Praying for the Past

[Spotty]

Hey all,

Was in the ol' bathroom today and was thinking, as men do in the throne room, about something that had crossed my mind a while back.

Can we as Christians, praying to God who exists outside of time, pray for the past and the perseverance of those gone before us? Granted, this may not be the kind of prayer which we should focus a great deal on given the fulfilled actions of past events, but God is timeless, and if our prayers can be heard 2000 years ago (or whenever) then why not offer them to God today as he would hear them and apply them to thier respective times and events?

A certain amount of predestination may inevitably fall into this category, and knowing my luck I'll probably blow the entire space/time continuim by praying for the past, but I found it interesting. I was reading the letters of St. Perpetua in the early 3rd century when she and her companions were martyred and the visions they had before their martyrdom - they were some of the most beautiful readings I've read in a long while, and my heart went out to them during their sufferings and I wanted the timeless God to know that my thoughts and prayers are with them.

Anyway - just something I thought of. Opinions?

God Bless!

-Spotty

 

[Spotty]

well.....I thought it was interesting.

 

[nyj]

Opinions?

Personally (I just saw this thread), I think it is possible. I think this is something we all should do. If the adage is true that "time heals all wounds" then perhaps it is part of our duty to pray for those who, in previous generations, would have gone unprayed for.

 

[Veritas]

Well, Fr. DeGrandis a charismatic priest has a book on the healing of memories. I suppose that if you can heal your memories that are based on past events, you could indeed pray for the past. I don't know the efficacy of such prayers, however. Interesting thought. Guess you'll just have to spend more time on the John.

 

[Spotty]

More time on the john it is! Thank you both for your input.

-Spotty

 

[boughtwithaprice]

Hey all,

Was in the ol' bathroom today and was thinking, as men do in the throne room, about something that had crossed my mind a while back.

Can we as Christians, praying to God who exists outside of time, pray for the past and the perseverance of those gone before us? Granted, this may not be the kind of prayer which we should focus a great deal on given the fulfilled actions of past events, but God is timeless, and if our prayers can be heard 2000 years ago (or whenever) then why not offer them to God today as he would hear them and apply them to thier respective times and events?

A certain amount of predestination may inevitably fall into this category, and knowing my luck I'll probably blow the entire space/time continuim by praying for the past, but I found it interesting. I was reading the letters of St. Perpetua in the early 3rd century when she and her companions were martyred and the visions they had before their martyrdom - they were some of the most beautiful readings I've read in a long while, and my heart went out to them during their sufferings and I wanted the timeless God to know that my thoughts and prayers are with them.

Anyway - just something I thought of. Opinions?

God Bless!

-Spotty

I always try to remember that with God, all things are possible. My opinion is that what you thought of to pray for is a beautiful way to be a part of the communion of saints. Thanks for the post