Is This Type of Prayer In Line With the Church?

[MJane]

I found this prayer in the vestibule of my church where we have votive candles. Actually there were a number of them in a plastic literature holder. Different paper, different fonts and some were typewritten.
Pray to St Michael
St Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle… OK so far
Never Failing Prayer to St Michael
St. Michael, I resort to your protection and in my faith, offer this light which shall burn every Tuesday.Comfort me in my difficulties and while lodging in the house of our savior intercede for me and my family that we will be able to hold God close toour hearts and be provided for in all our necessities. I beseech you, to have infinite pity in regard to the favors I ask of you (name them) so that I may be able to overcome all difficulties as you did the dragons at your feet.
Say three Our Fathers
Sat three Hail Marys
Say three Glory Be(s)
Directions: This prayer has to be said nine Tuesdays in Succession and each Tuesday a candle shall be lighted and a copy of this prayer left in the church to help another soul in distress and support the devotion to St Michael.This miraculous Saint grants everything no matter how difficult before the termination of 9 Tuesdays. Hmm. Has anyone heard of this type of prayer?

 

[water]

This prayer has to **be said nine Tuesdays **in Succession and each Tuesday a candle shall be lighted and a copy of this prayer left in the church to help another soul in distress and support the devotion to St Michael.This miraculous Saint grants everything no matter how difficult before the termination of 9 Tuesdays. Hmm. Has anyone heard of this type of prayer?

Everything fine until the bold parts - another type of chained-letter.
My pastor would throw this to trash can if he finds it at our church.

He spent 10 minutes of a Sunday’s homily on this sort.

Below is the devotion to archangels which can be found in the Pieta book:
childmary.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=94

 

[MJane]

Thanks! The thing sounded fishy but since it was in church and in a pamphlet holder I really wondered. I’ll check with our pastor and see if he knows it’s there. I sure hope he doesn’t.

 

[water]

Thanks! The thing sounded fishy but since it was in church and in a pamphlet holder I really wondered. I’ll check with our pastor and see if he knows it’s there. I sure hope he doesn’t.

yeah, let us know what your pastor says.

 

[puzzleannie]

Thanks! The thing sounded fishy but since it was in church and in a pamphlet holder I really wondered. I’ll check with our pastor and see if he knows it’s there. I sure hope he doesn’t.

note to parishioners: no one has the right to place anything in pamphlet racks, in the back of church, in the chapel, on windshields or anywhere else on church property without the permission and approval of the pastor.

 

[Joannm]

note to parishioners: no one has the right to place anything in pamphlet racks, in the back of church, in the chapel, on windshields or anywhere else on church property without the permission and approval of the pastor.

I have a big sign on our pamphlet rack to this effect and still people leave things. The St Jude prayers are the worst…81 copies every day that I have to go around the church and find. I think the person who is doing it (and we still can’t catch who it is) knows we throw them out and tries to hide them.

 

[surgei]

I have a big sign on our pamphlet rack to this effect and still people leave things. The St Jude prayers are the worst…81 copies every day that I have to go around the church and find. I think the person who is doing it (and we still can’t catch who it is) knows we throw them out and tries to hide them.

Although I don’t think it is bad to leave these things it is kinda anoying. In as far as it is not seen with the type of superstition that would be akin to magic they are not wrong. However it would be wrong if an authority, such as a priest or person acting on his behalf, said not to leave them. Obediance is better than sacrifice.
St Therease of Calcuta is known to have left miraculous medals around. She even “planted” them where she wanted a convent to help the poor.

 

[DebChris]

Directions: This prayer has to be said nine Tuesdays in Succession and each Tuesday a candle shall be lighted and a copy of this prayer left in the church to help another soul in distress and support the devotion to St Michael.This miraculous Saint grants everything no matter how difficult before the termination of 9 Tuesdays. Hmm. Has anyone heard of this type of prayer?

This last part identifies this “prayer” as a form of superstition that puts it in opposition to Catholic doctrine. I had a pastor who made a point of condemning this type of superstition when somebody was leaving similar “devotions” to St. Jude in the pews.

The following prayer was developed by Pope Leo XIII after a vision in which the devil boasted that he could destroy the Church given enough time. God gave him 100 years:
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, Oh Prince of the Heavenly Hosts cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

 

[surgei]

This last part identifies this “prayer” as a form of superstition that puts it in opposition to Catholic doctrine. I had a pastor who made a point of condemning this type of superstition when somebody was leaving similar “devotions” to St. Jude in the pews.

Superstition in this case is a matter of the heart. As such a pastor can rightly judge only those who are in obedience or disobediance to him.
Read it again the OP phrased it not as a requirment to get your prayer answered but out of an act of spiritual work of mercy i.e. comforting others who are in turmoil. As such it is no different then the person who performs a random act of kindness. I would be willing to bet you pastor was condemning the “requirement to get your prayer answered type.” Ask him for us will you. I am curious to see what he says.

 

[DebChris]

Superstition in this case is a matter of the heart. As such a pastor can rightly judge only those who are in obedience or disobediance to him.
Read it again the OP phrased it not as a requirment to get your prayer answered but out of an act of spiritual work of mercy i.e. comforting others who are in turmoil. As such it is no different then the person who performs a random act of kindness. I would be willing to bet you pastor was condemning the “requirement to get your prayer answered type.” Ask him for us will you. I am curious to see what he says.

The pastor has since retired. The superstition lies in the things you must do in order for “everything no matter how difficult” to be answered. If the prayer is not answered, a person’ s faith may be jeopardized or he/she could be led into scrupulosity.
The priest was in no way condemning devotion to the saints but the “chain letter” mentality mentioned in an earlier post. God answers prayer in accordance with His will.

 

[surgei]

The pastor has since retired. The superstition lies in the things you must do in order for “everything no matter how difficult” to be answered. If the prayer is not answered, a person’ s faith may be jeopardized or he/she could be led into scrupulosity.
The priest was in no way condemning devotion to the saints but the “chain letter” mentality mentioned in an earlier post. God answers prayer in accordance with His will.

Answered could be no. If no shakes your faith you are not faithful but childish.

 

[DebChris]

Everything fine until the bold parts - another type of chained-letter.
My pastor would throw this to trash can if he finds it at our church.

He spent 10 minutes of a Sunday’s homily on this sort.

Below is the devotion to archangels which can be found in the Pieta book:
childmary.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=94

I’m glad that I came back to this. The pastor I mentioned did the same thing. The scrupulosity of the prescribed rituals was soundly condemned.as superstition.
This differs considerably from the various novenas that many of the faithful pray. A novena lasts nine days to commemerate the nine days between Ascension and Pentecost. Saints intercede on our behalf. It is God who ultimately answers our prayers.

 

[water]

Answered could be no. If no shakes your faith you are not faithful but childish.

DebChris made her/his point. It could indeed bring down someone’s hope and faith in God especially when they are going through tough time.

I’d like to share with you this experience that I had. I and some people came to this home to pray for a lady who had cancer. Her son said to the group that he would believe in God if God healed her. Some of the people kept on praying God to heal her. What happened at the end? She died.

What happens to her son?

• I let you think about the answer.

 

[surgei]

The scrupulosity of the prescribed rituals was soundly condemned.as superstition.

Exactly. The prayers or actions associated with them may not be wrong. But the scrupulosity of ritual to the point of magical thinking is.
Why does the church encourage pilgrimages?
Because she knows that they are signs of our devotion to God. These rituals may be seen in that light. Signs of love for God and our fellow man.
Remembering always that their are two types of grace associated with any prayer or action. The grace of the intent, and the grace of doing the act. As long as we know that it is our intent to be with God that is the center of our good work then we are good. If rather we are praying to the magic geinie in the sky… we would be well not to.