Prayers over pope John Paul's tomb

mrkdips

Why every morning from 7am Rome time there are prayers being said over the popes tomb. If u watch the live webcam it shows the cardinals etc. presiding. Does anyone know why

mrkdips

Log on right now to Vatican webcam as its after seven over there. They are praying again. Apparently from looking at the Internet - I know shouldn't be believing it - these prayers have taken place every morning since pope said he was resigning. Just curious does any one know why

martinedwards

they can peace and quiet away from the media glare over the resignation?

that's probably not right.......

totus tuus

I would imagine that the Cardinals are praying to the Pope asking for his intercession on choosing a successor! JPII was the last Pope to have died in office, whereas Benedict retired!

Pwpane

totus tuus wrote: »

I would imagine that the Cardinals are praying to the Pope asking for his intercession on choosing a successor! JPII was the last Pope to have died in office, whereas Benedict retired!

Would this be more worthwhile than praying to Jesus? Would Jesus be more inclined to listen then?

Pwpane

@ totus tuus

Here we are all sinners, in heaven there are no sinners only saints! You are praying to Jesus together with the saints in Heaven - more impact that way! "

Oh, okay. I thought Jesus listened to everybody, didn't think you needed 'impact'. It's also a bit odd that the cardinals would need to pray so hard for guidance in selecting the new Pope. Would the Holy Spirit not be with them at the Conclave when they are all gathered together in Jesus' name?

lmaopml

mrkdips wrote: »

Log on right now to Vatican webcam as its after seven over there. They are praying again. Apparently from looking at the Internet - I know shouldn't be believing it - these prayers have taken place every morning since pope said he was resigning. Just curious does any one know why

In Catholic theology, those who have gone before us pray with us all the time - It's part of the communion of the 'Body of Christ' - in other words, one part of the body is not split from the other parts in heaven, but are one in their prayers all the time for and in eachother.

The Cardinals would be praying with previous Popes that their hearts and minds are fully open to the Holy Spirit, and that they act as one in him before conclave.

CollardGreens

Isn't it too late to pray for somebody after they are dead, according to the Bible?

I believe it is but can't think of the verse right off the top of my head.

On another note, shouldn't we pray to Jesus since he is alive and not pray to the dead?


I'm not Catholic, so maybe this is something other faiths do that I don't understand, I just get my info straight out of the Bible and haven't seen where it does any good to pray to the dead (and I do mean this respectful).

Peregrinus

CollardGreens wrote: »

Isn't it too late to pray for somebody after they are dead, according to the Bible?

That’s a point of difference between Catholic/Orthodox/Oriental Christians on the one hand, and Protestant Christians on the other.

But, actually, it’s not what’s at issue here. The prayers taking place at JPII’s tomb are not (so far as I know) prayers for him. Rather, they are prayers with him.

Pretty well all Christian traditions pray collectively as well as individually, and even in the most rigorously Protestant communities it is common to ask fellow-Christians to pray with you, either generally, or for a particular purpose or intention. And I think all Christians also seek to pray with the church at large.

Catholics take the communion of saints very seriously, and see it as a real, living thing which unites the church on earth and the church in heaven. Therefore they see no problem about joining in prayer with someone who is already dead, or about invoking the prayers of such a person. And that, I’m pretty sure, is what’s going on at the tomb of JPII; those participating are invoking the prayers of JPII for the immediate needs of the church (with respect to the election of the next pope). The don’t see the fact that somebody has died as something which would prevent him from joining in prayer with them.

CollardGreens

Catholics take the communion of saints very seriously, and see it as a real, living thing which unites the church on earth and the church in heaven. Therefore they see no problem about joining in prayer with someone who is already dead, or about invoking the prayers of such a person. And that, I’m pretty sure, is what’s going on at the tomb of JPII; those participating are invoking the prayers of JPII for the immediate needs of the church (with respect to the election of the next pope). The don’t see the fact that somebody has died as something which would prevent him from joining in prayer with them.

Thank you for explaining this to me. I did say my ex husband was a Catholic, but he was not a practicing Catholic and never told me any of the things that the Catholics believed....I actually don't think he really knew. The particular Catholic church he took me too was not very, well, they didn't really accept an outsider but I don't judge all of them on that one church ~ I have some wonderful Catholic friends and we talk about God all the time. It seems the local church they attend is different and a very giving church!

Geomy

Praying over a pope,I thought there was only one God but God...

Is praying to the Pope idolatry and sinful ?

Benny_Cake

Geomy wrote: »

Praying over a pope,I thought there was only one God but God...

Is praying to the Pope idolatry and sinful ?

Peregrinus explains it pretty well above. It isn't something I'd do but I wouldn't consider it idolatry.

Lucy8080

It is strange ,tbf.

If ya read the gospels, even "jesus" doesn't want anyone praying to him.

Never mind anyone else.