When you see an ambulance

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WaltLove

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I hope this isn’t too weird of a question but it came across my mind yesterday. I was always taught growing up that whenever I heard sirens (ie ambulance/fire truck) that I should say a prayer for the people that need help. My grandma always said that one day when you need it others will pray for you. I was wondering if anyone else was taught that as a child and which prayers do you say? I hope you all have a great weekend!

God Bless!
 
Sadly, I was not taught this as a child, but DH and I both will cross ourselves or say a prayer when emergency vehicles pass by. I also say a prayer for a plane when I see one in the sky - though I found it hard to do that for a long time after 9/11 - I am back to that again now though.

~Liza
 
WaltLove said:
I hope this isn’t too weird of a question but it came across my mind yesterday. I was always taught growing up that whenever I heard sirens (ie ambulance/fire truck) that I should say a prayer for the people that need help. My grandma always said that one day when you need it others will pray for you. I was wondering if anyone else was taught that as a child and which prayers do you say? I hope you all have a great weekend!
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I love your grandma! Sounds like mine… 🙂

I remember being told to pray for the victims of accidents in the road, when we heard sirens, etc. It’s a practice I’ve fallen out of, but it’d be good to revive. I don’t remember if there was a specific prescribed prayer, other than calling the Lord’s mercy on the people involved, and/or a Hail Mary.
 
I wasn’t taught to say a prayer for an emergency vehicle; i’ve simply done it on my own.
 
I wasn’t taught that, but I do it anyway. Where I live there are also a lot of home made roadside shrines marking where there’s been a death in a wreck. I pray when I pass one of them too.
 
I wasn’t taught to pray while I was growing up, but my children and I say, “Jesus and Mary, I love you, save souls.”
For fire, rescue and police sirens.
 
I don’t think I was really taught that, but I always make the Sign of the Cross when I hear sirens.
 
I learned it from my older sister when I was a kid. We cross ourselves as an emergency vehical passes or at the site of an accident.
 
Yes! My 85 year old mother learned to do this, as a child… from one of the sisters who taught at her school. And she, in turn… passed it on to us! I am nearly 49 and I still make it a practice to say a “Hail Mary” whenever I hear a siren (I think it may have been “bells” in my mothers day); for those in peril… and also, for the rescuers. Crossing yourself, is another form of this prayer, for those in need. I’m so happy to know that this Act of Christian Charity is alive and well! 👍
 
My mother taught us to do this for as long as I can remember. For a long time though, I fell out of the practice. But because I drive and lot and see a lot of accidents where ambulances are present, I’ve begun to say a Hail Mary or two when I see them. I heard a similar discussion on the radio yesterday. One of the callers said that she had practiced this act of charity for years without thinking, and one day found that the ambulance that had passed her by and received her prayer was carrying her father, who had suffered a heart-attack! So you just never know.
 
Don’t forget about the police officers, firefighters, EMT’s etc. who are responding, and who put themselves at considerable risk to help those in need. (like having to stand in the middle of a highway or run into a burning building etc…) I usually pray for “whoever needs help, and the people doing the helping.”
 
I started crossing myself whenever I would see an emergency vehicle with their lights/sirens on a few months ago. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until one of my kids asked me why I did it. I explained to her that it was just a way of praying for God to be with the people who needed Him the most at that moment.
 
I first heard about this in RCIA and it stuck with me ever since. Whenever I see an ambulance (with or without lights on) I cross myself and say a Hail Mary. 🙂
 
I usually cross myself when I see anything and say a quick prayer, like “God be with those who are hurt and those who are helping. Amen”

Since the kids have got older, I’ve been saying my prayer out loud so that they can hear it.

No one taught me. Just seems to be the right thing to do at the moment.
 
When I was being trained for First Holy Communion, the Sister would have us stop class and say a Hail Mary when we heard an ambulance. It’s remained a custom for me ever since, except that instead of a Hail Mary, I simply ask God to help - not only the victims in that passing ambulance - but also the workers helping / driving them…We seem to take the EMTs, etc. for granted.
 
DJgang said:
I usually cross myself when I see anything and say a quick prayer, like “God be with those who are hurt and those who are helping. Amen”

No one taught me. Just seems to be the right thing to do at the moment.
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Ditto. 😃

It seems to me that this is a small act of mercy we can do for others, just as Jesus told St. Faustina we should. 🙂 :grouphug:
 
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