Efficacy of forms of prayer

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Wondering if who is praying has any effect on the likelihood of a petitionary prayer being answered in the affirmative. It seems to me God is going to answer a prayer according to his will whether one person is praying for an outcome or a larger group is. To illustrate, here are some ways a specific petitionary prayer could be directed to God:

a) one person praying for herself directly to God
b) one person praying for intercession of a saint
c) a group of people praying
d) a person praying plus fasting
e) the Pope praying
f) one person praying once
g) one person praying for another person (but the person being prayed for not praying)
h) one person praying multiple times

There are infinite permutations but can these be ordered in terms of potential effectiveness or is there no difference? If no difference it would seem pointless to do other than (a). If there is a difference we should organize “prayer teams” permanently staffed by volunteers in every hospital to fast, pray constantly etc. for the healing of patients. Thoughts?
 
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KevinK said:
Wondering if who is praying has any effect on the likelihood of a petitionary prayer being answered in the affirmative.
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The “efficacy of prayer” doesn’t have anything to do with whether you get what you want, or even if God hears your prayer. After all, Jesus tells us that “your Father knows what you need before you ask him”. He tells us to pray not for “my will be done”, but “thy will be done.”

Efficacy in prayer isn’t about “God giving me what I want”, but about “me wanting what God wants to give me.”

With that in mind, praying directly to God, or praying for intercession (regardless of whom you ask intercession)…

or whom prays (sinner, saint, pope, or groups of the above)…

or how many times the prayer is offered…

… isn’t what’s in play.

In each of these cases, God hears the prayer. In each of these cases, we hope that you – through prayer – come closer to the will of God. 👍
 
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The Church has “prayer teams” praying 24/7 - it’s called the Liturgy of the Hours.

The Church’s Liturgical Prayers - the Divine Liturgy/Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours - are the pre-eminent prayers of the Church, trumping every other prayer even the Rosary in there efficacy.

In paragraph #7 of the Church’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Church infallibly declares:

"Christ indeed always associates the Church with Himself in this great work wherein God is perfectly glorified and men are sanctified. The Church is His beloved Bride who calls to her Lord, and through Him offers worship to the Eternal Father.

Rightly, then, the liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. In the liturgy the sanctification of the man is signified by signs perceptible to the senses, and is effected in a way which corresponds with each of these signs; in the liturgy the whole public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and His members.

From this it follows that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of His Body which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree."

And again in the same document, in paragraph #13 She states:

"Popular devotions of the Christian people are to be highly commended, provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church, above all when they are ordered by the Apostolic See.

Devotions proper to individual Churches also have a special dignity if they are undertaken by mandate of the bishops according to customs or books lawfully approved.

But these devotions should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some fashion derived from it, and lead the people to it, since, in fact, the liturgy by its very nature far surpasses any of them."

So if you want to pray the most efficacious prayer the Church has to offer - pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
 
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So your answer is it makes no difference in how God responds to a petitionary prayer.
 
Generally, when you ask a Priest to pray for you, he usually includes your prayer in the Petitions of the Devine Office. (Liturgy of the Hours) The Official prayers of the Catholic Church. God has bound himself to hear the prayers of the church. God Knows what we need. Perhaps, he is waiting for us to realize his will. Before giving it to us via a petition.
 
Yes, intercession of the saints seems to be more effective than just normal prayer.
I believe prayer is also to be more effective if more people pray, one of the many many reasons to go to Church or public prayer rallies.

If by effective we mean getting the desired effect.

But, prayer is good by all of us. It means more than just getting the desired effect, and changes us.

Scripture tells us the prayer of the righteous is powerful.

There may be several answers to a prayer within God’s Will.
 
Tell God what you think you need. True God to know what you need.
 
All prayers are efficacious. Caveat here perhaps as St James said, ‘the prayer of the righteous avails much’.

Prayer answered positively according to God’s will. The only thing that God sure to give is if we ask for the Holy Spirit (Lk11:13).
 
I don’t believe there is. Jesus said prayer and fasting is effective (in overcoming the Devil), if we talk about formula. But as you are asking about answered prayer and I think that mainly about petition, ultimately all prayers are good but God is final arbitrator.

The other exception is for those who have the gifts of the Holy Spirit where they can pray for miracles.
 
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I personally believe that the only effective prayer is one that seeks to align one’s will with God’s will… not ‘can i have’ or ‘would you give’ types of prayer. It doesn’t matter who is praying
 
Well if His will doesn’t change there is no point in petitionary prayer is there?
 
God is not a man.

You are in error on this because you are imagining God as a creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever.

God is totally Other, he utterly transcends time and creation.

He sees every prayer you will ever offer from eternity, and he ordained things long ago to happen in the ways in which they will happen.
 
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