Prayers

• Is there a common silent prayer to be recited just prior to the Gospel as we sign the cross on our forehead, lips and heart?
• What are the promises of the Sacred Heart?
  
• What is the origin of novenas?
  
• What are Vespers?
  
• Why do Catholic Church bells ring in the morning, at noon, and in the evening?
  
• Somebody in my church leaves little pieces of paper that contain some prayers that are suppose to be said. Then the person who says these prayers is to leave such pieces of paper in nine other churches and (these papers say) then his petitions will be granted. What do you think about this?
  
• How should one properly dispose of broken or partial rosaries, old tarnished, blessed religious medals, and old blessed palms?
  
• In my parish when the rosary or other prayers are recited they are said so fast that there seems to be no thought behind the words being said. Isn't this defeating the purpose of prayer?
  
• In our parish we pray the rosary before Mass. I notice people have stopped saying "Amen" at the end of the prayers. When did this start?
  
• Why are there some added words to the "Our Father", such as "for thine is the kingdom, etc."?
  
• When did the practice of praying for the dead begin?
  
• Where can I learn more about praying and prayer?
  
• Would it be wrong for a wife to spend all her time in church and praying with various groups and in this way not taking care of her husband and children?
• In saying the rosary, it is hard to keep from distractions. What if you don't pay attention all the way through?
  
• How can a Catholic say a novena without lapsing into superstition? Are there any guidelines for this? How can, we explain novenas to non-Catholics?
  
• Why is receiving Holy Communion on First Fridays important?
  
• Why do Protestants add the words… "for thine is the kingdom, etc." to the Lord's Prayer?
  
• Why do some prayers use such expressions as "thee" and "thou"?
  
• When we pray for our deceased friends and relative, are they aware that we are praying for them or at least will they be aware someday of what we do for them?
  
• At a funeral I heard a priest say we should pray for the deceased for the remission of his temporal punishment. What is temporal punishment?
  
• If a person says a prayer or makes a novena to which a plenary indulgence is attached, but does not fulfill all the requirements for obtaining a plenary indulgence, does such a prayer or novena still count for something or are the prayers worthless?
  
• What is the temptation" that we, in the Lord's Prayer, ask God not to lead us into?
• I recently attended a funeral where one of the rosaries recited was called the Franciscan Crown. What is this?
  
• Explain the first Saturday Devotion.
  
• Since we do not know when a soul is released from purgatory, when should we stop having Masses and prayers said for a deceased person?
  
• Is there a proper (orthodox) way to clean a rosary and a crucifix?
  

Is there a common silent prayer to be recited just prior to the Gospel as we sign the cross on our forehead, lips and heart?

There is no prescribed or liturgical prayer to accompany that gesture. However, once can appropriately say, silently, these words or something similar, "May the words of the Holy Gospel be in my mind, in my mouth, and in my heart," since this is what this gesture means.

Reprinted from March 21, 1997

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What are the promises of the Sacred Heart?

In a private revelation to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675, our Lord promised that those who have devotion to His Sacred Heart:
1. will receive all the graces necessary for their state in life;
2. will have peace in their homes;
3. will receive comfort in their afflictions;
4. will find Jesus their secure refuge in life and death
5. will receive abundant blessings in all undertakings;
6. sinners will find in His Heart an infinite ocean of mercy;
7. tepid souls will become fervent;
8. fervent souls will reach the heights of perfection.
In addition our Lord promised to bless every place where a picture of His Sacred Heart is set up and honored, that He will give to priests who foster devotion to His Heart the ability to touch the most hardened hearts, and that all who promote devotion to the Sacred Heart will have their names written on His Heart forever. Finally, Christ promised that those who receive Holy Communion on nine consecutive first Fridays will receive the grace of final penitence.

Reprinted from May 30, 1997

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What is the origin of novenas?

From the earliest days of the Church Christians often prayed in units of nine (nine hours, nine days, nine months, etc.) because they recalled that the Apostles and Mary, at the command of Christ, prayed for nine days after His Ascension until the Holy Spirit came down upon them at Pentecost (Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14 and 2:1-12). Novenas are basically private devotions and prayers done in some unit of nine. Sometimes, however, the term novena is applied more widely to various other kinds of extra liturgical devotions. It is legitimate to make novenas. However, care must be taken to avoid any taint of superstition. This is why it is always best to use openly those novena devotions which are clearly marked as having the approval of the church.

Reprinted from April 18, 1997

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What are Vespers?

Vespers is the name given to the official liturgical evening prayer of the Church. This evening prayer is found in the Liturgy of the Hours, also called the Divine Office, contained in a book called the Breviary. The Liturgy of the Hours is recited by some priests, transitional deacons, and members of some religious orders every day. Anyone may say these prayers, however, and I am sure your pastor will be willing to give you more information about Vespers and the other Hours of the Divine Office.

Reprinted from April 25, 1997

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