Praying for "Trivial" Things: Is this Permissible or Sinful?

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meltzerboy

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According to Catholic teaching, is prayer permissible and also encouraged for “trivial” matters in one’s life? In other words, are there certain things (not talking about anything sinful) that would be regarded as too insignificant to pray for? If so, would praying for such things be considered sinful (a venial sin)?
 
There is nothing “insignificant” when you pray to God. You wouldn’t hesitate to ask your mother or father for anything…why would you hesitate to ask your heavenly father?
 
boonert said:
There is nothing “insignificant” when you pray to God. You wouldn’t hesitate to ask your mother or father for anything…why would you hesitate to ask your heavenly father?
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Actually, as an adult, I WOULD hesitate to ask my mother or father for some things. But thank you for your reply.
 
We talk to G-D about the things that are important to us. That is sharing our heart with Him. The main purpose is spending time with G-D since He already knows our hearts before we even open our mouths (for that reason, it is better to talk about your “trivial” matters as the honesty strengthens your relationship with Him - He will remind you if there are other concerns He thinks you should focus on).

If you contemplate the universal majesty of G-D, you might realize that all our concerns (even gravely ill friends) are somehow “trivial” to Him. Yet, In His majesty, G-D is deeply interested in even the most insignificant concern of the least of His children.
 
What seems trivial to you, might not to me. And vice versa. We should open our hearts totally to God. He will give is the light to know what’s really important.
 
I suppose if I’m foreclosing on my home, can’t pay the bills or afford medical care for my kids that if I started praying for a 2011 Dodge Challenger RT, that might be trivial…😛
meltzerboy said:
According to Catholic teaching, is prayer permissible and also encouraged for “trivial” matters in one’s life? In other words, are there certain things (not talking about anything sinful) that would be regarded as too insignificant to pray for? If so, would praying for such things be considered sinful (a venial sin)?
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gurneyhalleck1 said:
I suppose if I’m foreclosing on my home, can’t pay the bills or afford medical care for my kids that if I started praying for a 2011 Dodge Challenger RT, that might be trivial…😛
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Not necessarily. While it is doubtful that praying for a new car in times of financial distress is a sign of significant maturity, the underlying need that causes a person to voice such a prayer could be one for financial stability. That is, the person praying for the new car sees it as a sign of stability and by praying for it, he is really praying for such stability, even if the car itself is not granted. G-D is the only one who can determine that rightly, however.
 
SonCatcher said:
That is, the person praying for the new car sees it as a sign of stability and by praying for it, he is really praying for such stability, even if the car itself is not granted. G-D is the only one who can determine that rightly, however.
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Agreed, and may I offer that as one matures in prayer it is less with the object in mind than with surrender to Divine Will? Rather than praying for a car, perhaps a prayer that we may have what we need, and we come to see His Providence as sufficient for us.
 
SonCatcher said:
Not necessarily. While it is doubtful that praying for a new car in times of financial distress is a sign of significant maturity, the underlying need that causes a person to voice such a prayer could be one for financial stability. That is, the person praying for the new car sees it as a sign of stability and by praying for it, he is really praying for such stability, even if the car itself is not granted. G-D is the only one who can determine that rightly, however.
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It’s always possible, but unlikely, I think. More probably, the underlying need is one of denial and escape from one’s problems; perhaps also selfishness. I hope this is a hypothetical, Gurney!
 
SonCatcher said:
We talk to G-D about the things that are important to us. That is sharing our heart with Him. The main purpose is spending time with G-D since He already knows our hearts before we even open our mouths (for that reason, it is better to talk about your “trivial” matters as the honesty strengthens your relationship with Him - He will remind you if there are other concerns He thinks you should focus on).

If you contemplate the universal majesty of G-D, you might realize that all our concerns (even gravely ill friends) are somehow “trivial” to Him. Yet, In His majesty, G-D is deeply interested in even the most insignificant concern of the least of His children.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
 
losh14 said:
Agreed, and may I offer that as one matures in prayer it is less with the object in mind than with surrender to Divine Will? Rather than praying for a car, perhaps a prayer that we may have what we need, and we come to see His Providence as sufficient for us.
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That sounds like the ultimate goal, and one which needs a lot of work and time.
 
agnes_therese said:
What seems trivial to you, might not to me. And vice versa. We should open our hearts totally to God. He will give is the light to know what’s really important.
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In a sense, I guess, prayer is a dialogue between Man and G-d. Wasn’t it Pope John Paul II who said that prayer is really initiated by G-d, although we think we are the ones who initiate it?
 
Why would it be bad? The objective of our faith is that we learn that we need God in the littlest things to the biggest, largest, grandest things. Realizing you need God for trivial things is achieving this purpose, that we know that we are fully dependent on Him.
 
😛
SonCatcher said:
Not necessarily. While it is doubtful that praying for a new car in times of financial distress is a sign of significant maturity, the underlying need that causes a person to voice such a prayer could be one for financial stability. That is, the person praying for the new car sees it as a sign of stability and by praying for it, he is really praying for such stability, even if the car itself is not granted. G-D is the only one who can determine that rightly, however.
Click to expand...
 
ConstantineTG said:
Why would it be bad? The objective of our faith is that we learn that we need God in the littlest things to the biggest, largest, grandest things. Realizing you need God for trivial things is achieving this purpose, that we know that we are fully dependent on Him.
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That’s good to hear. BTW, is the saying “G-d helps those who help themselves” based on scripture?
 
Just wondering why we’re no longer spelling “God” with an “o?” I’m being serious, not joking here. Is there a taboo about saying all three letters? Again, I’m not joking, seriously…
 
I don’t know, I imagine the answers are as varied as the followers.

Myself I ask for the same all the time, to follow the Lords will at all times, and for the strength to do so.

I also pray for the reparation of sinners, and for all those of the Confraternity of the Rosary and Fatima and the Blue-Army who also Pray worldwide. Welfare of family and friends alive and deceased and last of all for the forgiveness of my sins.

Forgiveness of my own sins is pretty much a habit since through Confession and Church weekly that pretty much covers that. But I know I fall short, no sense in ignoring or overlooking the fact.

Pretty much been the same for some time.

God Bless, Gary
 
meltzerboy said:
It’s always possible, but unlikely, I think. More probably, the underlying need is one of denial and escape from one’s problems; perhaps also selfishness. I hope this is a hypothetical, Gurney!
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meltzerboy, since you asked specifically for the Catholic viewpoint, I will support my previous statement from Christian scripture.

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 7:7-11[/BIBLEDRB][BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:11-13[/BIBLEDRB]

I have been instructed that in the Israel at the time, bread was baked in such a way that it closely resembled stones (roundish, greyish), that a deadly sea snake was known to the Jews that could be mistaken for a fish and that scorpions had a mottled, roundish appearance that mimicked the appearance of an egg laid by a ground-nesting bird.

Jesus reminds us in these passages that a parent, hearing his child’s request and understanding the thing the child indicates is harmful will instead take him elsewhere and give him something good. So many things we ask for are stones, snakes and scorpions, though we do not realize it (look at the majority of lottery winners). Certainly, a car would be considered a “stone” in almost all circumstances. G-D in His wisdom attends to our prayers for stones, snakes and scorpions and gives us the bread, fish and eggs we need.

The important thing, though, is that we pray and cultivate our relationship with G-D.
 
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