How should I pray when someone asks for my prayers?

by Carmelite Sisters | December 7, 2011 12:03 am

Ask a Carmelite Sister…

Dear Sister,

When someone asks me to pray for them – to be honest with you – I am not sure how to follow through on my answer which is always “yes, of course, I will keep you in my prayers.” May I ask, what do you do, Sister, when people ask you to pray for them?

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your question. You are not the only one who wonders about the “best” way to pray for someone who asks for your prayers. There are probably as many ways of interceding for people as there are people in the world.

The best and most perfect prayer always and in every case is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If you can ask a priest to please offer Mass for the intentions of the person who has asked you to pray, that is intercessory prayer par excellence. Why? Because it is Christ Himself interceding before the Father.

Pray the Rosary for the person who asked for your prayers. Our Blessed Mother hears and answers the prayers of us, her children.

Traditional Catholic devotions, such as novenas, praying the Stations of the Cross are powerful intercessory prayers also.

The following ideas come from retreats I have attended, books, conversations,  meditations, and other ways, also.  They work for me. I’ll use the name “John” in the following samples:

Our good God is a very gracious listener. He waits to hear us pray.  He loves so much to have us come together to pray for each other.  I invite you to share your comments about ways of praying for others.

Thank you for your question and until next time,

Sister Laus Gloriae, O.C.D.


[1]Newly Released Christmas CD[2] from the Carmelite Sisters.

A sacred stillness wraps itself gently around Carmel each Christmas. Peace descends and seeps its way into the very atmosphere we breathe. In the quiet tranquility before Christmas, expectant prayer reaches new depths within our souls. At midnight, when the Christ Child is laid into the crèche, Carmel is ablaze with joy. Sharing Christmas in Carmel is our gift to you, that you, too, may experience new hope and joy this Christmas – the joy of Christ, our Savior, Who has come.

Send your questions for Sister to asksister@integratedcatholiclife.org[3].

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Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: http://71.149.198.95/carmelitecds/christmascd.asp
  2. Christmas CD: http://71.149.198.95/carmelitecds/christmascd.asp
  3. asksister@integratedcatholiclife.org: mailto:asksister@integratedcatholiclife.org
  4. [Image]: http://www.carmelitesistersocd.com/Spirit/
  5. vocations page: http://www.carmelitesistersocd.com/vocation/

Source URL: https://integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/12/ask-a-carmelite-when-someone-asks-for-my-prayers/