First Communion & Prayer

[mommy]

At our last scrutiny last week, our Priest said something I’d never heard before, and I was curious if anyone had heard this or experiened it.

He was speaking to us about receiving our first communion in a few weeks. He said that it’s been known that whatever you pray for on your first communion will be granted.

What an opportunity!

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Hi mommy:

I’ve never heard thhat, but on another thread there was a variation where somebody said that someone else told HIM that “the first time you go to a Catholic Church you get three prayers answered; this only happens the FIRST time”.

All I can say is, mommy, ALL our prayers are HEARD by God, no matter whether it’s our First Communion or not. And all our prayers are ANSWERED by God–even if it’s not the answer we want to hear. But to say that any prayer is “granted” by God smacks of superstition. I’ll be charitable and think that the priest himself thinks of “grant” as the same as “answers”, and that it was just a less than optimal word choice for what the priest actually believes. . .

But please don’t think that God “owes” us a First Communion freebie.

 

[teresas1979]

As I made My First Communion nearly 20 years ago as a child, I cannot remember what I prayed for and therefore if it was granted. That said, in the queue for Communion in general, I was always encouraged to focus my prayer on something in particular as the Lord was more likely to answer this prayer.

IMHO I believe the Lord answers all my prayers, not because they are from me, and not necessarily how I would like them answered. I believe that because I believe the Lord answers my prayers, He does. Sometimes there is evidence, other times there isn’t. Sometimes it seems like the prayer was answered negatively only for you to find (sometimes years later) that it was God’s plan all along and He knows better than you or I

Congrats mommy on having such a good priest (ours when I was small was one of the best) who highlights the power of prayer and the Eucharist together. If there were more good priests, those of us with questions/fears would be far better handled.

 

[mommy]

Tantum ergo:

I

All I can say is, mommy, ALL our prayers are HEARD by God, no matter whether it’s our First Communion or not. And all our prayers are ANSWERED by God–even if it’s not the answer we want to hear. But to say that any prayer is “granted” by God smacks of superstition. I’ll be charitable and think that the priest himself thinks of “grant” as the same as “answers”, and that it was just a less than optimal word choice for what the priest actually believes. . .

But please don’t think that God “owes” us a First Communion freebie.

I was paraphrasing, as I don’t remember his exact words, he may have very well have said answered, and probably did if that is proper term to use. . It was a week ago, and I don’t remember his exact words.

That being said, I don’t think he was trying to be superstitious, just trying to relay the power of receiving Jesus. Especially the first time. I have no doubt that God always hears our prayers, and that our answers aren’t always what we wish for.

And no, I don’t think God “owes” me one for recieving first communion. Especially if I were to pray for something selfish.

 

[mommy]

teresas1979:

Congrats mommy on having such a good priest (ours when I was small was one of the best) who highlights the power of prayer and the Eucharist together. If there were more good priests, those of us with questions/fears would be far better handled.

Yes this is a very common theme for him. In fact whenever I have a question I’d like answered, quite often he answers it in the homily before I get a chance to ask!