What is a prayer cloth?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mark_a
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mark_a

Guest
. . . . .the ones I see for sale on Christian tv.

What is its purpose?
 
To dupe gullible people into sending greedy televangelists money so they can continue their false teaching and violation of the second commandment.
 
Steadfast said:
To dupe gullible people into sending greedy televangelists money so they can continue their false teaching and violation of the second commandment.
Click to expand...
Really? That’s certainly not the impression I think they were trying to convey.
 
Steadfast said:
To dupe gullible people into sending greedy televangelists money so they can continue their false teaching and violation of the second commandment.
Click to expand...
Steadfast, you got it right. Peter Popoff pushes “prayer cloths” for a “point of contact” along with his “miracle manna.” Check out the Amazing Randi’s debunking of this fraud at:
bible.ca/tongues-popoff-39-17Mhz.htm
 
Are they mostly sold by non-denominational televangelists or are they used widely throughout Protestantism?
 
I was raised in a “Pentecostal” home and attended Pentecostal churches until a few years ago. I remember our minister handing out “prayer cloths” when I was a child. These were just simply small swatches of fabric (similar to a hankerchief) which had been “prayed over” or “blessed”. In our faith tradition, there was no magic or mystery involved. The purpose of the cloth was just as a symbol or reminder of the power of prayer and faith. I remember getting a prayer cloth for my daughter once when she was having persistent nightmares. I would say a prayer with her before going to bed asking the Lord to to give her peace and send His angels to watch over her during the night. Then I would give her the cloth which she would go to sleep holding. The cloth (which had a scripture printed on it) was just a reminder to her that God was always with her. Some would argue that it was only psychological. I would say that the cloths just reminded the person of what they already knew to be true.

We were never taught that there was anything “magical” about these cloths. You could not give to a nonbeliever and expect any type of divine miracles. Also, there was NEVER a charge for these cloths. We just simply let the pastor or an elder know that we wanted one. At that point, they would go get one out of a container, two or three people would gather around to pray for and bless the cloth and it would be handed to you. I think the people on the TV are scam artists out to get your money.
 
My parish does Prayer Blankets. They are the size of a small lap sized machined quilts. After Mass, Father will bless the blanket and pray over it. It is then placed on a table where those leaving, if they wish, may pray over it. Then it is sent to the person who it was requested for, with the prayer attached to it as a reminder that they are Covered in Gods love and Mercy.
Oh, and NO $$$$$$ is requested for this ministry or blankets.

Now, as for the “healing” cloths SOLD (they may say donation) is a money making deal for that tele-preacher.

Do prayer blankets and cloths really Help people? I believe they do. Our Emotional health is just as important as our physical health, and even IF these articles do not actually have “Healing Powers” in them (after all, they are Not talismans), they bring comfort to those who receive them.

God can work His miracles by what ever means He deems most appropriate for that person, even through a piece of cloth.
 
I did generalize because that is the most common experience you’re likely to have of “prayer cloths” and the like.

It is, of course possible that things like this could be theologically just fine but, unfortunately, for most people they are magic, like scapulars.
 
Steadfast said:
It is, of course possible that things like this could be theologically just fine but, unfortunately, for most people they are magic, like scapulars.
Click to expand...
**I’m sorry, did you say, “magic, like scapulars”? What could you mean by “magic”. Since nothing in Catholicism even tolerates magic. I think you mean “blessed”. **
 
GrammyX4 said:
I was raised in a “Pentecostal” home and attended Pentecostal churches until a few years ago. I remember our minister handing out “prayer cloths” when I was a child. These were just simply small swatches of fabric (similar to a hankerchief) which had been “prayed over” or “blessed”. In our faith tradition, there was no magic or mystery involved. The purpose of the cloth was just as a symbol or reminder of the power of prayer and faith. I remember getting a prayer cloth for my daughter once when she was having persistent nightmares. I would say a prayer with her before going to bed asking the Lord to to give her peace and send His angels to watch over her during the night. Then I would give her the cloth which she would go to sleep holding. The cloth (which had a scripture printed on it) was just a reminder to her that God was always with her. Some would argue that it was only psychological. I would say that the cloths just reminded the person of what they already knew to be true.

We were never taught that there was anything “magical” about these cloths. You could not give to a nonbeliever and expect any type of divine miracles. Also, there was NEVER a charge for these cloths. We just simply let the pastor or an elder know that we wanted one. At that point, they would go get one out of a container, two or three people would gather around to pray for and bless the cloth and it would be handed to you. I think the people on the TV are scam artists out to get your money.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your thoughtful answer.
 
love4mary said:
My parish does Prayer Blankets. They are the size of a small lap sized machined quilts. After Mass, Father will bless the blanket and pray over it. It is then placed on a table where those leaving, if they wish, may pray over it. Then it is sent to the person who it was requested for, with the prayer attached to it as a reminder that they are Covered in Gods love and Mercy.
Oh, and NO $$$$$$ is requested for this ministry or blankets.

Now, as for the “healing” cloths SOLD (they may say donation) is a money making deal for that tele-preacher.

Do prayer blankets and cloths really Help people? I believe they do. Our Emotional health is just as important as our physical health, and even IF these articles do not actually have “Healing Powers” in them (after all, they are Not talismans), they bring comfort to those who receive them.

God can work His miracles by what ever means He deems most appropriate for that person, even through a piece of cloth.
Click to expand...
And thanks for your thoughtful answer.
 
Steadfast said:
I did generalize because that is the most common experience you’re likely to have of “prayer cloths” and the like.

It is, of course possible that things like this could be theologically just fine but, unfortunately, for most people they are magic, like scapulars.
Click to expand...
I’ve worn my scapular for years and there ain’t nothing magic about it.It is a sacramental worn with love.I think that,that was a nasty little throw away comment designed to irk and hurt.Magic in your little mind maybe,not in ours.:rolleyes:You’ve been here for a long,long,time and you KNOW better than that.
 
It seemed to me that the OP was attempting to draw a parallel between this practice and the Catholic idea of sacramentals.

If this was not the intent, it didn’t take long for someone to come along and point it out.

However, most Protestants don’t do this. To my knowledge only pentecostals do.

My reference to “magic” and the scapular was to the well known belief that if one dies wearing it, that person will not suffer the pains of hell.

In fact I believe Catholics maintain that our Lady made a promise to this effect.

As I see it, this is magic, or certainly something very close to it.
 
In terms of Not going to Hell if one wears the Scapular. Just wearing it will not keep you out of hell any more then it will get you into heaven.

Our Lady did make promises to those who wear the scapular, but ONLY if they keep the Commandments of Jesus (best of our ability), go to Sacramental Confession, more conditions I am sure, just can’t remember then right off hand.
And for the record, Its GOD working His miracles through blessed objects.

Prayer cloths and blankets are a wonder expression of love that we give to another, as long as the receiver/giver knows that there is NO magic involved with it,just LOVE.👍
 
love4mary said:
Our Lady did make promises to those who wear the scapular, but ONLY if they keep the Commandments of Jesus (best of our ability), go to Sacramental Confession, more conditions I am sure, just can’t remember then right off hand.
Click to expand...
Doesn’t that make the scapular effectively superfluous? I mean if, according to Catholicism, doing those things will get you to heaven (eventually) anyway, then why wear a scapular?

Every account I have read of our Lady’s promise to St. Simon Stock carried no restrictions, caveats or conditions. And throughout history it has been treated as a kind of “get into heaven free” ticket.

I am glad that your church has rethought this at least officially, but I’d bet a lot (most?) ordinary Catholics remain unaware of it and continue to wear the scapular believing it assures them a (restriction free) trip to heaven if they die doing so. They believe this much as they believe burying a statue of St. Joseph in the yard will ensure the sale of a home.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top