Why do you guys say the lords prayer over and over again when in matthew 6:9-, but just 2 verses up matthew 6:7 it says do not say the same thing over and over in prayer.

"...they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words"

out fo the mouth of the man you follow in praying word for word.

I'm catholic, so I should be able to answer this....but alas.

they dont say it over and over agin in trying to look good for praying alot. thats what that quote means. dont just keep saying the same shit over and ovr so it looks like youve prayed alot, say stuff you mean and mean it when you say it. so they mean the lords prayer, as it is very important in being taught to us by god, and say it alot to remind themselves what is truly important.

It says do not babble, as in do not make long winded prayers, something the Lord's prayer wouldn't be.

but the lord prayer was meant as an example to follow, not word for word. you can still ask for the same things, just not repeating word for word. oh well, thsi can go on forever.

i got another question, when catholic people touch their shoulders and forehead is this mean the father, the son and the holy sprit. or the trinity. or does it mean the cross. teh cross is what orthodox people do, but im not sure about catholics i onyl see them do three, not like in monty python: "specticles, testicles, pocket and watch"

When I was a Catholic, it was "Father, son and Holy Ghost" with the "holy ghost" part taking up the shoulders.

I'd actually have to look up and see specifically that it's that. The cross seems just as likely.

You can go a bit more backwards to Matthew 6.5-6.6 where Jesus suggests to pray privately and not in public. Strange how christianity contradicts its founder.

because it is the Lords prayer. it is the Words that Christ gave to the disciples when they asked how to pray.

when scripture says that, i think its meant like

oh God you are great

oh God you are great

coz when u say it over and over and over it sort of loses its meaning, and you may not be saying it from your heart

quote:Originally posted by person:

because it is the Lords prayer. it is the Words that Christ gave to the disciples when they asked how to pray.

when scripture says that, i think its meant like

oh God you are great

oh God you are great

coz when u say it over and over and over it sort of loses its meaning, and you may not be saying it from your heart



precisely...

I hope to put more info in catholic discussion over the next year... im going into my sophomore year at xaverian in MA, so they give us a superior theology course (not just catholic teachings, but basic religious philosophy and analyzation of all mainstream religion)

so i hope to start posting in topics like this which i avidly read...

so watch for me

Seven years of catholic school and sunday school, but i can't give an answer to you that i learnt there.

Don't say it for the sake of it.

quote:Originally posted by elfstone:

You can go a bit more backwards to Matthew 6.5-6.6 where Jesus suggests to pray privately and not in public. Strange how christianity contradicts its founder.

It doesnt comand you to do that. Pray privately, blessed openly. Pray openly, blessed privately.

The first half of Matthew 6 is about intent in prayer, fasting, etc. and is not an instruction manual on how to do these things, but rather the intent that should lay behind doing them.



The later half is about letting go...

[that's my take on it anyway]

quote:Originally posted by ArgonPlasma2000:

It doesnt comand you to do that. Pray privately, blessed openly. Pray openly, blessed privately.

What verse of the ArgonPlasma gospel is that?