Praying for others. Lists? Individual?

[Loboto-Me]

How do all of you handle prayers for other people? Sometimes there are more people than there are decades in a rosary, sometimes the prayers need to be ongoing for a time or forever.

Do you make a list and generalise the group?
Do you name each person and intention?

I’ve always wondered how I’m to include all those who are in need of prayer within my prayer time… I just don’t know how to do it.

What I usually do is say a small prayer or pray a decade for that person THAT day and as soon as the need is brought up, and when I think of it, but I know I could handle it so much better if I figured out how to KEEP those needing prayers in my intentions.

What’s the secret?

 

[Sirach2]

St. Francis de Sales compared our prayer strength to either a canon or a shotgun. Both are released with a target in view, but one canon can accomplish far more than the latter, which is more scattered. Similarly, when I pray for others, I try to concentrate praying for those who are most in need, rather than randomly try to include everyone who comes to mind.

Since we offer prayers in union with the whole church for specific intentions at the Prayers of the Faithful, I believe my prayer united with the Church will take care of these general needs. I also go to mass daily, where we pray “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands — for OUR good and the good of ALL the church.” So they’re covered.

Maybe you have experienced an interior burden that just grips your whole being with intensity. Those burdens take priority in my prayer until I feel a release or learn that the prayer has had its effect. Yes, I do have a list of those I keep in prayer at the 3 PM hour of Jesus’ death, using the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. But it is rather short, kept mostly for those who are deeply in need. Sometimes during the day a person may come to mind that has asked for prayer, so I just lift them momentarily using my own words, nothing lengthly - just asking for God to bless them.

I think you will know whom God places in your particular “bundle” of people to pray for. Don’t try to go beyond this just because you feel a sense of obligation. God may be using others for that purpose who have their canon ready.

 

[Loboto-Me]

Thank you so much Sirach2, that was great advice, and will re-read it again and again. Yes, I do have a sense of obligation, but doing it as it seems I’ve been doing it, with a few tweaks from your post, will lighten my worries very much.

Funny how I can get a bit scrupulous about things sometimes. Sometimes it’s a good thing, other times not so good

 

[saribee]

Pray for the ones in most need. Keep a list of ongoing people to pray for and offer that list up in prayer daily as well-not each individual person, but a general prayer for everyone on that list. You could also try to pray for anyone who comes to mind as you are falling asleep! Praying as you fall asleep is awesome.

I found out recently that a friend has prayed rosaries for me for two years. It’s that kind of prayer that really is a cannon! Be that kind of friend in prayer