Prayer requests post here!

[SeekerOfChrist94]

I know I'm not Orthodox, but I would appreciate prayers nonetheless.

I have been struggling so deeply with sexual sin as of late, as well as the devil fighting me against considering joining the Orthodox church. I am so full of doubt, regret, and shame. I feel as if I am unworthy to even step foot in a church anymore. I haven't even visited any sort of a church, regardless of denomination, in months. Prayers would be much appreciated.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Lord have mercy on you!

 

[~Anastasia~]

Prayers for you!

 

[All4Christ]

I know I'm not Orthodox, but I would appreciate prayers nonetheless.

I have been struggling so deeply with sexual sin as of late, as well as the devil fighting me against considering joining the Orthodox church. I am so full of doubt, regret, and shame. I feel as if I am unworthy to even step foot in a church anymore. I haven't even visited any sort of a church, regardless of denomination, in months. Prayers would be much appreciated.

You have my prayers.

If I may, your avatar is a perfect example of how God desires to work within us all, no matter our sins, past or present. Many struggle with sexual sin, but God can work through our struggle to bring us closer to Him. I echo your prayer, "St Mary of Egypt, please pray for us all, especially when we struggle with our sinful nature!"

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

You have my prayers.

If I may, your avatar is a perfect example of how God desires to work within us all, no matter our sins, past or present. Many struggle with sexual sin, but God can work through our struggle to bring us closer to Him. I echo your prayer, "St Mary of Egypt, please pray for us all, especially when we struggle with our sinful nature!"

That's exactly why St. Mary is my avatar. The priest at the OCA parish I visited during Lent this year told me about St. Mary when I was talking to him about my sexual sin. I feel very close to her, and, God willing, if I do end up joining the Orthodox church, I want to take her name as my baptismal name when I get chrismated. There's no saint name for me lol as my name is Jacqueline. No St. Jacqueline to be found.

Thank you for the prayers, I appreciate it very much.

 

[ArmyMatt]

There's no saint name for me lol as my name is Jacqueline. No St. Jacqueline to be found.

actually, since Jacqueline is the feminine form of Jacques (Jacob in French), you could take any Jacob or James as your patron, FYI. I have a friend whose name is Sheena, which is the feminine form of Sean (John) and her patron is St John Maximovitch

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

actually, since Jacqueline is the feminine form of Jacques (Jacob in French), you could take any Jacob or James as your patron, FYI. I have a friend whose name is Sheena, which is the feminine form of Sean (John) and her patron is St John Maximovitch

Would it be weird for a woman to take a male saint baptismal name?

 

[All4Christ]

Do you have a middle name that is associated with a saint?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Would it be weird for a woman to take a male saint baptismal name?

no, because you would still receive as Jacqueline, just like my friend does as Sheena. it's the same name, only the feminine form.

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

Do you have a middle name that is associated with a saint?

My middle name is Renae. I don't think there's a saint for that.

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

no, because you would still receive as Jacqueline, just like my friend does as Sheena. it's the same name, only the feminine form.

Oh, okay. I didn't know that. What saints named Jacob are there?

 

[~Anastasia~]

You would of course discuss this with your priest, and generally people ARE encouraged to keep their own names if they have Christian names (I had just assumed I would be Anna, but they ended up changing mine to Anastasia, which is not a great difference.). But if you feel a very great affinity for a particular Saint, that is something to consider as well.

With that said, I don't know all of the Jacobs, only Abraham's grandson, but I'm sure there are lots of them too.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Oh, okay. I didn't know that. What saints named Jacob are there?

Sts Jacob of Sitka, James the Greater, James the less, James the Persian (James is a version of Jacob as well)

 

[All4Christ]

You would of course discuss this with your priest, and generally people ARE encouraged to keep their own names if they have Christian names (I had just assumed I would be Anna, but they ended up changing mine to Anastasia, which is not a great difference.). But if you feel a very great affinity for a particular Saint, that is something to consider as well.

With that said, I don't know all of the Jacobs, only Abraham's grandson, but I'm sure there are lots of them too.

While I am very grateful to have St Laura as my saint, there are times that I wish we knew more about her life. There is something to be said about having some knowledge about your patron Saint.

That said, I by no means am saying I wish I chose a different patron Saint! I'm very thankful for her prayers for me!

(However, it is something to consider if the only saint with a person's name is very unknown.)

 

[All4Christ]

My middle name is Renae. I don't think there's a saint for that.

The closest I could find is also a man (Latin pre-schism Saint)...so perhaps not the right choice. It is an interesting piece of trivia though!

Saint Renatus of Angers (Saint-René d'Angers)
The first story of the lesser known Saint-René began when the Italian Saint Maurilius, the bishop of the French city of Angers (Anjou) in the 5th century, was one day called to assist a moribund child. Unfortunately he was detained by a pressing task in the church, and arrived too late to minister the sacrament of baptism to the child. Feeling responsible for the loss, Maurice decided to expiate it, and left Angers in secret and embarked upon a ship, throwing the keys to the cathedral's treasury into the high seas. He then went further to England, to work as the royal gardener. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Angers had found the keys inside the liver of a big fish which was caught by the local fishermen. They traced the whereabouts of the bishop to England and convinced him to return to their city. Arriving at Angers, Maurilius prayed at the dead child's tomb, and, in a miracle, the child resuscitated, smiling, "fresh as the flowers growing on the tomb". Because of this Maurilius baptized the boy as René (French for re-born and Renatus). René later succeeded Maurilius as the bishop of Angers, and came to sainthood himself, as Saint René.

Saint-René is mostly venerated in France on November 12.

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

The closest I could find is also a man (Latin pre-schism Saint)...so perhaps not the right choice. It is an interesting piece of trivia though!

Saint Renatus of Angers (Saint-René d'Angers)
The first story of the lesser known Saint-René began when the Italian Saint Maurilius, the bishop of the French city of Angers (Anjou) in the 5th century, was one day called to assist a moribund child. Unfortunately he was detained by a pressing task in the church, and arrived too late to minister the sacrament of baptism to the child. Feeling responsible for the loss, Maurice decided to expiate it, and left Angers in secret and embarked upon a ship, throwing the keys to the cathedral's treasury into the high seas. He then went further to England, to work as the royal gardener. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Angers had found the keys inside the liver of a big fish which was caught by the local fishermen. They traced the whereabouts of the bishop to England and convinced him to return to their city. Arriving at Angers, Maurilius prayed at the dead child's tomb, and, in a miracle, the child resuscitated, smiling, "fresh as the flowers growing on the tomb". Because of this Maurilius baptized the boy as René (French for re-born and Renatus). René later succeeded Maurilius as the bishop of Angers, and came to sainthood himself, as Saint René.

Saint-René is mostly venerated in France on November 12.

Thank you for providing me with this information. I also agree with what you said, that knowing about the life of one's patron saint. This is why I feel very close to St. Mary of Egypt, but I will read up on the other saints mentioned to me. Thank you.

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

Sts Jacob of Sitka, James the Greater, James the less, James the Persian (James is a version of Jacob as well)

Thank you

 

[All4Christ]

Thank you for providing me with this information. I also agree with what you said, that knowing about the life of one's patron saint. This is why I feel very close to St. Mary of Egypt, but I will read up on the other saints mentioned to me. Thank you.

I was chrismated on the Sunday that we remember St Mary of Egypt. I always felt close to her as well!

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

I was chrismated on the Sunday that we remember St Mary of Egypt. I always felt close to her as well!

Wow that's amazing!

 

[rusmeister]

I'd like to say thanks again to those who said a prayer for me. Getting everything I needed just before holiday shutdown after a few weeks of being semi-legal pushed me to the edge. I'm still prostrate a lot, but at least no worries now.
Glory to God!!!