Bidding Prayers
Blogged by James Preece 15th January 2008 (6 months ago)
Richard over at Bashing Secularism has expressed his distaste for open floor bidding prayers during the mass. I have to say, I have heard some classics.
There was the time a lady said "I would like to pray for peace on earth, Lord hear us..." and before anyone could say "Lord graciously hear us" the priest interjected "No! We're not praying for that! Let's pray for something God can actually do."
My favourites though are the ones that go "Can we all pray for the meeting of the whatever at 4pm on Thursday and can everybody remember to bring £2 for the raffle and a contribution towards a shared table. Lord hear us..."
It's the same priest in both cases and funnily enough he never feels the need to correct the latter. Perhaps bidding prayers are intended for laypeople to use them as advertisements? Perhaps the smooth running of parish events is something God can do?
I shouldn't tell you which priest or where because what goes on at mass is totally secret and we are forbidden to speak of it afterwards under any circumstances. Especially on blogs. Let's just say I wasn't in Nottingham.
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Tags: Richard Marsden Bashing Secularism Bidding Prayers
Ella said...
Interesting blog entry, I know you did not say who but I feel that though you could mention the actual bidding prayers it is uncharitable to dig up something from 2 years ago and use it as if it is comon place, the last two masses we have been to there have not been like that and I feel you are not justified to name and shame when he has changed some of the emphisis of his mass!
James said...
I did say they were 'some classics', classic's are always old...
You are right, on the whole, most of the time, the majority of occasions, the bidding prayers are not so bad.