Wrong To Pray For Same Thing Repaticious?

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GRACE1022

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In Matthew it is stated:

7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

I would like to here others opinions on their thoughts of the
meaning of this. When we pray the rosary it is the same over and over. In a novena we may pray for the same thing hoping it will be answered.

Is this wrong? In what area should this be focused on items or guidance etc…??

GRACE:confused:
 
Jesus warns us not to pray as the heathens do.

Heathens do not pray novenas, rosaries, or the Divine Mercy chaplet. Heathens do not pray prayers given to us by Christ himself. Ergo, for Catholics to pray this way is the farthest thing removed from praying like heathens.
 
You wouldn’t think of saying the Twenty Third Paslm over again as vain repetition. Nor would you ever think of reading a passage from the Holy Scriptures over and over, as you are memorizing it, as vain repetition.

Repeating Bible Versus such as the “Lord’s Prayer” can not in anyway be vain.

The key word is “vain” meaning useless. Scripture is never vain or useless. Asking someone to pray for us is never vain or useless.
 
Likewise, asking for the same thing repeatedly is not bad either. There was a parable about a woman who repeatedly asked the judge for what she wanted and he helped her, not because he should have, but because she wouldn’t leave him alone.
 
If I am not mistaken, I believe that the “heathen” also believed that the mere act of saying the right prayer a set number of times in and of itself would bring them what they asked for (i.e. “If I say the fertility prayer to Jupiter 11 times my wife will be pregnant”.)

Even though our Father knows what things we need before we ask, we should still ask because, for our benefit, sometimes the answer is “no”.

It may help to keep in mind also that we get more out of prayer than God. Sharing myself, when I am angry or tempted, a rosary helps to re-focus me on God, not the other way around.
 
puzzleannie said:
Jesus warns us not to pray as the heathens do.

Heathens do not pray novenas, rosaries, or the Divine Mercy chaplet. Heathens do not pray prayers given to us by Christ himself. Ergo, for Catholics to pray this way is the farthest thing removed from praying like heathens.
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Thanks Puzzleannie!
This is a great way of explaining catholic prayers!

GRACE
 
HelenRose said:
You wouldn’t think of saying the Twenty Third Paslm over again as vain repetition. Nor would you ever think of reading a passage from the Holy Scriptures over and over, as you are memorizing it, as vain repetition.

Repeating Bible Versus such as the “Lord’s Prayer” can not in anyway be vain.

The key word is “vain” meaning useless. Scripture is never vain or useless. Asking someone to pray for us is never vain or useless.
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How do you feel about praying for oneself.
If you are in need of support or comforting in
different times in your life but it’s the same thing over
and over. What is your opinion on praying that way repetitious??

GRACE:confused:
 
TAS2000 said:
Likewise, asking for the same thing repeatedly is not bad either. There was a parable about a woman who repeatedly asked the judge for what she wanted and he helped her, not because he should have, but because she wouldn’t leave him alone.
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Do you feel that aher praying was not answered until the obvious it’s in God’s time not our time, hence it being even more so ok to continually pray for the same thing we have need for?

GRACE
 
TheDoctor said:
If I am not mistaken, I believe that the “heathen” also believed that the mere act of saying the right prayer a set number of times in and of itself would bring them what they asked for (i.e. “If I say the fertility prayer to Jupiter 11 times my wife will be pregnant”.)

Even though our Father knows what things we need before we ask, we should still ask because, for our benefit, sometimes the answer is “no”.

It may help to keep in mind also that we get more out of prayer than God. Sharing myself, when I am angry or tempted, a rosary helps to re-focus me on God, not the other way around.
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That peaks my interest and makes me wonder if we pray over and over the same thing because we do not clearly see his no to our request. Do you feel this may be so, it being in an area of denial?

GRACE
 
GRACE1022 said:
That peaks my interest and makes me wonder if we pray over and over the same thing because we do not clearly see his no to our request. Do you feel this may be so, it being in an area of denial?GRACE
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It may be. I liken it my son. He will ask for something and even though I say “no” (because I think we can’t have chocolate ice cream for breakfast) he may ask me again. Now, he can ask again because he does not believe I really meant “no”, or he can ask because he thinks things are different today and maybe I will say “yes”.

Something I picked up from doing the Divine Mercy is to ask God to answer my prayers “if it is within your will and good for me”. But I don’t stop asking, cause maybe I am not ready for those graces now but will be in the future.

Hope that helps.
 
GRACE1022 said:
How do you feel about praying for oneself.
If you are in need of support or comforting in
different times in your life but it’s the same thing over
and over. What is your opinion on praying that way repetitious??

GRACE:confused:
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There is a line in a prayer book, I have lost the book so I don’t know the entire prayer, but I do remember the line. “Oh, God, you who are never weary of me.”

There have been times I have been so weary of being myself and this prayer has been such a comfort to me.

“Oh, God, you who are never weary of me.” Here I am again with the same old problems, the same old sins. Thank you dear God for listening to me again.

When I feel alone and sad and there are no words to express my thoughts, the Rosary helps direct my mind and heart to God in the soft repetition of beautiful words.
 
HelenRose said:
There is a line in a prayer book, I have lost the book so I don’t know the entire prayer, but I do remember the line. “Oh, God, you who are never weary of me.”

There have been times I have been so weary of being myself and this prayer has been such a comfort to me.

“Oh, God, you who are never weary of me.” Here I am again with the same old problems, the same old sins. Thank you dear God for listening to me again.

When I feel alone and sad and there are no words to express my thoughts, the Rosary helps direct my mind and heart to God in the soft repetition of beautiful words.
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HelenRose,

That is beautiful thank you so much for that!
See it’s inspirational words like this that open up
the mind more and more to great chatting in these forums
that we can truly learn good things!

GRACE
 
TheDoctor said:
It may be. I liken it my son. He will ask for something and even though I say “no” (because I think we can’t have chocolate ice cream for breakfast) he may ask me again. Now, he can ask again because he does not believe I really meant “no”, or he can ask because he thinks things are different today and maybe I will say “yes”.

Something I picked up from doing the Divine Mercy is to ask God to answer my prayers “if it is within your will and good for me”. But I don’t stop asking, cause maybe I am not ready for those graces now but will be in the future.

Hope that helps.
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TheDoctor,

“But I don’t stop asking, cause maybe I am not ready for those
graces now but will be in the future”
These words you said are so GREAT, I never would have thought
of it that way thanks!
That was so empowering!

GRACE:clapping: 👍
 
Well, personally I think that it is a great thing to pray for the same thing more than once, because persistence in God’s eyes I think is a good thing…but at the end of the day, when we pray for whatever it is, it’s importance to realize that God knows what is best for us, and if it is His will, he will fulfill it in His time, not ours.
 
If God condemn all kinds of repetitive prayers, then why it is ok in OT as well as NT?

Pslams 136 - “God’s love endures forever” repeated over and over again.

Rev 4:8 - The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
 
JAMaddict said:
Well, personally I think that it is a great thing to pray for the same thing more than once, because persistence in God’s eyes I think is a good thing…but at the end of the day, when we pray for whatever it is, it’s importance to realize that God knows what is best for us, and if it is His will, he will fulfill it in His time, not ours.
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Can’t agree more THANKS!
I really liked what was said by TheDoctor above,

“But I don’t stop asking, cause maybe I am not ready for those
graces now but will be in the future”

This really gives you more hope on repaticious praying also,
for it makes sense that he may not think you are ready
for it now but he may later on in the future.

GRACE
 
water said:
If God condemn all kinds of repetitive prayers, then why it is ok in OT as well as NT?

Pslams 136 - “God’s love endures forever” repeated over and over again.

Rev 4:8 - The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
Click to expand...
I was referring to thoughts on repaticious praying also for
one’s self. But all are giving one main answer…which is
a GREAT focus and that is that it will be done in his will
regardless, so even if you pray for something you need comfort in and long for if he says no, in it not being answered to pray again
for he may find it something you need later on.

GRACE
 
**When we pray the rosary it is the same over and over. In a novena we may pray for the same thing hoping it will be answered. **

Read Psalm 135/136 with its constantly repeated refrain of “For His mercy endures forever” and then ask if Christ is condemning all repititions as vain.
 
bpbasilphx said:
**When we pray the rosary it is the same over and over. In a novena we may pray for the same thing hoping it will be answered. **

Read Psalm 135/136 with its constantly repeated refrain of “For His mercy endures forever” and then ask if Christ is condemning all repititions as vain.
Click to expand...
I started the conversation from my inquiring on this
reading in Matthew:

In Matthew it is stated:

7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Thank you I will have to look that up…to help me.

GRACE:)
 
I would say praying in vain would be the same as receiving the eucharist without recognizing it as Jesus. Praying the rosary is a very beautiful and meditative walk with Mary as she guides you to Jesus.
 
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