Binding Prayer - is it wrong or right?

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NguyenKimPhat

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Dear Catholic Answers Forum,

I am wondering if you could please help me. In my school, there is someone who gossips about me, and when I found out about this, I felt so hurt, because my reputation is so important to me. When I found out that he was trying to gossip about me, I prayed a prayer, “Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, don’t let this person gossip about me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I bind his tongue. O Holy Blood of Christ, bind this man’s tongue, bind his mouth, and guard my reputation.”

Was this prayer a sinful prayer to say? I am not resentful or angry against this man, but was it immoral for me to say this prayer? I did not say this prayer out of hatred for the man, but I was crying out to God for his protection.

God bless,
Truman Nguyen
 
I don’t know if it was a sin or not, I would “think” it would be darn close to being a sin. Guarding your reputation is one thing but this almost sounds like pride, which is definitely a sin. I’ll let others elaborate who know the ins and outs. Christ teaches us humility. Try to talk with this person to clear your name but don’t pray ill of them. Be humble.
 
You seek control over another person - that is not good. Rather, pray for that person’s heart to know and love Christ. To defend your reputation at all costs can lead to all sorts of trouble. What matters is your reputation with God. Jesus told us:

Matthew 5:44
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
 
This is not a prayer…it is a spell…therefore evil.
Have you never heard ‘pray for your enemies & turn the other cheek’.

You need to confess this.
 
You should probably ask this question of your confessor rather than in a forum. We are very poorly equiped to help you with the sliver in your eye since we’re all struggling with the logs in our own. Your priest is the best venue for this.

God bless
 
I wouldn’t consider your prayer sinful, as you were probably in an emotional state when you said it. It is okay to value your reputation and to ask seek God’s help when someone is damaging it. Calling your prayer a “spell” or “prideful” is overreacting. My advice is to pray and make sacrifices for the person that is slandering you. Speak to your confessor if you still feel badly. May God give you peace.
 
I’ve heard of people binding demons or demonic activity in prayer, particularly in charismatic circles. But I’ve never heard of binding another person’s tongue or activity in that way.

Still this prayer sounds more like a very fervent entreaty than a ‘spell.’ You did, at least, take it to God, which is certainly right.
'Stipendia enim peccati, mors. Gratia autem Dei, vita æterna, in Christo Jesu Domino nostro."

–Letter to the Romans, chapter 6, verse 23
 
…This is not a prayer.

Ask yourself, did Christ pray that his Father bind the arms of the men nailing him to the cross? Absolutely not.

Your willingness to invoke Christ in a manner that is less that charitable and loving is concerning. I agree with the other posters here that you should speak with your confessor regarding this one. I can’t say if it was a sin or not, but I can say that it isn’t right. It isn’t a good thing.
 
I read that only certain vessels can bind, Apostles, Prophets, and certain laity…binding is huge, usually used for exorcisms, be very careful, take this to your Priest, unless you are told to do this directly I wouldnt do it.
 
NguyenKimPhat said:
Dear Catholic Answers Forum,

I am wondering if you could please help me. In my school, there is someone who gossips about me, and when I found out about this, I felt so hurt, because my reputation is so important to me. When I found out that he was trying to gossip about me, I prayed a prayer, “Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, don’t let this person gossip about me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I bind his tongue. O Holy Blood of Christ, bind this man’s tongue, bind his mouth, and guard my reputation.”

Was this prayer a sinful prayer to say? I am not resentful or angry against this man, but was it immoral for me to say this prayer? I did not say this prayer out of hatred for the man, but I was crying out to God for his protection.

God bless,
Truman Nguyen
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My guess is that you didn’t sin since it didn’t occur to you that it might be untill after the fact. Then you began to have second doubts.

However the way the prayer was phrased sounds as tho you didn’t intend him any harm but that you only wanted him not to spread maliciousness against your name. And there is nothing wrong with wanting that. However there are ways and then there are ways.

Maybe a prayer to Jesus like “O Jesus I’m hurting, and I don’t know what to do. You said to come to me all who are burdened and I will refresh you. Please help me in my need now and move him to use my name in vain no more. I ask this of you in your most precious name.”

Be at peace.
 
God, will sort it out; but in the future remember it is not your brother and sister human beings that are our enemy. As the Holy Spirit to intervene against the spirit of gossip that is causing harm to you and your reputation. But this needs lots of intercessory prayers too.
Code: 
For example say a Rosary dedicated for the help of Heaven, daily.   Remember it is the spirit of calumny that is the enemy not people.   And God knows your heart, so don't worry about anything.
BP
 
po18guy said:
You seek control over another person - that is not good. Rather, pray for that person’s heart to know and love Christ. To defend your reputation at all costs can lead to all sorts of trouble. What matters is your reputation with God. Jesus told us:

Matthew 5:44
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
Click to expand...
Not to mention:

Mark 15:28
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith: And with the wicked he was reputed.

We seek to be more Christ-like. If we suffer indignation or attacks against our reputation, we have become just a little more Christ-like.
 
Please help me - please pray for me - this guy who is gossiping about me - he is so mean to me - please help me - please pray for me - i don’t know what to do except to pray
 
You said you were in school. Do you have any friends in school to support you in this?
If it wouldn’t make matters in your opinion worse, you might think about confronting him personally about his remarks. However if he is rather a course type of person to begin with, he might enjoy tormenting you more. This is a tough decision to make. If you have some friend who might go with you, that would help a great deal.

Just a thought.
 
You prayed to exert control over someone’s actions? That is witchcraft. VERY bad. I’d see a priest and ask him. It sounds like you acted out of pride, and what you prayed for was wrong. You should instead try to forgive this person, and pray that they find a way to stop their sinful ways (because gossip is a sin, especially if it is untrue). You should pray for those who are harmed by their sin.
 
NguyenKimPhat said:
Please help me - please pray for me - this guy who is gossiping about me - he is so mean to me - please help me - please pray for me - i don’t know what to do except to pray
Click to expand...
Code: 
 I am praying along with you that your prayers may be answered and your heart consoled.
BP
 
NguyenKimPhat said:
Please help me - please pray for me - this guy who is gossiping about me - he is so mean to me - please help me - please pray for me - i don’t know what to do except to pray
Click to expand...
There will always be people who act against you in life. You need to learn how to react to it properly. You need to forgive, and empathize. You need to pray, and ask God for strength not to act in anger. I don’t think being gossiped about warrants other people’s prayers, sorry. Just pray, it’ll be fine. It’s just gossip. The person is sinning by defaming you unjustly. Have faith in God, and ignore gossip. It may be difficult, but it’s a fairly small amount of persecution you’re suffering. Is there the possibility that you can talk some sense into this person? It sounds like they need prayers. It’s hard to pray for those acting against you, but they really need it more.
 
NguyenKimPhat said:
Please help me - please pray for me - this guy who is gossiping about me - he is so mean to me - please help me - please pray for me - i don’t know what to do except to pray
Click to expand...
From Mother Theresa:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. 👍

It really doesn’t matter what is said. I understand your hurt, and I understand your pain and your fear of a damaged reputation. But the reputation that matters MOST is the esteem God has in you. Not others. I am praying for you, friend.
 
I wouldn’t consider it sinful exactly… If they’re speaking evil about you, I can understand why you’d want to stop it.

I tend to go to the Psalms for situations like this, because they express such a full range of human emotion, and address almost every situation we can ever find ourselves in. In this case, I would probably pray either Psalm 109 (108 in the Douay-Rheims), or Psalm 41 (40 in the Douay-Rheims).

Yes, they could be considered imprecatory psalms, which some people are uncomfortable praying. But the way I see it, praying the words of scripture allows you to safely express your feelings of hurt and anger in a controlled way, which can be very cathartic. Both psalms address people who speak against us, so they would be appropriate in this situation.
 
NguyenKimPhat said:
Dear Catholic Answers Forum,

I am wondering if you could please help me. In my school, there is someone who gossips about me, and when I found out about this, I felt so hurt, because my reputation is so important to me. When I found out that he was trying to gossip about me, I prayed a prayer, “Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, don’t let this person gossip about me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I bind his tongue. O Holy Blood of Christ, bind this man’s tongue, bind his mouth, and guard my reputation.”

Was this prayer a sinful prayer to say? I am not resentful or angry against this man, but was it immoral for me to say this prayer? I did not say this prayer out of hatred for the man, but I was crying out to God for his protection.

God bless,
Truman Nguyen
Click to expand...
I understand your predicament, Truman; before I was Born Again I used to hurl curses around willy-nilly. If another driver cut me up I’d swear: “hope your tyre bursts”. Later I realised how wrong it is to put a curse on someone. I had to practise real hard to stop those curses and instead “bless him Lord, and may he get home safely”. It took a few years before the blessing came automatically.
 
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