Intercessory Prayer

FaithT · Sunday at 10:46 PM

The thread about amethyst crystals got me thinking about healing. New Agers believe crystals and other stones can have health benefits but when I googled it AI Overview said that there’s no evidence that healing stones work.
That made me think about something I posted long ago. Christianity and intercessory prayer studies, and the one considered the gold standard of studies called STEP. i did more googling about whether prayer has a positive impact on health and it doesn’t sound like it does. That goes against what the Church teaches. What are we to make of this?

Michie · Monday at 6:58 AM

In fact, we have shown that intercessory prayer for the wellbeing of a loved one not only improves relationship outcomes but also the praying person’s myocardial functioning - oxygen use and blood receipt by the heart occurred without it having to work as hard compared to persons in meditation or no prayer conditions.

Continued below.

What Can Science Say About the Study of Prayer?

A study funded by the John Templeton Foundation reveals surprising insights about the scientific study of intercessory prayer.

www.templeton.org

Science Has No Measure for Strength of Prayer | Department of Earth Sciences

By Dr. Robert Thorson Prayer doesn't work. That's what some atheists are saying about the largest and most careful study of intercessory prayer ev ...

earthsciences.uconn.edu

Why Science Can NEVER Disprove Prayer

In this episode Trent shows why studies of intercessory prayer can never prove the atheist claim that "nothing fails like prayer."

www.catholic.com

Haven’t studies proven that prayer doesn’t make any difference? | Lee Strobel & Mark Mittelberg

Haven’t studies proven that prayer doesn’t make any difference? By Lee Strobel & Mark Mittelberg Haven’t studies proven that prayer doesn’t make any difference? The Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP), conducted under the auspices of the Harvard Medical School, is a well

thinke.org

FaithT · Monday at 12:04 PM

Michie said:
In fact, we have shown that intercessory prayer for the wellbeing of a loved one not only improves relationship outcomes but also the praying person’s myocardial functioning - oxygen use and blood receipt by the heart occurred without it having to work as hard compared to persons in meditation or no prayer conditions.

Continued below.

What Can Science Say About the Study of Prayer?

A study funded by the John Templeton Foundation reveals surprising insights about the scientific study of intercessory prayer.

www.templeton.org

Science Has No Measure for Strength of Prayer | Department of Earth Sciences

By Dr. Robert Thorson Prayer doesn't work. That's what some atheists are saying about the largest and most careful study of intercessory prayer ev ...

earthsciences.uconn.edu

Why Science Can NEVER Disprove Prayer

In this episode Trent shows why studies of intercessory prayer can never prove the atheist claim that "nothing fails like prayer."

www.catholic.com

Haven’t studies proven that prayer doesn’t make any difference? | Lee Strobel & Mark Mittelberg

Haven’t studies proven that prayer doesn’t make any difference? By Lee Strobel & Mark Mittelberg Haven’t studies proven that prayer doesn’t make any difference? The Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP), conducted under the auspices of the Harvard Medical School, is a well

thinke.org

I skimmed through these articles and video but will read and listen more carefully later on. Thanks for your help! Where do you find all these good articles?

Michie · Monday at 1:06 PM

FaithT said:
I skimmed through these articles and video but will read and listen more carefully later on. Thanks for your help! Where do you find all these good articles?

I saved a bunch of them if I feel they are worth saving. Catholic Answers always has good ones which usually lead to more detailed info. I hope they help!

RileyG · Monday at 2:34 PM

FaithT said:
I skimmed through these articles and video but will read and listen more carefully later on. Thanks for your help! Where do you find all these good articles?

I’ve also heard people who prayed for past events showed positive results. It’s called retroactive prayer!

RileyG · Monday at 2:34 PM

Michie said:
I saved a bunch of them if I feel they are worth saving. Catholic Answers always has good ones which usually lead to more detailed info. I hope they help!

Thanks for sharing!

FaithT · Monday at 4:39 PM

i can understand how different results occur during various studies but if God can or does answer prayer, shouldn’t there be SOME indication that God answered them sometimes? I mean, don’t all the studies prove prayer has no effect whatsoever? And if so, what’s the point of prayer other than thanking God?

RileyG · Monday at 4:54 PM

FaithT said:
i can understand how different results occur during various studies but if God can or does answer prayer, shouldn’t there be SOME indication that God answered them sometimes? I mean, don’t all the studies prove prayer has no effect whatsoever? And if so, what’s the point of prayer other than thanking God?

You know the old saying "God works in mysterious ways?"

FaithT · 2025-11-11T01:57:10-0600

RileyG said:
You know the old saying "God works in mysterious ways?"

Yeah but sorry, that isn’t helpful for me.

fide · 2025-11-12T04:48:18-0600

FaithT said:
i can understand how different results occur during various studies but if God can or does answer prayer, shouldn’t there be SOME indication that God answered them sometimes? I mean, don’t all the studies prove prayer has no effect whatsoever? And if so, what’s the point of prayer other than thanking God?

The point of prayer is that, it is the path of our vocation: we are made for holy fellowship with the Trinity. God created us to share in His Being, His Love, His Happiness. To share in His very Life, we must grow into the "image and likeness" of Him Himself. Thus, the "growing into" is a journey, a path, a process of maturation toward fruitfulness in the beautiful fruits of Love.

This process, or pilgrimage, is one of less and less about me, and more and more about the giving of self for the good of another - or others. Witness: Jesus - in His Sacred humanity - dying on the Cross, for others, doing the will of the Father in the Spirit of the Son. This must be our path, and the path of holy prayer: to give, for the sake of the others.

Thus the path of prayer is the path to death of self, and the finding of a glorious and new self made in the "image and likeness" of our Creator God. This is the will of the Father in creating human beings: His will, His intention is our purpose, our vocation. Those who find it and walk in it will find Life!

FaithT · 2025-11-12T09:42:49-0600

fide said:
The point of prayer is that, it is the path of our vocation: we are made for holy fellowship with the Trinity. God created us to share in His Being, His Love, His Happiness. To share in His very Life, we must grow into the "image and likeness" of Him Himself. Thus, the "growing into" is a journey, a path, a process of maturation toward fruitfulness in the beautiful fruits of Love.

This process, or pilgrimage, is one of less and less about me, and more and more about the giving of self for the good of another - or others. Witness: Jesus - in His Sacred humanity - dying on the Cross, for others, doing the will of the Father in the Spirit of the Son. This must be our path, and the path of holy prayer: to give, for the sake of the others.

Thus the path of prayer is the path to death of self, and the finding of a glorious and new self made in the "image and likeness" of our Creator God. This is the will of the Father in creating human beings: His will, His intention is our purpose, our vocation. Those who find it and walk in it will find Life!

You didnt answer my other questions.

Michie · 2025-11-12T09:59:47-0600

Prayer can sometimes feel like a waste of effort. If battling distractions during prayer isn’t bad enough, or coming away from prayer feeling dry or exhausted rather than refreshed, there are also the nagging doubts.

What am I doing this for, anyway? Does my prayer really make a difference in the world around me, or is it just changing me? And if it does make a difference, why on Earth (or perhaps why in heaven) does it? After all, God knows everything, so I’m not telling him anything he doesn’t already know.

What’s more, he’s got a perfect, divine plan, and nothing I propose is going to improve on it. Why not say simply, “Thy will be done,” and be done with it?

If you’re feeling this way, you should know that you’re not alone and that the Bible actually points us to good answers to these questions. Jesus promises that “whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matt. 21:22). And St. James tells us that “the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects” (James 5:6).

Continued below.

What Difference Does Prayer Make?

You’re not alone in asking what difference does prayer make? The Bible points us to good answers to this question when the world is filled with distraction.

www.catholic.com

Michie · 2025-11-12T10:01:23-0600

A-I summary:
Yes, from a Catholic perspective, prayer has positive effects that strengthen one's relationship with God, provide inner peace, and lead to personal growth
. Prayer can also motivate individuals to take positive action in the world and help them make better decisions, even as some effects are believed to come from God's direct action.

Spiritual and emotional benefits

Strengthens relationship with God: Prayer is seen as a way to build a relationship with God, giving direction and purpose in life.
Promotes peace: Consistent prayer can lead to a greater sense of peace and reduce anxiety.
Builds resilience: Focusing on gratitude and hope through prayer can build emotional resilience, especially in difficult situations.
Provides comfort: Prayer can be a comforting and calming practice that offers solace.

Personal and moral development

Guides decisions: Prayer can help individuals make the right decisions for themselves and for others.
Fosters virtue: It helps develop virtues like faith and love, and can lead to a more faithful and resilient person.
Motivates action: Prayer can be a catalyst for positive actions in the world, from helping others to working for social justice.

Potential for external effects

Aids in helping others: Prayer can help people work to make the world a better place.
Influences events: Catholics believe that God may will some events to occur as a direct result of prayer, making it a real and powerful cause of an effect.

Scientific perspective

Reduces stress: Studies suggest that prayer can reduce psychological stress, regardless of the specific faith tradition.
Improves outlook: A positive outlook associated with faith-filled prayer has been linked to better health outcomes.

Michie · 2025-11-12T10:03:11-0600

AI Overview

Catholic teachings explain that God always hears prayers, but "answers" them in ways that align with His will, which may not be what we ask for
. This can be because our motives are selfish, we are living in unconfessed sin, or God's timing is different, as He prioritizes our eternal salvation over our immediate desires. A delay in an answer is not a denial, and God may use suffering to bring about a greater good or to draw us closer to Him.

Michie · 2025-11-12T10:06:34-0600

CHALLENGE
“Unanswered prayer disproves Christ’s teaching on prayer. Jesus said, ‘If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you’ (Matt. 17:20b). But experience shows that we can’t do such things by prayer.”

DEFENSE
Jesus’ teaching is more complex than this challenge suggests. It doesn’t involve a promise that we’ll always get what we ask.
First, Jesus makes the statement when the disciples have just failed to exorcise a demon. When they ask why they were unable to drive it out, he says, “Because of your little faith” (Matt. 17:20a). If the apostles, who were accustomed to working miracles, including driving out demons (Matt. 10:1, 5–8), could have inadequate faith, then we may, too. (Also, in this instance the disciples were trying to cast out a particularly powerful type of demon; Mark 9:29).

Continued below.

Unanswered Prayer

DAY 338 CHALLENGE “Unanswered prayer disproves Christ’s teaching on prayer. Jesus said, ‘If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to t...

www.catholic.com

Why doesn’t God always answer our prayers? - The Catholic Voice

We’ve been discussing the Catechism’s teaching on personal prayer, most recently the objections to and difficulties people have in prayer. In today’s column, we consider why so many prayers seem… Read More

catholicvoiceomaha.com

Why doesn’t God answer my prayers? - Catholic Digest

God doesn’t always give us what we want, but there are some prayers God always says “yes” to

www.catholicdigest.com

9:38

Michie · 2025-11-12T10:09:06-0600

Can science find God? If God is defined as a being (or perhaps “the ground of being”) that is neither composed of matter nor confined to a spatial location, then the answer seems to be no. After all, science is limited to explaining the natural, physical world. If God exists beyond that world and is not composed of anything found within it, then he seems to be out of the reach of scientific inquiry.

But even if science can’t “find” God in the same way I can find my car in a parking lot, maybe it can indirectly find him. After all, if God affects the physical world, then couldn’t scientific experiments detect those effects and then infer from them that God exists?

One common interaction between God and the universe that believers and nonbelievers think can be tested is prayer—specifically, intercessory prayer for other people. This testing usually takes the form of “prayer studies” that test whether praying for the sick results in more positive health outcomes.

Continued below.

Prayer, Science, and the Existence of God

Can science find God? If God is defined as a being (or perhaps “the ground of being”) that is neither composed of matter nor confined to a spatial location, the...

www.catholic.com

Intercessory Prayer

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