I'm not a fan of disorganised prayers of intercession during Mass.
I've come across quite a few churches where the priest says a couple of prayers and then says the dreaded: "If you would like to voice a prayer, please feel free". Then there's that dreaded, cringe-worthy silence until someone plucks up the courage to say something. On occasions, people say some really good prayers - but this is a rarity. Often it can get as ridiculous as something like: "We pray for my next door neighbour's second cousin who has gangrene."
The point is - this gives people a forum to say absolutely anything - "Please can we pray for my Auntie Nelly's cat who's got a manky foot" or, even more serious, "We pray for the civil partnership of Terence and Geoffrey." Who knows what a wacky member of the congregation or non-Catholics who have little knowledge of the teachings of the church might say?
On occasions, I have heard people introduce their own (often liberal) agendas at prayer groups. For example, someone not particularly pleased with the decision of the College of Cardinals that glorious April evening said something like: "Let us pray that, in spite of what's happened today, we do not forget that we are the church." It may have been said stronger than that but I distinctly remember the tone of the voice which made me feel uncomfortable.
There have been other occasions during Mass where one of the prayers have said, "Let us pray for the work of..." - followed by the listing of several charities to which you immediately think "Ey up, what are these actually involved in or in favour of? - i.e. embryo experimentation, condom distribution, provision of "sexual health services" etc.
Certainly during Mass, bidding prayers pre-written with coherence and loyal to the Magisterium of the Church, and vetted by the parish priest.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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3 comments:
Well, you should hear some of the scripted "organised" bidding prayers at our Sunday Mass. Global Warming is a favourite, along with Peace and Justice ishoos, and whatever happens to have been on The Guardian's front page on the Saturday. I`d much rather pray for a genuine need, e.g. someone's cousin who has gangrene....
Making some up as you go..awful!
on the other hand, the official prayers at Mass are often precisely the kind of leftist twaddle, or vague nebulous mush that you decry. The intercessions at St. Plegmund's here in Tattenhall are so bland and so inoffensive, I'm tempted to pipe up when the priest says, "now we pray in silence for those intentions closest to our hearts". Every time I think the same prayers:
"For an end to the evil scourge of abortion."
For the restoration of the fullness of the true Faith to the Catholic Church in England
For the universal restoration of the True Mass.
but of course, I don't.
Thank goodness I do'nt have to go often to the wretched little flourescent-lit, potted palm bestrewn meeting hall in the village because I'm not sure how long I'd hold out.
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