Meaning of intercessory prayer

[thyrodandstaff]

thyrodandstaff

The following is a quote from The New Rosary in Scripture, a book by Edward Sri:

As the Catechism explains, we are called to imitate Christ’s merciful response to evils committed against us-to turn injuries into intercessory prayer for those who hurt us." It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense, but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession.

So we pray for those who hurt us, but what words do we pray? What do we pray God will do for or to them? When we originate the intercessory prayer what do we petition of God specifically? If a group beat somebody would the victim pray that God would change their hearts so they wouldn’t want to do violence anymore, for instance?

 

[sparrowhawk28]

I do pray for those who deliberately set out to hurt me. I pray that God can grant them the opportunity to recognise their actions as being wrong. I pray that they do not treat others in the way they treat me, and I ask Jesus to enter their hearts and guide them towards his example of love and selflessness.
And for myself, I ask that God provides me with opportunities to be strong, to forgive these people and to treat them with kindness and charity always.

If a group beat somebody would the victim pray that God would change their hearts so they wouldn’t want to do violence anymore, for instance?

I have done something like this in the past, though in a different scenario.

 

[Abba]

There is a person in my life, that has always hurt me and continues to do so. For many years, I carried the pain inside of me and I built a wall of toughness to protect myself from that person. I just tried to stay away and avoided encounters. But, one day, when I was 27 years old, I remember I was enjoying a nice walk and the thought of that person came to my mind. Then, I remembered the words of Jesus, they hit me like lightening: Father forgive them for they know not what they do. That day, I decided to forgive that person because I realized that she was an evil doer and pure ignorance played a major role. It was a day of liberation! I was able to breathe better after that and felt free-er, a weight was lifted from my chest and shoulders. When we forgive it does us a lot of good. Since that day, forgiving has gotten easier and easier for me. That person and her little tribe continue to offend me on account of their narcissism and in turn feeling competitive and jealous of me; and I forgive them almost to the moment of their offense. Those words of Jesus paved the way for me to be able to forgive even the worst of offenses.

There you have it, those words of Jesus are a supplication to the Father to forgive the people who falsely accused him and tortured him. I forgive those who offend me and ask who ever I am praying to that they may come to repentance, listen to their conscience, be guided back to the Church, etc…