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.