www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall ecumenical prayer groups

One of the doctors at the hospital where I work sometimes holds a prayer group off site, but with the intention of praying for the hospital, patients and employees. I am not sure of his denomination, but I would think he is more of a Fundamentalist. I know he has prayed with patients at times.

I have never been to one of these meetings (not having been directly invited, although I am sure they would welcome me, and also because it is waaayyy early on Friday morning), but part of me feels it may not be the right type of prayer meeting for me, as a Catholic. My reason is that if asked to offer a prayer, my saying a Catholic prayer, such as a Hail Mary, may not be welcomed. If I don't feel free to say a Catholic prayer, then perhaps it is not the place to be. Am I being too picky?
denise

I would get in the group,then say my Catholic prayers an Then if there were and objections,then I would nicely leave that group saying God hears all prayers including Catholic.Thats this poor sinners thought.Greg

Oh, Greg, you are much braver than me. (and probably more of an early bird!) Will give it some thought, denise

Dear Denise,

Do you mind if I relate to you a story of mine in this connection? (As if you had a choice ).

I attended a prayer breakfast and was asked to say a prayer at the beginning.

So I said the "Our Father" in the Eastern way, saying "Who art in the heavens" as opposed to "heaven."

Everyone wondered why I said it that way and then I told them I was an Eastern Catholic and I follow the original "Our Father."

"What?!"

I then explained that "heavens" means "everywhere" and our Lord was saying "Our Father Who is everywhere" when He said this.

He did not mean just "in Heaven."

But when He came to "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" He used the singular to denote Heaven itself.

The bible was enshrined at the front and when I approached it, I reverenced it as I would in my Church, making two Signs of the Cross with bows before it, then bending down to kiss the Bible, and then one more Sign of the Cross with a bow.

Afterwards, a Baptist minister came to me and said, "What a wonderful way to reverence the Word of God - I wish we Baptists did that!"

I gave him a small icon of the MOther of God which he dutifully bowed down before and kissed as I had kissed the scriptures . . .

And the organ player also approached me and said, "Although I am with the Baptists, my parents were Ruthenians under the Slovak bishop and I was baptized a Greek Catholic . . ."

A year later, I was asked to deliver a talk at the event as an Eastern Christian "wear and bring whatever you like" I was told . . .

I came wearing an Ethiopian prayer shawl and a hand Cross

One asked me, "Is that how Ukrainian Catholics dress for Church." "Not everyone," I said

My Baptist friends asked me for the places of stores where they could buy some shawls . . .

I can't wait for next year's prayer breakfast . . .

Alex

Alex,

I'm sure that there are plenty of folks I know who believe that all Byzantine Catholic women must cover their heads. (And SOME day, I hope to get back to Toronto and have the chance to visit Kensington Market.


Denise,

As for the ecumenical prayer group, if you feel drawn to it, go! As Catholics, even Eastern Catholics, we are not restricted only to prayers that are printed officially in some book. Prayer, especially intercessory prayer can simply flow from the heart. And even the vast majority of our "set" prayers wouldn't offend the ears of a Protestant Now if you want to be REALLY Eastern, when it comes to be your turn, pull out one of the Psalms...

It's a sign of the brokenness of the Body of Christ that we have qualms like this. We can't celebrate the Eucharist together, but we can pray with (and for) one another.

Sharon

Dear Sharon,

If I may, when you come again, I'll take you on a tour of Kensington Market.

There is even a place that will draw a Henna tattoo on you, if you like . . .

Alex

Denise,

Bravo to you for being interested and willing to join such a prayer group! By all means, go and participate in this group.

I don�t recommend that you use a prayer (like the �Hail Mary�) as your contribution. Your opportunity to be part of such a prayer group also presents you with the opportunity to witness your Byzantine Catholic Faith. Use of a perfectly valid prayer that is offensive to others could rob you of the opportunity to witness the fullness of the Christian Faith. While the wonderful and primary purpose of the group is, of course, to pray for those who are sick the Lord can certainly use the occasion to use to plant a few seeds among the members of the prayer group. The Lord could use you to plant the seeds that may someday lead others to embrace our Church and the fullness of the Gospel that we offer.

I recommend that you adapt and memorize one of the prayers of healing from the Mystery of Anointing service (or maybe from one of the petitions from the liturgy for the sick) and, should the opportunity for you to lead the group in prayer arise, pray it. I am positive that the prayer will both serve the prayer needs of the group as well as plant some seeds for you to witness your Byzantine Catholic Faith.

I�m not suggesting that one should purposely water down the Faith on such occasions. I am only suggesting that there is a time for emphasizing what we do hold in common (faith in Christ).

Admin

Ah,
I see I just need to let my imagination flow a bit!

Dear Administrator, do you have a link to the prayers of the Mystery of Anointing service....

Yes, my desire is not to water down my Byzantine faith, but to plant seeds.

Alex, you always have the funniest stories, and I am sure that down here in the south, there'd be more than one Baptist present at the prayer service. You mention kissing the Gospel.... out front of our church is a formerly Baptist church (non-denominational now) and whenever Father or the altar boy kisses the Gospel, I think of how the Baptists would be amazed, surprised, and pleased to see our reverence for it.
denise

Dear Denise,

Yes, I think it is incumbent upon us to develop a "Baptist Rite, " don't you think?

That's what I think the Administrator is talking about too . . .

The Orthodox have the "Evangelical Orthodox" mission and they've adapted certain Protestant, Evangelical prayer and preaching forms to the Byzantine Liturgy.

Or else our motto can be: "Hook 'em wherever you can!"

So go get 'em!

Alex