Prayer

[Catholic_Lady]

I find it amusing that being granted anything, even emotional strength, by a god, is seen to be "other than supernatural".  Of course, some catholics do believe that god can supernaturally grant a person real goods........and then there's intercession - which is theologically non-negotiable as a catholic....so it's a bit disingenuous to say that catholics don't see prayer as a divine wish granting mechanism.  That's the whole -point- of saints.  Perhaps -some- catholics do not believe that real goods can be wish granted, but that probably has more to do with there being no wish granted goods, than with catholic beliefs.

My theory, for the 708th time, is that they recognize that the superdupernatural can only penetrate the natural world if we hold the door open from our side.  So, unless you make yourself open to divine intervention, He can't do anything for you.  Throw in something about free will, yada yada.

I don't know whether believers think their own prayers on another's behalf can open the door for another person or if it is really intended as a reminder to their fellow believer to open their own damn door.

Cath-y, do you think I'm completely off base here?

I believe miracles *can* happen but I think they are extremely rare. Regardless of whether we are holding the door open to it or not. 

It is much more likely that God will answer prayers by working through people. Like granting emotional strength and comfort to the person we pray for, or for ourselves if we are the ones praying for help. Or that He will work on the hearts of ourselves and others to help those in need, etc. 

That's why when I've been asking others to pray for my current situation, I always ask them to pray for me to have the strength to get through whatever I am dealt with. I don't ask for a miracle. And of course, even just the knowledge that anyone prayed for me brings me a sense of peace.