A Non-Catholic is slamming our formulaic Catholic Prayers

[anon65111186]

I guarantee the answer to this will be “no.”

When I grew up being taught this, I was always told that “pray like this” before the Lord’s prayer meant that you were supposed to pray something with some form of similar content to the Lord’s prayer, but not repeat the exact words - since that would be “vain repetition.”

Okay, but Protestants are pretty varied in their doctrines and my wife’s church was Presbyterian and had a few prayers word for word from the Bible. It may be that some will have the response you mention though. It is a difficult argument to make that we shouldn’t pray God’s word, especially since there is support for it in the Bible. The problem is the interpretation of the Bible could lead one to think it would be vain repietition etc. If you say it with your heart and pray with your soul to God I don’t see how it could be vain.

 

[DarkLight]

Okay, but Protestants are pretty varied in their doctrines and my wife’s church was Presbyterian and had a few prayers word for word from the Bible. It may be that some will have the response you mention though. It is a difficult argument to make that we shouldn’t pray God’s word, especially since there is support for it in the Bible. The problem is the interpretation of the Bible could lead one to think it would be vain repietition etc. If you say it with your heart and pray with your soul to God I don’t see how it could be vain.

Presbyterians don’t generally make the argument that formulaic prayers are bad though. Usually the sort of protestants that are going to be attacking Catholics for pre-written prayers are the types that don’t actually use prayers directly from the Bible. It’s at least somewhat consistent that way. OP is almost certainly dealing with some variety of evangelical.

Honestly, I might ask what it is about spontaneous prayers that makes them more genuine than prewritten ones - I’ve heard a lot that weren’t technically prewritten, but might as well be.

 

[Just_Another_Sinner]

He means well, problem is these issues have been dissected and discussed for hundreds of years. Both in Orthodox and Catholic circles.

As another poster said, try to approach from a gentle and loving explanation.

However he may simply reject it. At which point there is no longer any point of pushing too much unless there is an audience.

At that point there is several bases for explanation.

1. Psalms
2. Our Father was handed to us by Christ himself
3. the Hail Mary is a collection of pieces from scripture…also it is veneration not worship. Many people confuse the two.
4. It represents only a part of our prayer life…like a foundation to build upon. We are called to pray always in both actions and thoughts.

The Our Father gives us the basics to reflect upon God himself each time we pray.

The Hail Mary reminds us the primacy of Christ and to ask those in heaven for their prayers and assistance.

People when they pray may lose their meaning due to repetition but it is like the alphabet. You repeat it to learn how to use it in a greater context not just for its own ends.

But like I said he may not be receptive to other insight so just be patient, peaceful, and loving. Actions are louder than words.

Peace

 

[StPancake]

Matthew 26:39-44New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
39 He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father,[a] if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 [c]Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” 43 Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. 44 He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.

Jesus prayed the same thing three times. He must not have been a good Christian.

Seriously though, all you can do is gently share information with him. He might just come up with another critique to insult the faith. In my mind, he isn’t being fair by criticizing things he does not understand and is not being kind by criticizing your religion. Pray for him.

Matthew 6:9-13New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
The Lord’s Prayer. 9 [a]“This is how you are to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,[c]
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
11 [d]Give us today our daily bread;
12 and forgive us our debts,[e]
as we forgive our debtors;
13 and do not subject us to the final test,[f]
but deliver us from the evil one.

You’ll note that in verse 9 that Jesus said, “9 This is how you are to pray”. Jesus literally told us to pray that way. Often, I use the Lord’s prayer as a way to worship. I start with the words in the prayer and then venture off with my own prayers so that I have a full understanding of what it is I’m claiming in the Our Father. I’m using a formulaic prayer and expanding on it and contemplating what it means. I’ve been doing this for years and it makes sure I know what I’m asking and saying. Those words have real meaning for me and a lot of it is probably because of this exercise.