In saying the rosary, it is hard to keep from distractions. What if you
don't pay attention all the way through?
The rosary is mainly a mental prayer. While saying the Hail Mary's, like a chant or mantra in the background, we are supposed to be meditating and concentrating on the mysteries which are announced for each decade. As in all our prayers, we should struggle against deliberate distractions and try to focus our thoughts upon our communication with God. Involuntary distractions are often unavoidable, however, given the psychological make-up of the human mind. In the rosary, it would be impossible to concentrate on the words of each of the fifty Hail Mary's. We should not even try to do that. In our efforts to place ourselves and our thoughts in the presence of God when we pray, we should also depend on God's grace. God, after all, rewards effort in this area more than success. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 2729.
Reprinted from July 30, 1999
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?
A novena is any series of prayers purposely offered in a series of nine - for nine consecutive weeks, etc. Novenas are always private devotions, that is, they are not part of the official liturgy of the Church, even though sometimes they are done publicly, led by a priest, etc. The number nine is always used because of the nine days that Mary and the apostles waited in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14; 2:1). Usually novenas are prayed for a particular intention, or in honor of the Person of Christ or in veneration of some saint. The best way to avoid superstition in their use is to use only novenas approved by Church authorities (i.e., a bishop) and always pray with total resignation to God's holy will, never claiming to be able to "manipulate God," which would be blasphemy. You can tell non-Catholics what is said here, but remember: "To those who believe, no explanation is necessary and to those who do not, no explanation is possible."
Reprinted from April 2, 1999
Why is receiving Holy Communion on First Fridays important?
In some private revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century our Lord promised that those who would receive Holy Communion in honor of His Sacred Heart on nine consecutive First Fridays would not die without receiving all the help necessary for their eternal salvation, Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the grand symbol of His infinite love, tenderness and mercy, is widely practiced in the Catholic Church. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart in the United States is celebrated on the Friday after "Corpus Christi," the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (two weeks after Pentecost Sunday).
Reprinted from May 7, 1999
Why do Protestants
add the words… "for thine is the kingdom, etc." to the Lord's
Prayer?
That doxology which is sometimes added to the Lord's Prayer is very ancient, but it is not part of that prayer itself, as contained in the Bible (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). It was first found in the important Christian document called the "Didache," which dates probably from about the year A.D. 90. Protestantism was only in vented in the 16th century, so the doxology is actually a Catholic prayer. For more information about this matter consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 2760.
Reprinted from May 14, 1999
Why do some prayers use such expressions as "thee" and "thou"?
In the English language the second person singular pronoun has become an archaic usage. The second person plural "you" is now used generally for both the singular and the plural. Prayers are usually the last group of writings and sayings to change when language changes. Also, sometimes the older expressions, consecrated by generations of use, lend a certain dignity and elegance to the expression, which it is desirable to maintain. This is also the case with some verbs and the "st" and "th" form, e.g. "givest," "sayeth," etc.
Reprinted from March 26, 1999
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?
While there is no defined Catholic doctrine about this matter, the Tradition of the Church, Christian custom throughout the ages, many private revelations, and the teaching and practice of the saints through the centuries all indicate that such awareness exists. Many saints have taught that the souls in purgatory, while unable to help themselves, are not only able to be helped by our prayers and Masses, but also are able to pray for us even before they enter heaven. It is a defined doctrine of our Catholic Faith (in the Council of Trent) that the saints in heaven can hear our prayers and can intercede for us before the throne of Almighty God.
Reprinted from January 22, 1999
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?
Temporal punishment is in contrast to eternal punishment. Even after the sins are forgiven, the damage which they do to the soul of the sinner, to the whole Church and other people remains. This must be repaired and restitution made. If this is not done in one's lifetime, it must be done in purgatory. The souls in purgatory can be helped by our prayers and their temporal punishment thereby remitted, mitigated and shortened. Read about this in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 1030-1032 and 1472-1479.
Reprinted from December 24, 1998
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?
No prayers are worthless. Even if one does not obtain a plenary indulgence, the prayers might merit a partial indulgence. Also, if there is not any indulgence attached to some prayers or devotions, they can still be of immense value for the person saying or doing them and for those for whom they are said and done.
Reprinted from January 22, 1999
What is the temptation" that we, in the Lord's Prayer, ask God not to
lead us into?
The English phrase is difficult to understand apart from the Greek original here. It is a request to God not to allow us, by His grace, to enter into sinful temptation and not to permit us to yield to temptation. It also is a wish that God not subject us to a certain kind of trial. This petition in the "Our Father" is treated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 2846-2849. I suggest you study it there.
Reprinted from September 18, 1998