A reader writes:
Would you please consider having a weekly prayer intentions post? Your blog is so well visited that it could only be a good thing couldn’t it? The com box could be open for visitors to leave their own intentions and prayer requests. I know it’s none of my business what you do with your blog, just thought I’d offer the suggestion 🙂
I’m open to doing this. I don’t know if weekly is the right frequency, though if I did I’d probably do it as the final post on Fridays (like this one, for example) so that the intentions folks posted would be on people’s minds going into the weekend and Sunday.
I’d hesitate to do this too frequently, because others have established prayer ministries, and what I’m doing here is different, but prayer is an important part of the Christian life, and my blog is a pretty diverse place, so I’d like to hear what readers think about this idea and how often it should be done.
Feel free to change your handle if you feel the need to do so to give your opinion (though let’s not have a dozen different anonymous commenters, okay?).
If we do do it, I’d encourage folks to be careful what private information they reveal about themselves. They might want to change their handles–particularly if they’re using their real names as handles–when they post prayer requests.
So whadda y’all think?
It’s Great Idea, Jimmy! I would like to ask everyone to please pray for my fallen-away father, that he will reconcile with my mother and ask God for forgiveness. Mucho Gracias.
Ewtn’s website has monthly intentions, so why not just stick with that? This is a blog, and not the place for prayer intentions to be posted on a regular basis.
All opportunities for additional prayer seem like a positive step to me. Whether on blogs, prayer lines, ministries, or whatever there is a great need for more prayer. Especially in these times.
You know, I’m surprised to hear myself say this, but I don’t know if this really IS the place for prayer requests.
I’m truly all for praying for one another, but it seems that the addition of such devotional/pious elements might have the effect of taking JA.O a bit out of focus.
Jimmy’s blog is like all those conversations you wish you could have in a neighborhood pub, over a frosty, cold adult beverage. I’d hate to lose that.
But in case I’m wrong…
My son is travelling with friends this week, and I am in need of an income. If you think of it this weekend, you might ask Our Blessed Mother to intercede with her Son on our behalf.
Wouldn’t the forums at Catholic Answers be more appropriate for prayer requests?
At the sake of sounding like a shameless promoter (and Jimmy, I sincerely hope it’s okay for me to post this), my husband does run a daily prayer blog that he puts a great deal of effort into.
It’s updated every morning (with the exceptions when Blogger doesn’t cooperate, which is rare), and includes a hymn and selected Saints.
It is the http://www.prayernetwork.blogspot.com, if anyone is interested in checking it out.
It would be a charitable service to allow people the opportunity to post their prayer requests on JA.O, but personally I’m with Tim J. on whether or not it fits your blog. I don’t think it does, but you know best — you pray about and I’ll be praying for you as you do.
I’m against it.
As important as prayer is, this would be an example of
functionality creep.
However, perhaps we could compromise and Jimmy could link to a prayer blog, such as Amy’s husband’s, so that readers have access to prayer and to each other’s intentions, without affecting the purpose of JA.O.
And perhaps said prayer blog can link to Jimmy’s blog so that all those in need of prayer can enjoy those frosty cold conversations. Wait… what?
Such networking can only lead to a more faithful community =).
-El S.
Whoops. THIS is the right link. My bad.
-El S.
I’d rather leave prayer requests to blogs/sites/etc. for which those were created and leave the “spot” (a “prayer requests” post might take) to another interesting topic of discussion.
Would blogging a prayer intention post a week detract from your posting about anything else?
It’s clearly not a blog that’s entirely in the vain of catholic apologetics and as such I don’t really see why we can’t pray together as well as laugh, cry and annoy one another with inane responses like mine. It’s also ecumenical.
If you’re not sure, why not try it and see?
Perhaps personal prayer requests are best saved for other sites, but maybe you, Jimmy, could have a post every so often encouraging your audience to pray for a particular (and timely) worthy intention. (E.g., if Congress is voting on the marriage amendment, abortion legislation, etc. the coming week.)
This would have the beneficial effect of getting some of us who don’t pray enough to start doing so.
Since this isn’t a blog focused on prayer it seems more sensible to have a link to such blogs/websites rather than a weekly post. That way people interested in seeking material for intercessory prayer would find greater resources than would be provided by a posting on this blog.
Marion
agreed with the functionality creeping bit. But I dont see a problem with it, in moderation 🙂 I was part of an online catholic group that changed from a place to fellowship and learn into just prayer intentions and praying the rosary (in chat) all the time. And, of course, since prayer and prayer intentions are GOOD THINGS, it was impossible to argue that one should be doing other stuff too, or that there was any value in the fellowship and learning that used to go on. It got kind of hostile, and some people started becoming haughty holy roller type people, and acting like those that did not wish to pray constantly were bad people for not wanting to, and even worse people for suggesting anything otherwise. Much division ensued.
That being said, in a controlled environment, it would be nice to have a place to just share and say hey, can everyone give a shout-out to God on my behalf–xyz is really going lousy right now. I’d certainly scroll thorugh, say, the comments of a single post and send up a few prayers 🙂
Ed, you’re so unprayerful you big looser! I’ll pray for you…
🙂
The link sounds like a good idea.
But since now people are speaking about this.
I will overstep the boundries out desperation.
I am trying to go into a minor seminary with a Pontifical Association called the Heralds of the Gospel http://www.heralds.us , . There I would finish my high school and begin my religious formation.
Yet my parents, are strongly oppossed to this and I have currently no choice but to wait for a miracle from Our Lady, as I am not a 18, but rather 16. I ask for you to put me in your intentions please and to offer your next Communion with this intention.
Thank You and may Our Lady pay you back a hundredfold.
With Prayers
Rene G.
I for one think it’s a great idea. Maybe instead of Friday for the last post, you could post the intentions Saturday that way people can bring them to Mass, either for the Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass. My intention is for Jimmy to allow a prayer post. Pray for us St. James!
Tammy-
I know exactly what you mean. I took a science class with a Fundamentalist teacher (this was before I left “the cafeteria”) and a few weeks in she spent entire classes talking about walking in the Spirit and what it meant to be a Christian and the Biblical account of Genesis… the Bible is a good thing, so I couldnt interject and say “Hey, shouldn’t we be doing science?” Erg.
So, while prayer is essential to the Christian life, I dont think there should be a prayer post. Seriously, I think its beyond the scope of this blog: think of what a wide readership Jimmy has. On any given day, maybe fifty different people comment. Thats not even including all the lurkers who dont comment. If everyone had just one prayer intention, it would take about an hour to read through each week. And show me the Christian who has only one intention, and I’ll show you a long intention with a lot of “and”‘s.
whoops. Accidentally hit the “post” button. Sorry for the double post!
Amy’s husband updates his prayer blog every day. If there is only going to be one post a week, thats a lot of intentions to spend a lot of time on.
Meanwhile, if we offer a link to a prayer blog then all of JA.O’s readers can get to it, and anyone in need of prayer can get prayer from an even larger audience. Like I said, networking draws the faithful together.
-El S.
I think a prominent link to a Prayer Request location would serve as well.
I’m in favor of one prayer request post per week. It’s better than being off topic, and it is something we are supposed to do.
Glenn.
I for one don’t mind if we have a prayer request as frequently as every day in addition to, and not in place of the regular blog entries.
Here’s mine: My wife will be giving birth this month to our baby boy. Hope you’d all include her and the boy in your prayers, for a quick and safe delivery and a healthy mum and baby.
Francis
I think we should talk to God as well as about God.
Pray for all our soldiers, especially those overseas in warzones, combat zones, and dangerous conditions
Michael the Archangel protect them
Mary the Blessed Mother, Mother of all Humanity give comfort to all your children on all sides
St. Thomas More pray that the Holy Spirit give our great leader George W. Bush wisdom and insight
Pray for Pope Benedict, and Pray to and for St. Pope John Paul the Great
Pray for all those suffering in Sudan
Pray for the victims of the abuse of our Church,
that the leaders change that and justice is served
Pary for some personal medical issues, minor
Pray for the good work of JIMMY AKIN
George,
A couple of corrections:
(1)If one is a saint, then there is no need to pray for him. (2) It would be ‘Pope Saint John Paul II’, not ‘Saint Pope John Paul II’. (3)the papacy can’t be a saint.
Well, I used to be indecisive about such things, but now I’m not so sure. Maybe send all prayer requests to Dave Armstrong :-).. or maybe start a JA.O2.. or yes, maybe just add a link here to some prayer sites. There are some Religious online who have offered to pray for intentions..some can be found via Chiara’s Canticle ‘blog.
Pray for the end of legalized abortion
Pray for all the children who are killed
Pray for the mothers
Even pray for the doctors
Pray for a culture of life
Eternal Father, please opens the widow of heaven, and pour me out a financial blessing, so great that there isn’t enough room for me to receive it all. I pray that You would bless me indeed, Enlarge my territories that Your hand will be with me to keep me safe from evil. Thank You heavenly Father for hearing my prayer, and granting my request
TRUST IN GOD’S MERCY! THIS IS A TIME FOR GOD’S MERCY!
Jesus Christ’s message in His revelations to St. Faustina
was that this is a time for Mercy.
The times we live in, more than any other in history,
call for a great outpouring of the Mercy of God.
As a result, the revelations to Faustina became known
as “The Message of Divine Mercy” and
Jesus received a new title — “The Divine Mercy” — similar
to “The Sacred Heart” as a renaming of Jesus himself.
Let us pray for the world, for all of us…
The Divine Mercy message is like a simple ABC :
A – ask for His Mercy
B – be merciful
C – completely trust in Jesus
Say chaplet to God’s Mercy at 3 p.m
(the Hour of Jesus’s Death) !
Special gift of grace!!!
It is, as Jesus passed on to St. Faustina (Journal 59),
the hour of great Mercy for the world and assures us that
no soul will perish if the chaplet is said at least once;
even the greatest sinners will receive great Mercy at
the hour of their death. ***
Jesus waits for you! Trust in Him….
CHAPLET TO GOD’S MERCY
Using normal rosary beads,begin with:
The Lord’s Prayer : Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name….. Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee…….
the Apostles Creed :I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven ……….
On the five large beads :Eternal Father, I offer You
the Body and Blood,Soul and Divinity of Your dearly
beloved Son,Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for
our sins and those of the whole world.
On the ten small beads :
V. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
R. Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
At the end of the Divine Mercy Chaplet say three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One Holy God, Holy Mighty One,
Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Invocation: O Blood and Water that gushed forth from
the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us,
I trust in You (3 times)
Sign of the Cross :
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*** GOD’S MERCY IS OPEN TO EVERY REMORSEFUL AND HUMBLE MAN!