We shouldn't we have special intentions?

[Cissyrampz]

****** Hello Everyone…This is my first post, and so I hope you’ll be gentle with me. My question is this…at daily Mass our Pastor always " opens the floor" so to speak for people to say their intentions during the Mass. My son is a seminarian and right now living in the religious community of Saint John Cantius in Chicago. OK, having related all that, my son told me that when people state " For a special intention"…we are not to pray for that, because we cannot know what their special intention is because they have not stated it, and we can never truly know what is in someone’s heart. So I have asked the woman who runs our parish pray list online tell me what these “special intentions” are. She has stated that the person wants to remain anonymous, which is ok, but then why can’t I know what this person wants me to pray for? Am I right, or should I say, my son correct? For all I know I could be asking for the prayers to be heard who wants to do harm to someone…and from this parish, believe me it is not out of the realm of possibility. Thank you and God bless!

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Does you son think that if we pray for something bad that God will automatically grant it? We need to acknowledge His integrity and perfect judgment which far surpasses anything we can imagine!

When we pray for someone’s intention without knowing what it is, we pray in good faith. To offer such a prayer is an act of charity. Your son is receiving some misinformation.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.