Prayer repetition?

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Whay do we as Catholics repeat certain prayers. I know why repeating the rosary is fine because we are meditating on the life of Jesus. However when we say prayers such as:

Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recoursed to thee

Oh sacred heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you

St Joseph pray for us (or any other saint)

I am wondering why we need to say these prayers three time. It almost seems like we do it to make sure God hears us or is it for emphasis or what.

Can someone please explain?
 
Perhaps it is in imitation of Jesus who prayed three times, in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying the same words, that the cup of suffering might pass from him (Matthew 26:44), or in imitation of St. Paul who besought the Lord three times that the thorn in his flesh should leave him. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
 
Catholics of my generation or older were taught to say these short prayers frequently during the day as a means of “praying always” and as a way to sanctify the moments and events of the day. For instance, JMJ which you see Bishop Sheen write on his blackboard was the habit of all Catholic school children at the top of all their papers, invoking Jesus, Mary and Joseph to bless and guide their study and work. We said (and still do) prayers such as that for the poor souls when passing a hospital or an accident scene, or hearing sirens. The famous “hail Mary” or sign of the Cross before attempting a free throw or football play was not a superstitious plea for God’s favor on our team, but a way of consecrating all our actions, even in play and sport, to the greater honor and glory of God (another slogan that was used as an acronym by Catholic students).
 
Todd Easton and puzleannie,

Those are both great explanations. I’m going to keep them in mind for the next time someone attacks the Catholic Church on the grounds that repetitious prayer is wrong. Thanks for providing such simple, succinct and true answers. 🙂
 
I always thought praying a thing in threes was a way of commemorating the Holy Trinity.
 
Also wasn’t there something along the lines of saying something once means “good,” two means “great,” and three times means “best”?

Like “Holy Holy Holy Lord…”

And when non-Catholic criticize our “repetition,” remind them that Scripture warns again VAIN repetition, not simply repetitious prayer. The Pharisees were doing it more for show than anything else.
 
Jabronie said:
And when non-Catholic criticize our “repetition,” remind them that Scripture warns again VAIN repetition, not simply repetitious prayer. The Pharisees were doing it more for show than anything else.
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Yes, but often to them there’s no difference between “vain” repetition and just plain repetition. Many protestants labor under the assumption that if something is bad sometimes it must be bad all the time. :rolleyes:
 
So how do you answer the fundamentalist who quotes the bible verse “do not repeat prayers as the pagans do etc”
 
KATA_LOUKAN said:
So how do you answer the fundamentalist who quotes the bible verse “do not repeat prayers as the pagans do etc”
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Actually, do we know how the pagans did it? I usually cite Psalm 136 as an example of repetition. Jesus prayed the Psalms. Clearly, “vain” repetition must be something other than repetition as known in Jewish prayer and prayed by Our Lord…
 
KATA_LOUKAN said:
So how do you answer the fundamentalist who quotes the bible verse “do not repeat prayers as the pagans do etc”
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You show them Psalm 118. (I think it’s Psalm 118.) The one that repeats the phrase “His love endures forever” over 20 times. 🙂
 
Mt 26:38: Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
39: And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
40: And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?
41: Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42: Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.”
43: And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44: So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.

If Jesus doesn’t have a problem saying the same prayer repeatedly then we certainly shouldn’t. He was speaking against empty prayer not authentic prayer from the heart, no matter how many times it is prayed.

Peace and God Bless
Nicene
 
Nicene said:
If Jesus doesn’t have a problem saying the same prayer repeatedly then we certainly shouldn’t. He was speaking against empty prayer not authentic prayer from the heart, no matter how many times it is prayed.

Peace and God Bless
Nicene
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Yes but does saying the same prayer repeatedly increase the likelihood that it will be answeredor isn’t once enough to get the message across. What is the purpose of repeating the prayer?

This post is nothing to do with the Protestant argument about vain repetition of prayer. I am simply asking why do we do it?

AP Quinn
 
ocuinn said:
Yes but does saying the same prayer repeatedly increase the likelihood that it will be answeredor isn’t once enough to get the message across. What is the purpose of repeating the prayer?

This post is nothing to do with the Protestant argument about vain repetition of prayer. I am simply asking why do we do it?

AP Quinn
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We don’t always (and I at least hope that you don’t always) pray simply to ask for something.

We also pray to praise God and his saints, thank Him and them, or just to reach out during the events of our day, whether they’re good bad or indifferent. These things (praise and thanks and simple communication) should be repeated frequently.

Just as we should frequently tell our family and friends that we love them, and frequently praise them when they do something good, or just as you may talk to a child frequently simply because you enjoy hearing their voice and they enjoy hearing yours.
 
ocuinn said:
I am simply asking why do we do it?
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To understand why we might repeat prayers, consider why we pray in the first place. We do not pray to inform God of our needs. He is God after all and knows our needs even before we do. We do not pray to bend God’s will to our will but the other way around; we pray to conform our will to God’s will, as we pray in the Our Father, “Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) or as Jesus prayed in Gethsemene, “Father, if thou art willing, …; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Repetitious prayer would tend to break down our foolish pride.

P.S.: In the parable of the widow who continuously asked an unrighteous judge to vindicate her against her adversary, Jesus taught his disciples “that they ought always to pray and not lose heart,” Matthew 18:1-8.
 
ocuinn said:
Whay do we as Catholics repeat certain prayers. I know why repeating the rosary is fine because we are meditating on the life of Jesus. However when we say prayers such as:

Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recoursed to thee

Oh sacred heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you

St Joseph pray for us (or any other saint)

I am wondering why we need to say these prayers three time. It almost seems like we do it to make sure God hears us or is it for emphasis or what.

Can someone please explain?
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Matthew 26:44:
So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.
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Prayer is us worshipping the Lord or shall i say talking to him, so it does not matter if you repeat or you don’t. Either of it your prayer will still be hear and answer by God.
 
ocuinn said:
Yes but does saying the same prayer repeatedly increase the likelihood that it will be answeredor isn’t once enough to get the message across. What is the purpose of repeating the prayer?
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The purpose of repeating prayer is the same as the purpose of prayer in general. It is not to conform God to our will, but to conform ourselves to His will. For example, in the Kyrie we ask 3 times for mercy. Wouldn’t once be enough? But in asking 3 times we are reminding ourselves more forcefully of our need for God’s mercy.
 
Jabronie said:
Also wasn’t there something along the lines of saying something once means “good,” two means “great,” and three times means “best”?

Like “Holy Holy Holy Lord…”

.
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My understanding is that Hebrew did not have comparative or superlative cases for adjectives. Hence, if something is good, it is good. if something is better it is good good. if something is best, it is good good good.

Same for Holy Holy Holy Lord: The Lord is Holiest, or the Most Holy, in which all holy things paricipate, and can be holy.
 
KATA_LOUKAN said:
So how do you answer the fundamentalist who quotes the bible verse “do not repeat prayers as the pagans do etc”
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VERY easily. One points out, as others have, that there is a difference between repetition and vain repetition. Then I ask them to pray Psalm 136 with me. I then ask them if the Psalmist was Inspired by God when writing this, what they think.

In the case of the Rosary, I ask them if they think it is bad to pray the Scriptures. All of the prayer is either directly Scriptural, or based on Scripture.

Just my 2 cents, for all it’s worth.
 
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