Does God hear and answer the prayers of sinners?

[whitearmytanker]

Does he answer the prayers of sinners? Even if they are praying for a good cause?

 

[Fr.Eric_Filmer]

Greetings.

In the Bible, St. John teaches us: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1John 1:8). Therefore, we are all sinners, so if God does not hear and answer the prayers of sinners then we are in big trouble! But then St. John immediately writes: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Confessing our sins to God is a type of prayer, so according to the 1st Epistle of John, God both listens to and answers the prayers of sinners (in this case by forgiving and cleansing them).

Also keep in mind that Jesus, himself, taught us the Our Father wherein we pray to God while acknowledging that we are sinners (i.e., “forgive us our trespasses”). Nevertheless, our sinful state does not stop us from petitioning God in the Our Father for forgiveness, our daily bread, assistance in times of temptation and deliverance from evil.

Even being in a state of mortal sin does not prevent our prayers from being acknowledged and answered by God. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the consequences of mortal sin are as follows:

1861: Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.

Notice that the privation described here is specifically “sanctifying grace”. This is the type of grace which allows us (among other things) to share in the divine life of God and be holy and pleasing in his sight. But there is another type of grace called “actual grace” which God uses to enlighten us and help us to do good and avoid evil. Even those guilty of committing mortal sins have actual grace available to them (and one of the purposes of actual grace is to motivate people to pray to God and seek reconciliation with him). Therefore, God not only hears and answers the prayers of sinners, he even uses actual grace to inspire and empower them to do so. Of course, all grace is a gift from the Lord, and each person is free to accept it (and act on it) or reject it.

For more information concerning the distinction between these two types of graces, please read the following: “What is the Difference between Sanctifying and Actual Grace?”