Effectiveness of an individuals prayer

[Tacceus]

Is the prayer of one person just as effective as the prayers of many people? Why or why not? Give any examples or personal experiences if you have any.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There have been cases of one person praying who received a miraculous cure or other answer from God. It’s my understanding that the miracle that got Bl. Solanus Casey beatified happened from one lady praying for a healing for herself. I don’t think God would consider the prayers of a holy individual to count for less than the prayers of a group, and He has often been very responsive to the prayers of individual saints praying alone.

Having said that, the Lord did say that wherever 2 or 3 (or presumably more) were gathered in his name, He would be there. He didn’t make that promise for just 1 person, although He no doubt has chosen to be with certain people at times. Prayer for the same intention is a form of gathering, since God transcends physical space and time. So it sounds like God wants to encourage us in group prayer and worship activities.

 

[CRM_Brother]

God does not favor the prayers of one person over another. It may seem that the prayers of holy people are answered more regularly, but this has nothing to do with the level of their holiness, but rather that they have a deeper understanding of the will of God through graces He has bestowed upon them and therefore know more readily what to pray for and how to do it. Most often these holy souls do not pray for specific things regarding themselves, instead relying solely in the will of God. Instead, their prayers are directed towards the will of God in the lives of other people. I have heard that St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) was not allowed by Christ to pray for anything for himself, and therefore could not pray for the healing of his father when he lay dying. Instead, he heard his confession, gave him absolution and attended to him as he died.

 

[Seagull]

At mass, the Priest bids us - as a gathered group -
“ Lord, hear OUR prayer “ -

It only makes sense - if another person -
joins in on a cause -
( and I think God love’s seeing / hearing ‘us’ )
He considers it much more diligently -
Like the great city of Nineveh - they all prayed and fasted -
They didn’t even feed their animals !
And…GOD spared them all.

Don’t be a Jonah !

 

[Vico]

Is the prayer of one person just as effective as the prayers of many people? Why or why not? Give any examples or personal experiences if you have any.

No.

Catechism

2559 "Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God."2 But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or “out of the depths” of a humble and contrite heart?3 He who humbles himself will be exalted;4 humility is the foundation of prayer, Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought,"5 are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God."6