If I’m not in a state of grace does God listen to my prayers

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Ive been reading that if you’re in a state of sin that when you pray you can’t obtain any supernatural gifts or anything like that. I was wondering if by praying to Mary you bypass that because I know when you pray to her she makes your prayers perfect to God.
 
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Jragzz123 said:
Ive been reading that if you’re in a state of sin that when you pray you can’t obtain any supernatural gifts or anything like that.
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Not true.

What do you mean by “supernatural gift”? Do you mean something spiritual like forgiveness, or something material like good grades or something? Forgiveness is a supernatural gift. It’s something that we don’t deserve that is given to us freely by God when we ask for it in contrition.
Jragzz123 said:
I was wondering if by praying to Mary you bypass that because I know when you pray to her she makes your prayers perfect to God.
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There’s nothing to bypass. And prayers to Mary should not be understood as a means of bypassing some (non-existent) chasm between God and oneself.

Peace.
 
Only God really knows if he will hear your prayers if you are in mortal sin or not. But your relationship with God is broken if you are in mortal sin (presuming that’s what you mean). So yes I’ve also heard God doesn’t hear your prayers but I’ve also heard he may choose to listen, I’d expect that if you are asking for mercy that would be the case, especially as the church teaches that with perfect contrition we can be forgiven and it is indeed that way for those Christians outside the Church as it is their only means for forgiveness, so by reason alone one must think that God hears cries for mercy. But like I said only God knows. If I had to hazard a guess I would say Gods charity works in ways we could never guess. I still think it’s best to go to confession first though, or if in fear if that beg for true contrition and/or courage or help to go. I’m sure he’d hear that and help.
 
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God does hear the prayers of those in mortal sin. Otherwise, how can he not hear the sinner’s pleas for grace and forgiveness?

Yes, it is not possible for one to gain supernatural merit when in the state of mortal sin. Our good works do not save us, so our good works done in the state of mortal sin attain to nothing. You cannot earn your salvation.

No, it is not true that God does not give you supernatural gifts. He keeps doing so, not the least of which is the first grace, which leads you to repentance and confession. He continues providing actual graces to people in mortal sin so that they can be reconciled and restored to sanctifying grace.

And no, you cannot “bypass” this economy by going to Mary. She will never go against God’s will, and so she helps you with her powerful prayers that God provides you the necessary graces to be reconciled and returned to the state of sanctifying grace.
 
I think that praying to God when not in a state of grace is as wonderful as praying when in a state of grace. It shows the desire to move back towards Him and God stands like the father of the Prodigal Son looking out, and like that father, he will run to his son as he stumbles towards him, and when they reach they will embrace. Never doubt about God not listening to your prayers ever!
 
Jragzz123 said:
if you’re in a state of sin that when you pray you can’t obtain any supernatural gifts or anything like that.
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You mean the gift of the Holy Spirit? It is not true that in a state of sin you can’t receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, on the contrary.
If by your own free will you fell from Grace then what power makes you rise back out of your sinful.habbit if not the Grace of the Holy Spirit gifted to you? Definitely pray when not in a state of grace and God will send you the gifts you need in order to come back to the state of grace.
 
KING CLAUDIUS
[Rising] My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
 
God hears every prayer.

God’s Grace is a free gift that is undeserved. You can’t go anything to earn it. God will bestow graces upon you no matter your state.

There are two types of graces: actual and sanctifying. Actual graces are always available no matter our state of Grace. Sanctifying graces are those we receive through the sacraments that dwell within us and help us to continue to grow in virtue so that we are fit to be with God.

However, it is true that mortal sins damage our relationship with God such that we lose the sanctifying graces God bestows through the sacraments and other extraordinary means. This is why it is so important to get back into a state of Grace as soon as possible. And, this is why we are encouraged to visit the sacraments as often as possible.
 
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The greatest supernatural gift God can grant to us is forgiveness and the chance for redemption. Instead of worrying about it, go to confession.

As I see it, God is not a fast order cook answering our prayers as if we ordered something off the menu. He created the world and instructed us how to live in it. Adam and Eve tested him and we have sinned ever since. He sent Jesus to bring his lessons to us, and to suffer for our sins so we can be forgiven. So now, our job is to understand God told us what to do, and we need to do it his way. We focus on our job and God will determine how to respond.

You may not understand what God offers you day to day, may not notice blessings, may not see how he is working in your life. You may expect visions or flashy miracles when that is not His plan. So whatever sins you commit, stop. Do a careful examination of faith, go to confession, try again not to sin. Your life will change from you doing the right thing.

God bless
 
On the one hand, like St James said: ‘The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.’ On the other hand, any prayer gets us closer to God. So never stop praying.
 
God is omnipresent, meaning he is fully present everywhere at once. So I don’t see how he could ever not hear you, if he is always right there beside you.

Maybe a good analogy is to think of a parent of a wayward adult child. Perhaps they are in a lifestyle of great sin and self-destruction. If that wayward child continues to call you up and talk from time to time, you will not refuse the call. You will, however, continue to hope they will change their life.

Holiness is hard. There are no shortcuts. And it is our happiest possible state.
 
The theologians who say that the prayers of someone in mortal sin don’t merit anything will also say that you should NOT stop praying.
 
I was in mortal sin for virtually all of my adult life. Yet, when I got on my knees late in the evening at age 59 and turned it all over to Him because I was 2 days away from suicide, He responded to me literally the next morning. That day, in July 2013, was the day I planned to leave my house and take a plane to where I was going to blow my brains out.

As a new convert to to Roman Catholicism, I have not yet been confirmed or had first confession and, therefore, I’m unable to take communion. So, I’m STILL in mortal sin. Yet God is everywhere around me. I feel His love at daily mass and all through my day. I feel it in my wife’s gaze, my step-daughter’s trust and confidence, and my appreciation for another glorious sunset. It’s in my 6 dogs welcoming affection when I come home from a 15 minute errand, in the patience of my bible study group, and the warmth of the Angelus and evening prayer.

I’m no theologian and certainly no apologist. But I, a guilty, mortal sinner, know God’s love when I feel it.
 
I wonder this as well, so, everytime I pray I begin with a sincere act of contrition followed by the Jesus Prayer recited three times. That’s just my own thing. The more “clean” I can be, the more valid my prayers feel. Like I said, that’s just me.
 
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