Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
prayer of St Bridget	veronica	Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Question: A friend of mine who is Catholic, has been actively asking people, mainly non catholics, to pray this prayer for a year for all their needs, whether they are sick or have any problems with life. She sees this as leading people to God and she strongle promotes that this works. It was not backed up by any Catholic preachings on Jesus or salvation etc as she figured people often do not respond favourably to such "preaching". This is her way to evangelize. Do you see anything wrong with her approach?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Veronica: No prayer is a talisman. It is very superstitious to believe that if one merely prays a prayer for a certain amount of time that something is certain to happen. That is not how it works. I am disheartened to think that she is approaching non-Catholics in this way. Non-Catholics will not even begin to understand what she is trying to do and will almost certainly see her as a superstitious woman, and therefore see the Catholic Church as superstitious. This is a really bad idea and I think she ought to stop it as she is giving the wrong impression to non-Catholics. The way to share the faith is the share the faith. Talk to people about why one believes what they believe. No one has to be an apologist or any other kind of well-versed and experienced person. Just share the faith with others as best as one can. Our first pope said, "Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence..." (1 Peter 3:15). Pope Peter did not say, "to those who ask always give a prayer for them to say for a year and that's it," but rather to give "a defense," that is, to share (talk) one's own faith to those who ask. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

prayer of St Bridget

veronica

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Question:

A friend of mine who is Catholic, has been actively asking people, mainly non catholics, to pray this prayer for a year for all their needs, whether they are sick or have any problems with life.

She sees this as leading people to God and she strongle promotes that this works. It was not backed up by any Catholic preachings on Jesus or salvation etc as she figured people often do not respond favourably to such "preaching". This is her way to evangelize.

Do you see anything wrong with her approach?

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

Dear Veronica:

No prayer is a talisman. It is very superstitious to believe that if one merely prays a prayer for a certain amount of time that something is certain to happen. That is not how it works.

I am disheartened to think that she is approaching non-Catholics in this way. Non-Catholics will not even begin to understand what she is trying to do and will almost certainly see her as a superstitious woman, and therefore see the Catholic Church as superstitious.

This is a really bad idea and I think she ought to stop it as she is giving the wrong impression to non-Catholics.

The way to share the faith is the share the faith. Talk to people about why one believes what they believe. No one has to be an apologist or any other kind of well-versed and experienced person. Just share the faith with others as best as one can.

Our first pope said, "Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence..." (1 Peter 3:15).

Pope Peter did not say, "to those who ask always give a prayer for them to say for a year and that's it," but rather to give "a defense," that is, to share (talk) one's own faith to those who ask.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.