tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32523001.post8170409241387559633..comments2023-07-08T14:04:20.047-05:00Comments on La Vie Catholique - The Catholic Life: Traditions and RitualsStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14847605396658754483noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32523001.post-46413658630247462102008-12-13T15:45:00.000-06:002008-12-13T15:45:00.000-06:00Well said Catharine! :-)Well said Catharine! :-)Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14847605396658754483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32523001.post-722986363621977362008-12-13T14:44:00.000-06:002008-12-13T14:44:00.000-06:00I have discovered, by reading what the Scriptures ...I have discovered, by reading what the Scriptures actually say, that Jesus was never against repeated prayers. You will never find him say in the Gospels, "don't pray traditional prayers." Why? Because he said traditional prayers as a Jew! <BR/><BR/>What Jesus was against was VAIN repetition, the emphasis being on VAIN. And he explained that those prayers were vain because the person praying was hoping God would hear them BECAUSE of their many prayers. <BR/><BR/>Prayers said in faith (believing that God hears you) is the issue. <BR/>It is not the repetitiveness of the prayer that is the issue, it is the unbelief that God won't hear you unless you pray this prayer 20 times (or whatever). But if you pray in faith, each time, then those prayers are not said in vain.<BR/>By the way, I'm Star on Steph's board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32523001.post-72797212575951843802008-12-07T16:24:00.000-06:002008-12-07T16:24:00.000-06:00I do vain repetitions, too! I've only seen it deno...I do vain repetitions, too! I've only seen it denounced by like two or three people in my life time. I mean, who's seriously going to go out of their way to denounce the Lord's Prayer or the Serenity Prayer, etc.?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32523001.post-91715259968608020192008-12-07T16:08:00.000-06:002008-12-07T16:08:00.000-06:00I agree completely. Written prayers help focus ou...I agree completely. Written prayers help focus our mind on the important things to pray about, but also leave us open to meditate on deeper spiritual matters while we pray...a perfect combination. I think the Rosary is the best example of this. Meditating on the mysteries while praying such powerful words is incredible.~Joseph the Workerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07512362705041608396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32523001.post-81758221956363859852008-12-05T14:45:00.000-06:002008-12-05T14:45:00.000-06:00Oh, yes! And the crazy thing is, those church trad...Oh, yes! And the crazy thing is, those church traditions from our past were so dry, so colorless, so boring!!! They didn't increase my desire to know God more; they made me want to run away from such a God who would demand such lifeless life. And the crazy thing was, they couldn't say they refused these "man-made traditions" so that the Spirit could move, because they didn't trust the Spirit to move them! Everything had to be done the same old way. Occasionally a new song would be taught. Very rarely though. That former life had no tradition and no Spirit. And contrary to what many think (who try doing church w/out tradition & ritual) - the Spirit does move in the midst of tradition, order, and ritual. The Spirit is at work, making our hearts glad, focusing our attention on Christ, giving us the courage to speak the good news, empowering us to live by faith, etc!<BR/><BR/>Well, I've gone on and on; obviouslly your blog hit a nerve, lol!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com