Are prayers for others the same as good works?

[Holly3278]

Hey everyone. Is praying for others a good work? Thanks in advance for the help you can provide.

 

[thenobes]

Hey everyone. Is praying for others a good work? Thanks in advance for the help you can provide.

Yes, it is work of mercy.

Corporal works of mercy
To feed the hungry.
To give drink to the thirsty.
To clothe the naked.
To harbour the harbourless.[7] (also loosely interpreted today as To Shelter the Homeless)
To visit the sick.
To visit the imprisoned (classical term is “to ransom the captive”)
To bury the dead.

Spiritual works of mercy
(Though ideally applicable for all faithful, not everyone is considered capable or obligated to perform the first three spiritual works of mercy if they do not have proper tact, knowledge or canonical training to do so. The last four works are considered to be an obligation of all faithful to practice unconditionally.[Catholic encyclopedia: Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy])
To instruct the ignorant.
To counsel the doubtful.
To admonish sinners.
To bear wrongs patiently.
To forgive offenses willingly.
To comfort the afflicted.
To pray for the living and the dead.

peace
steve

 

[empantarhei]

Yes, it is work of mercy.

Corporal works of mercy
To feed the hungry.
To give drink to the thirsty.
To clothe the naked.
To harbour the harbourless.[7] (also loosely interpreted today as To Shelter the Homeless)
To visit the sick.
To visit the imprisoned (classical term is “to ransom the captive”)
To bury the dead.

Spiritual works of mercy
(**Though ideally applicable for all faithful, not everyone is considered capable or obligated to perform the first three spiritual works of mercy if they do not have proper tact, knowledge or canonical training to do so. **The last four works are considered to be an obligation of all faithful to practice unconditionally.[Catholic encyclopedia: Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy])
To instruct the ignorant.
To counsel the doubtful.
To admonish sinners.
To bear wrongs patiently.
To forgive offenses willingly.
To comfort the afflicted.
To pray for the living and the dead.

peace
steve

Could you elaborate on the bolded, please? I will admit to instructing the uninformed in an intelligent and compelling way, and am usually able to ‘enlighten’ someone’s, say, error in judgment, etc. I don’t think that’s a bad thing itself, but I might do it too often. I suspect this is not what is meant, however. Certainly the clergy would be involved with admonishing the sinners…

 

[DavidFilmer]

0

Could you elaborate on the bolded, please?

Instruction requires (correct knowledge); council requires wisdom. Not everyone is abundantly blessed with these traits, so it is best that they leave these ministries to more capable people, lest they do more harm than good. It’s the same reason we don’t give power tools to children - the risk is high and the benefit is low.

Clergy are certainly called upon to exercise these ministries, but laypeople may do so as well. This is, after all, an apologetics forum frequented by laypeople (such as myself), and apologetics is a mixture of instruction and council.

 

[empantarhei]

Clergy are certainly called upon to exercise these ministries, but laypeople may do so as well. This is, after all, an apologetics forum frequented by laypeople (such as myself), and apologetics is a mixture of instruction and council.

When I stated “I will admit to instructing the uninformed in an intelligent and compelling way, and am usually able to ‘enlighten’ someone’s, say, error in judgment, etc.” I didn’t mean to infer this forum, but I understand. I have a bad habit of instructing good lessons, the whys and hows, etc, but unfortunatley my deliveries of such need vast improvement. So I was curious and you helped. Thank you.