I heard a woman here on CAF not long ago say she had been praying with no answer. Then she added fasting to her prayers. And she was happy that her prayers were answered.So as I understand with novenas, we make an effort to praise a saint like St. Jude for the miracle or answer to prayer we obtained through the novena to that saint. What do we do if several novenas have not produced an answer? I know the standard reply is that the prayer was answered - just not how we wanted. But when one prays for something that is intrinsically “good,” and that something does not come to pass after much time, prayer, and hope, what are we to say of the saint we prayed to? God’s ways are not our ways and that’s it? We have good desires in our hearts that shall go unfulfilled? How is this a witness to skeptics?
I wouldn’t worry about what any skepic thinks because even if what you have been praying for is answers, they would probably find another excuse to question or disbelieve. I know St. Monica prayed 30 years for her son who was living in sin and was as far from God as one could get. Yet her prayers were finally answered and not only converted but became a great saint and a Dr. of the Church. I understand your frustration, I think it is honest when we have been praying for someone or something a long time with no seeminly results but I would not give up, I would ignore the skepics and maybe find a priest that you can talk to about your frustrations. don’t give up. Blessed Mother theresa of Calcutta said god calls us to be faithful not successful.I’m going to politely skip addressing those who have suggested I treat God like a superstitious vending machine. And anyone who suggested I expect “instant” results hasn’t read the thread.
A couple things remain unaddressed. How does one suggest we witness to skeptics who know we have been praying for things for many years and we are unable to witness to them by pointing out how our perseverance paid off when there is nothing to show them? Have you ever told a skeptic that you’ve been praying for 20+ years without the result of the intention? Do we just keep crying out with Israel for some signal vindication of our faith? We tell them the prayer is being answered in some unseen way? We read: “John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Do we explain to those skeptics that it’s our own fault the prayer has not been obtained because we must not have asked properly “in his name”?
And secondly - as I also mentioned in the OP, the tradition behind many novenas, such as the St. Jude prayer, includes sometimes in the very words of the prayer, the promise to share the answered prayer and to praise the saint for obtaining the favor requested as a witness to others. What are we to do when we cannot state this affirmatively? Do we say nothing about the saint to others? Do we keep telling them “the answer is coming”? But we don’t know if the answer is coming, because as some of you have pointed out, what we ask for might not be what God wants for us. If we are to share the joy of an obtained petition by praising the saint to others, what do we say of the saint when the petition is not obtained?
So as I understand with novenas, we make an effort to praise a saint like St. Jude for the miracle or answer to prayer we obtained through the novena to that saint. What do we do if several novenas have not produced an answer? I know the standard reply is that the prayer was answered - just not how we wanted. But when one prays for something that is intrinsically “good,” and that something does not come to pass after much time, prayer, and hope, what are we to say of the saint we prayed to? God’s ways are not our ways and that’s it? We have good desires in our hearts that shall go unfulfilled? How is this a witness to skeptics?
I’m going to politely skip addressing those who have suggested I treat God like a superstitious vending machine. And anyone who suggested I expect “instant” results hasn’t read the thread.
A couple things remain unaddressed. How does one suggest we witness to skeptics who know we have been praying for things for many years and we are unable to witness to them by pointing out how our perseverance paid off when there is nothing to show them? Have you ever told a skeptic that you’ve been praying for 20+ years without the result of the intention? Do we just keep crying out with Israel for some signal vindication of our faith?
**Your faithfulness to God is witness itself. Because everyone will suffer, everyone will have “unanswered” prayers, those who inspire are us are not those who get results, but those who witness with their lives to courage, faithfulness, fortitude, trust. Mother Teresa asked God for years for spiritual consolations and received none. Why is Mother Teresa such a powerful witness? She centered her life around prayer, but trusted God for the results, and witnessed with her faith, trust, courage, fortitude. **
We tell them the prayer is being answered in some unseen way? We read: “John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Do we explain to those skeptics that it’s our own fault the prayer has not been obtained because we must not have asked properly “in his name”?
And secondly - as I also mentioned in the OP, the tradition behind many novenas, such as the St. Jude prayer, includes sometimes in the very words of the prayer, the promise to share the answered prayer and to praise the saint for obtaining the favor requested as a witness to others. What are we to do when we cannot state this affirmatively? Do we say nothing about the saint to others? Do we keep telling them “the answer is coming”? But we don’t know if the answer is coming, because as some of you have pointed out, what we ask for might not be what God wants for us. If we are to share the joy of an obtained petition by praising the saint to others, what do we say of the saint when the petition is not obtained?
Well, I always thank the saint/saints that I’ve prayed to for their efforts. Ultimately, whether the prayer is granted isn’t up to them. I trust they’re doing what they can and I’m grateful that my brother/sisters in heaven would make an effort on my behalf.So as I understand with novenas, we make an effort to praise a saint like St. Jude for the miracle or answer to prayer we obtained through the novena to that saint. What do we do if several novenas have not produced an answer? I know the standard reply is that the prayer was answered - just not how we wanted. But when one prays for something that is intrinsically “good,” and that something does not come to pass after much time, prayer, and hope, what are we to say of the saint we prayed to? God’s ways are not our ways and that’s it? We have good desires in our hearts that shall go unfulfilled? How is this a witness to skeptics?
I often find photocopied “novenas” to St. Jude and others slipped into pews or in the flyer racks in the narthex and our pastor has demonstrated to me (the parish receptionist) exactly what I should do with these “novenas”: I am to crumple them into a tiny ball and throw them in the circular file. One of the problematic aspects of these “prayers” is that they require the petitioner to make nine copies on each of nine days and leave them all in the church. This is commonly known as “littering” or, as I put it, a “Catholic chain letter”. These are not earnest prayers to be answered, they are superstition. They commonly also include verbiage such as “never known to fail”.That those who composed the text of such a novena or prayer were in error. We should be aware that such texts shouldn’t include elements such “never fail novena” or “Saint X is the ultimate wonderworker” or “spread the word about the power of this magical devotion”. The saints in question usually had no idea that their name would be used that way. They didn’t boast about their intercessory power and didn’t claim that God is compelled to obey their prayers.
Thought it worth adding this about superstition from the catechism:I often find photocopied “novenas” to St. Jude and others slipped into pews or in the flyer racks in the narthex and our pastor has demonstrated to me (the parish receptionist) exactly what I should do with these “novenas”: I am to crumple them into a tiny ball and throw them in the circular file. One of the problematic aspects of these “prayers” is that they require the petitioner to make nine copies on each of nine days and leave them all in the church. This is commonly known as “littering” or, as I put it, a “Catholic chain letter”. These are not earnest prayers to be answered, they are superstition. They commonly also include verbiage such as “never known to fail”.
Now I know there are good, approved novenas to St. Jude and others and your novenas may not have these problematic aspects. But good Catholics should be wary of any which do contain them. No novena will require you to make 81 copies of it in order to be effective. That is simply viral and not in a good way.
Praying for you from today’s Liturgy of the Hours:Just putting this reading from Sunday here from the book of Sirach 35. I would appreciate all prayers in light of this passage that those who cry honestly to the Lord are satisfied.The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.
The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;
it does not rest till it reaches its goal,
nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right,
and the Lord will not delay.Thanks to all who have responded so far.