How specific one needs to be with intentions

[namax91]

I posted this already and for that I apologize. I won’t go into much detail here. Briefly, every morning I do a battery of prayers including the Pope’s intentions for the current month as well as others of his intentions from previous months. I’ve unfortunately gotten very specific with each intention. For example, I pray for people who are suffering persecution for their faith. I have added onto this that the country the person is from as well as the international community will work as hard as they can to release each person from captivity and not just suggest that the person give up their faith or pretend to do so. Next I pray that businesses as well as religious institutions (not just churches but charities, hospitals, and schools) won’t have to pay for contraception if they disagree with it. After this I pray for people who are being persecuted by Christians and that the Christians will stop persecuting these folks. Finally, I pray that Christians who have a loved one living a lifestyle contrary to the church will have patience with these loved ones in hopes that they will come back to the church. I categorize all of this as one intention. I have quite a few more where I include every possible version of each intention that I can think of. I would like to be assured that I don’t need to be so specific with each intention. I have began to dread praying for people’s intentions, and I’m sure the devil wants that. I could really use some prayers and advice.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I posted this already and for that I apologize. I won’t go into much detail here. Briefly, every morning I do a battery of prayers including the Pope’s intentions for the current month as well as others of his intentions from previous months. I’ve unfortunately gotten very specific with each intention. For example, I pray for people who are suffering persecution for their faith. I have added onto this that the country the person is from as well as the international community will work as hard as they can to release each person from captivity and not just suggest that the person give up their faith or pretend to do so. Next I pray that businesses as well as religious institutions (not just churches but charities, hospitals, and schools) won’t have to pay for contraception if they disagree with it. After this I pray for people who are being persecuted by Christians and that the Christians will stop persecuting these folks. Finally, I pray that Christians who have a loved one living a lifestyle contrary to the church will have patience with these loved ones in hopes that they will come back to the church. I categorize all of this as one intention. I have quite a few more where I include every possible version of each intention that I can think of. I would like to be assured that I don’t need to be so specific with each intention. I have began to dread praying for people’s intentions, and I’m sure the devil wants that. I could really use some prayers and advice.

What not just pray for everybody, past, present and future? This is what I try to do, but I make an exceptional plea for those who asked for my prayers or who I know is especially in need.

LOVE!

 

[Avila123]

In addition to Robert’s advice:

a. Remember God listens to our hearts, so He knows who we are praying for. If we pray for all persecuted Christians, God knows who and where they are (although sometimes we are moved to add an extra plea).
b. The Holy Spirit is always with you, so you may like to consider asking for guidance.

I hope this helps, but if there is still a struggle, I would suggest seeking advice from your parish priest (he will be an expert, given the amount of prayers priests offer every day).

May God bless and guide you.

 

[Flame4]

I sometimes have a similar problem: I have an intention for each decade of the rosary I pray, and I feel guilty if I chose one intention over another, I feel I must pray for every single thing I can think of, K worry about what intention I should say next, and in the end I dont end up concentrating on the mysteries themselves. So when I feel this way, I just put it in the Lord’s hands, make an an of faith, and instead of listing intentions I just trust God will apply my prays as he sees fit. Perhaps you can try that for awhile. Don’t worry, he already knows what’z going on. God bless