Prayers for Intercession and/or Intervention

[T_Hope]

What does it mean to ask for intercession? Is that to ask for The Holy Virgin Mary to pray to the Lord in our behalf? Or to ask our patron saint to pray for us? I think intercession and mediation mean that one person speaks or prays as a third party on behalf of one of the parties (me).

Is it right to pray for intervention? Would that be asking for a (small) miracle? For something specific that we would like to have happen in the life of another person? Or for something we would like to have happen in our own life, for the matter.

And how does that relate to giving ourselves over to the will of God?

How do we learn if what we are asking for is what God wants us to ask for?

Does that make sense?

Hope

 

[revert_jen]

I’m not sure I can answer that question entirely, but it is not wrong to pray for something to happen in someone else’s life, or in your own, either. But is is much safer if you pray something like this, “Lord, if it is not against Your will, please grant that such-and-so will get job x that he is interviewing for” or whatever. You should always mentally submit your prayers to the will of God, even if you don’t do it explicitly as above. (Of course in some cases, you know that what you are praying for is the will of God, e.g., “Lord, please grant that I come to know you better and love you more today.”)

To learn whether you are asking for what God wants you to ask for, you could always pray for that knowledge. But if you are praying for something to happen in someone’s life and you submit that prayer to the will of God, and you are praying for it out of good will toward the person, I don’t see how there can be anything wrong with that. What I mean is, if you are mistaken about what you are asking for being the best for the person, I thing God will take the intention into account rather than the mistake.

–Jen

 

[T_Hope]

I’m not sure I can answer that question entirely, but it is not wrong to pray for something to happen in someone else’s life, or in your own, either. But is is much safer if you pray something like this, “Lord, if it is not against Your will, please grant that such-and-so will get job x that he is interviewing for” or whatever. You should always mentally submit your prayers to the will of God, even if you don’t do it explicitly as above. (Of course in some cases, you know that what you are praying for is the will of God, e.g., “Lord, please grant that I come to know you better and love you more today.”)

To learn whether you are asking for what God wants you to ask for, you could always pray for that knowledge. But if you are praying for something to happen in someone’s life and you submit that prayer to the will of God, and you are praying for it out of good will toward the person, I don’t see how there can be anything wrong with that. What I mean is, if you are mistaken about what you are asking for being the best for the person, I thing God will take the intention into account rather than the mistake.

–Jen

Thanks Jen. Someone counseled me recently to be specific in prayer. I’ve prayed to learn how to pray. And yes, the intent of my prayer is for the spiritual welfare and understanding of another person. But I also remember being told that things need to happen in the Lord’s time. I suppose I may never know then if a specific prayer has been answered. But I will know that the prayer has been heard. And that’s a good good thing isn’t it?

Hope

 

[revert_jen]

Thanks Jen. Someone counseled me recently to be specific in prayer. I’ve prayed to learn how to pray. And yes, the intent of my prayer is for the spiritual welfare and understanding of another person. But I also remember being told that things need to happen in the Lord’s time. I suppose I may never know then if a specific prayer has been answered. But I will know that the prayer has been heard. And that’s a good good thing isn’t it?

Hope

Yes, it is comforting to know that all prayers are heard.

As for being answered, if it is according to God’s will it will be answered to some extent, without compromising the person’s free will. I’m not a theologian, but this is how it seems to me. Say, I am praying for someone’s conversion (e.g. I have a friend who is an atheist, for whom I’ve been praying for years). I can’t see any possible way that it would not be in accord with God’s will, so let’s assume that part is OK. My prayers are answered by God providing even more grace for the person to convert, HOWEVER, God will never force anyone, and if my friend steadfastly refuses to acknowledge the existence of God, God will accept that decision in the end. But my praying for her gives her more chances, provides her with more insights into the existence of God, etc. So my prayer is answered, even if, because of free will, I never see any result.

Anyway, that is how I think about it.

–Jen

 

[T_Hope]

Yes, it is comforting to know that all prayers are heard.

As for being answered, if it is according to God’s will it will be answered to some extent, without compromising the person’s free will. I’m not a theologian, but this is how it seems to me. Say, I am praying for someone’s conversion (e.g. I have a friend who is an atheist, for whom I’ve been praying for years). I can’t see any possible way that it would not be in accord with God’s will, so let’s assume that part is OK. My prayers are answered by God providing even more grace for the person to convert, HOWEVER, God will never force anyone, and if my friend steadfastly refuses to acknowledge the existence of God, God will accept that decision in the end. But my praying for her gives her more chances, provides her with more insights into the existence of God, etc. So my prayer is answered, even if, because of free will, I never see any result.

Anyway, that is how I think about it.

–Jen

That makes sense. Prayer provides more grace for her - . And in that way our prayers are meaningful. Yes, that helps a good bit. Thanks, Hope

 

[Shiranui117]

What does it mean to ask for intercession? Is that to ask for The Holy Virgin Mary to pray to the Lord in our behalf? Or to ask our patron saint to pray for us? I think intercession and mediation mean that one person speaks or prays as a third party on behalf of one of the parties (me).

I’m not sure how it works, but I’ve heard it described as asking your friend to ask his dad a favor for you… Can anyone clarify what exactly this implies? I’ve never been clear about it. I’ve heard praying through again and again, but also as the above comparison… How exactly do I go about praying an intercessory prayer? Sorry, noobie Catholic here…

 

[T_Hope]

I’m not sure how it works, but I’ve heard it described as asking your friend to ask his dad a favor for you… Can anyone clarify what exactly this implies? I’ve never been clear about it. I’ve heard praying through again and again, but also as the above comparison… How exactly do I go about praying an intercessory prayer? Sorry, noobie Catholic here…

No need to blush!! Yes, it’s like asking your friend to ask his dad for a favor.

I think of Moses praying for the lives of the Israelites after they had been led through the Red Sea and fallen into sin. God said he was going to destroy the people, but Moses prayed for the people and reasoned with God saying that if they were destroyed, why then did God bring them out of bondage? And wouldn’t it be better for them to live and show other people God’s work and love for His people … I hope I am paraphrasing close to what is written in Exodus.

But the point is, if Moses had that sort of relationship with the Lord that he could ask for the lives of the Israelites to be saved and God listened to Moses - how much more would God listen to the prayers of our Holy Mother Mary?

Yes, when we ask for her prayers on our behalf, Mary prays for us. As do the saints. Just like asking your friend to ask his dad for a favor. And her prayers help. A lot.

Hope

 

[Shiranui117]

Ahh, thank you. I thought that was it, but I wasn’t quite sure Thank you kindly! God Bless.