Prayer Requests

Last updated on: December 30, 2014 at 3:35 pm by Mark Shea

Prayer Requests 2014-12-30T15:35:40-07:00 Mark Shea

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A reader writes:

I’ve been a reader of yours on and off over a number of years. I’ve seen the prayer requests and have offered up my humble supplications, and now I’m asking for help. I have a daughter who has been in the Catholic school system from kindergarten through freshman year in high school. Her mother and I take her to church every Sunday (or Saturday vigil); we pray together every night, and we celebrate all the holidays/holy days. Most of the extended family has been Catholic way into the distant past. She has two cousins who are priests. With all that, she does not believe, or, at least, she sees no difference among the many religions on this planet. She does not understand why we believe in-vitro fertilization is wrong and she does not understand why we feel gay marriage is not a marriage in the Roman Catholic view. Both topics have been discussed openly.

I’m sorry, I’m rambling. I understand that not everyone can accept and believe. However, I would appreciate any prayers that would help direct my daughter to an understanding of our Catholic faith. If any of your readers could provide advice or direction to advice, that would also be appreciated. Also, trust me, this is an incredibly smart kid. ( I know, sin of pride. I’m her father and can’t help myself.).

Your daughter sounds to me like a normal, healthy kid with the normal sorts of questions that should be occurring to a kid her age. I would suggest you check out some of Amy Welborn’s “Prove it” series of books. Not knowing the substance of your conversations, I don’t know what you’ve said or what intellectual difficulties she’s had. Peter Kreeft’s Fundamentals of the Faith addresses stuff like “What’s the difference between Jesus and the Church he founded and other religions?” With in vitro fertilization the answer is “In vitro kills developing children”. The matter of gay marriage is really a subset of the question “What is marriage and why do we have any such thing as marriage at all?” This may be a place to start the conversation. I would consider a Socratic line of questioning that allows her to take a look at the presuppositions she is bringing to the discussion. My money is on her having imbibed a number of very popular presuppositions such as “All that matters in evaluating a moral act is the consent of the participants” or “If a belief makes you feel better what’s wrong with it?”

Also, a reader suggests, “For the father whose daughter is uncertain of the Truths of the Catholic Church, you may want to recommend that he ask her to pray for faith. I recall that when my daughter was young, it was something I asked her to do. Shortly afterwar…ds, she shared with me that God had answered a prayer for her and she truly had faith. Now that she’s a young adult, out on her own, I pray that she hasn’t forgotten that praying for faith is not a one-time deal. But as a parent of a young daughter, he may still have enough direct influence to get her to give it a try.”

Without knowing more, that’s where I’d start. Also, don’t be afraid to look at the Catechism–and to say “I don’t know.” Have confidence in the Tradition. It is an anvil that has worn out a lot of hammers. Meanwhile, may God our Father answer your daughter’s questions to her satisfaction and make her a competent and articulate apostle of the Faith through Jesus Christ. Mother Mary and St. Thomas, pray for her and for those instructing her.

Another reader writes:

You generously asked your readers to pray for my daughter-in-law’s father who has cancer. They have found that the tumors in his stomach are no longer there/aren’t cancer. There is still a tumor in his lungs, but everyone is very excited by this development.

Thank you all so much for your prayers!!

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ! Heal him completely, Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Mother Mary and St. Luke, pray for him, for those responsible for his care, and for all who love him.

Another reader writes:

Asking for lots of prayers for my good friend who’s dealing with a child’s mental illness and consequent family chaos and sadness. Thank you so much!

Father, hear our prayer for this child and her family that they find healing, grace, strength and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Mother Mary and St. Dymphna, pray for them.

Uncategorized

Prayer Requests

Previous Post

July 30, 2012

New Abp. for San Francisco

Next Post

July 31, 2012 This will all be relevant again soon

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 September 2006 June 2006 July 2005 April 2005 May 2002 April 2002 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz