helps.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum