Part of the issue is one of language. “To pray” simply means “to ask.” Protestants typically use the word “pray” in a restrictive sense, limiting it to requests made only to God. Catholics sometimes use the word “pray” in a less restrictive sense, allowing its use for requests made to God, but also to other people and to angels. When we pray to God, there is an aspect of worship combined with the asking. When we pray to others, it is merely asking, with no element of worship.

The less-restrictive usage of “pray” is what we find in the Bible, most apparent in the older English translations, like the Protestant King James Version. (The Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible has similar passages, but for this article, I’ll limit citations to the KJV.)

Several verses in the KJV record people praying to God (no surprise there!), but also people praying to other people, people praying to angels, people praying to others asking them to pray to God for them, and even an occurrance of God praying to man. Let’s take a look:
 
PRAY CAN MEAN TO ASK GOD FOR SOMETHING:

“And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.” (Genesis 24:12 KJV) [One of Abraham’s servants to God]

“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” (Judges 16:28 KJV) [Samson praying to God]

“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17 KJV)

“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” (Acts 8:22 KJV) [St. Peter telling Simon the Magician that he needs to pray to God for forgiveness]

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV) [St. Paul praying for his readers]

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” (2 Timothy 4:16 KJV) [St. Paul praying for those who forsook him]

PRAY CAN ALSO MEAN TO ASK ANOTHER PERSON FOR SOMETHING:

“Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee” (Genesis 12:13 KJV) [Abram to his wife Sarai]

“And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” (Genesis 13:8 KJV) [Abram to his nephew Lot]

“Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:9 KJV) [Abram to Lot]

“And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.” (Genesis 16:2 KJV) [Sarai to Abram]

“And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.” (Genesis 23:13 KJV) [Abraham to Ephron (the son of Zohar the Hittite)]

“And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:” (Genesis 24:2 KJV) [Abraham nearing death, telling his servant to go get a wife for Isaac]

“And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:” (Genesis 37:6 KJV) [The patriarch Joseph to his brothers]

PEOPLE CAN PRAY TO OTHERS ASKING THEM TO PRAY TO GOD FOR THEM:

“Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.” (Jeremiah 21:2 KJV) [King Zedekiah sent Pashur and Melchiah to Jeremiah to ask him this. They prayed to Jeremiah that he would pray to the Lord for them]

SOME EXAMPLES OF MAN PRAYING TO ANGELS:

“Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree” (Genesis 18:4 KJV) [Abraham to the “three men” who were angels of the Lord]

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.” (Genesis 19:1–2 KJV) [Lot to the angels who visited him at Sodom]

EXAMPLES OF GOD PRAYING TO MAN:

“And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.” (Isaiah 5:3 KJV) [God is asking those in Jerusalem to render a judgement]

“And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:9 KJV) [The wording here could indicate that Malachi is asking people to ask God for his graciousness; but the “saith the LORD of hosts” at the end could indicate that God is praying (asking) us to pray to Him.]

SOME ADDITIONAL NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES:

“And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.” (Luke 14:19 KJV) [from Jesus’ parable of the Marriage Feast; here, Jesus is putting the expression “I pray thee” in the mouth of one of the people in the parable as he addresses another person]

“And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?” (Acts 8:34 KJV) [the Ethiopian eunuch to the deacon Philip]

“Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.” (Acts 24:4 KJV) [the orator Tertullus speaking to the governor Felix against Paul]

“Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.” (Acts 27:34 KJV) [Paul speaking to the soldiers and others who were shipwrecked with him]

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV) [Paul and Timothy writing to fellow Christians]

Earlier this week, an opinion piece entitled “Skipping Christmas“ on the Associated Baptist Press’ website addressed this trend. Brett Younger wrote:

The big issue is not that people will skip church on Sunday. The real problem is that churches are failing to tell the truth about Christmas. … On Sunday, Christians would do well to gather, sing, pray and listen to the story. We should celebrate by remembering the first Christmas and giving ourselves again to the one born in Bethlehem.

In general, I agree (although I take odds with the part about skipping Sunday worship not being a “big issue”; Christians ought to worship every Sunday). I chimed in with this comment:

I think the Catholic Church has the right emphasis on Christmas. It is a holy day of obligation regardless of what day of the week it falls on. Gathering together for worship is the primary emphasis of this holiday (holy-day), and the rest (family meals, exchanging gifts, etc.) is secondary. Perhaps all Christian congregations regardless of denomination should be encouraged to have a Christmas Day service every year, even if it isn’t on Sunday. Our culture won’t “put the Christ back in Christmas” if we believers don’t do it first.

When asked what my family and I will be doing for Christmas, I try to make a point to my friends, extended family and coworkers that we’ll be attending mass. I’m not obnoxious about it, but I try to gently convey that worship is the main purpose of the holiday. After all, it is “Christ’s Mass,” the day we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord.

So if you get in conversations today, encourage people to worship either at a Christmas Eve service or a Christmas Day service. That’s the real meaning of Christmas!

It’s quite telling. In the 31 states where voters have been given the choice to defend marriage or redefine it, the traditional definition of marriage has always won.

See the full email message here.

It seems to be a perfect catechism for young people. But frankly it looks pretty enjoyable for a forty-something like myself.

Pope Benedict XVI gives it a strong recommendation in his foreword:

So I invite you: Study this Catechism! That is my heartfelt desire. This Catechism was not written to please you. It will not make life easy for you, because it demands of you a new life. It places before you the Gospel message as the “pearl of great value” (Mt 13:46) for which you must give everything. So I beg you: Study this Catechism with passion and perseverance. Make a sacrifice of your time for it! Study it in the quiet of your room; read it with a friend; form study groups and networks; share with each other on the Internet. By all means continue to talk with each other about your faith.

YOUCAT is published by Ignatius Press. Get one soon…I’ll be getting mine!

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/killing-bin-laden-catholic-perspective

The Vatican has released this statement this morning on the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed by American forces in Pakistan:

“This morning, following the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, P. Federico Lombardi, issued the following statement to reporters:

Osama Bin Laden – as everyone knows – has had the gravest responsibility for spreading hatred and division among people, causing the deaths of countless people, and exploiting religion for this purpose.

Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibility of everyone before God and man, and hopes and pledges that every event is not an opportunity for a further growth of hatred, but of peace.”

Pink paint was sprayed on the face and hands, and the $80,000 statue was tagged elsewhere with offensive symbols. Church officials believe the vandalism probably happened during the early-morning hours on Sunday; it was discovered by members arriving for early Easter services on Sunday.

The newspaper also reports that the pink paint was successfully removed on Monday (today). Read the full story or view the photo gallery.

Unplanned by Abby Johnson, available from Ignatius Press

If reports are true, Abby Johnson will be entering into full communion with the Catholic Church at this evening’s Easter Vigil Mass.

Johnson is the former abortion clinic administrator turned pro-life activist, who recently penned the book Unplanned. A news release from the USCCB entitled Thousands around the country will join Catholic Church at Easter includes her as one prominent new Catholic:

In the Austin, Texas, area, Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director and author of the bestselling book “Unplanned,” is getting ready for yet another “unplanned” conversion that will bring her into the Catholic Church. In September 2009, Johnson was asked to hold the ultrasound probe during an abortion. In the monitor, she saw the baby struggle to get away. This experience, and her unease with Planned Parenthood’s emphasis on increasing abortions, gave her the courage to leave her job and undertake a journey of conversion. She went to the Coalition for Life’s office down the street, a Christian pro-life organization whose members were a constant, prayerful and peaceful presence outside the clinic. There she received practical help as she navigated joblessness, legal problems with Planned Parenthood and broken friendships. Her pro-life advocacy also met the disapproval of her pro-choice church. Many of her new friends are Catholic, and through them she has learned about the faith. She and her family will join the Church at Easter, along with 911 others in the Austin Diocese.

http://www.jimmyakin.org/2011/03/lent-fight-update.html

Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers provides a great guide for various Lent questions. Enjoy!