Praying for Pope Francis. What are your thoughts?

Discussion in 'Church Critique' started by josephite, Nov 12, 2017.

  1. josephite

    josephite Powers

    At the commencement of every rosary I ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten, guide and lead me in my offerings of every particular rosary.


    Today as I was mentioning my intentions; I got to the part where I said for Our Holy Father Pope Frances, please Lord lead and guide him.

    Immediately I hear in my mind.....Why are you still praying for him? It’s been no use! Why not offer your rosary for your other intentions alone and then it will be more powerful for those intentions.


    I actually entertained this thought.


    And for a short time agreed that yes praying for Pope Frances was a useless intention; especially as I have been offering prayers for Our Holy Father for so long, just as so many other faithful Catholics have been doing and what has been the result? What has been the use of these prayers?


    I then regained wisdom, pushed away this diabolical thought and even though I was somewhat reluctant, I said.......I will still pray for my Holy Father and I still love him!

    I do pray for those that I don't love, however with Pope Francis, he seems to be a wayward child to me, so I do hope I can always say, I love him!
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2017
    Booklady, AED, Tanker and 5 others like this.
  2. Julia

    Julia Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

    I think a lot of people wonder how things are the way they are these days. When you think the Holy Father is prayed for at each Holy Mass, and God only knows how may millions of prayers are offered up for the Popes intentions every day.

    I think if we consider what it is like for children in an ordinary family whose father is not what they feel he should be; would we recommend they pray for their father, or give up on him. I think we would recommend doubling the prayers, and maybe even add fasting to the equation to get help from Heaven. Just Julia's simple faith view. :)
     
    Booklady, AED, Dolours and 5 others like this.
  3. Fatima

    Fatima Powers

    If anyone has had children, or spouse or a family member who has lost their way they know that pain within in heart. If we are tempted to let them go and not pray for them, it is from the devil, who himself despaired from God and it is his greatest quest to get all the faithful of God to despair as well. I will admit however, that only by the slip of the tongue do I call him Holy Father, as has always been my custom when I address the pope in prayer. I simply pray for Pope Francis, as he is not displaying holiness putting in to question the very commandments of God. Nonetheless, we must keep him and all the fallen clergymen and our own family members in constant prayer, unless we risk falling in pride ourselves.
     
    Booklady, AED, josephite and 4 others like this.
  4. padraig

    padraig Powers

    I haven't lost hope for Pope Francis. My reading is that the got lost along the way rather than outright taking the path of evil. I think his particular error is in listening to some very,very bad advisors indeed including Cardinals who are the spawn of hell itself.

    That is not to say he will not be answerable to God for the grave, grave harm he has done the Church. Nor that he is not culpable for lack of Discernment in this regard.

    He has simply lost his way. Totally lost his way, like Alice in Wonderful. Offering up my mass today that he may find his way out of the Rabbit Hole and that he finds himself in and back to Catholic Reality Land.

    [​IMG]
     
    AED, Julia, josephite and 2 others like this.
  5. Dolours

    Dolours Guest

    What you heard in your mind wasn't from God. It's more likely that your prayers are beginning to have some effect and the evil one is trying harder to discourage you.

    A very good priest told me in confession to keep praying to the Holy Spirit for Pope Francis. He assured me that God does hear my prayers but that the answer will come in God's time and that it could come in a way we least expect. Losing hope or trust in the power of prayer doesn't come from God.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 12, 2017
    Julia, Booklady, Mac and 10 others like this.
  6. Praetorian

    Praetorian Powers

    It is when we are lost that we need prayers the most...
     
    Julia, Booklady, gracia and 3 others like this.
  7. Don_D

    Don_D ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

    I think that thoughts like those are demonically influenced spiritual attacks. There is no love or charity in them at least in my case and I command them to leave and not return in the the name of Our Lord when they strike me.

    Father Ripperger has taught me a great deal about the workings and influence of these things in his interviews on YT and his sermons. I had no idea how badly I was suffering from them in fact because I used to have them all the time and thought they were normal. I was tormented by them, especially while working for some reason they would plague me. Especially doing manual work like working in the garden which I love to do in fact.

    I began praying the divine mercy chaplet and then anytime I have them I command them to leave via the authority of Jesus Christ and then pray the Saint Michael the Archangel prayer.

    They are very far and few between these days. However, I have had some other things happen of a different nature now.
     
    Sam, Julia, HeavenlyHosts and 4 others like this.
  8. padraig

    padraig Powers

    I am afraid Dolours and Don are right and this came from the other side.

    But don't be dispirited by this, take it as a compliment that the evil one should try something like this on you. ;):)

    [​IMG]
     
    Julia, HeavenlyHosts, Don_D and 2 others like this.
  9. josephite

    josephite Powers

    I agree that the thought above, was a direct and cunning tool of the evil one.


    Normally in my life I deal with the evil ones outright, yet veiled attacks, as it seems he never wants to show his face!

    At times I find his attacks, humorous because they are so pointed in there consistency and bizarre in there coincidence, but always veiled.

    So when the evil one did not hide his face, but coolly presented his falsity, it took me by surprise that he was so brazen.

    Blessed be God forever.



    Blessed be God.
    Blessed be His Holy Name.
    Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
    Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
    Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
    Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
    Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
    Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
    Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy.
    Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
    Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
    Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
    Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
    Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. Amen.
     
    Sam, Julia, Booklady and 6 others like this.
  10. AED

    AED Powers

    Padraig is right. This is a good sign. I think we have all been stepping up our prayers for PF and I would like to think this is backlash. I started the 54 day novena for PF and proceeded to have the worst week spiritually. I just this minute made the connection. I was besieged by temptations and was exhausted fighting and then furious with myself when I would give in. Horrible. Went to Confession and am trying again but it was like being caught in a high wind. However in spite of all still saying my Rosary. I ended up following Fr Ripperger’s advice and prayed adjurations. Used Holy Water. Etc.
     
    Sam, Julia, Booklady and 5 others like this.
  11. Don_D

    Don_D ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

    Every tool at our disposal should be readily at hand is my take on these things. Glad to hear someone is praying the Novena for Pope Francis, I should start praying it as well. Know that you are in my prayers AED as well as everyone here.
     
    HeavenlyHosts, josephite, Sam and 4 others like this.
  12. Don_D

    Don_D ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

    Amen Padraig! I think about Saint Padre Pio often when it comes to these things and the time he asked his Guardian Angel just where he was when he was under attack. It is amusing at first glance but very serious when we consider how wicked these attacks can be.

    Also, Father Ripperger says that when we assert our dominion over these affairs and all goes quiet is the time we ought become watchful, and not rest on our laurels for the enemy is most assuredly plotting.
     
    Sam, Julia, AED and 3 others like this.
  13. padraig

    padraig Powers

    I would say one thing about the devil is that he is indefagable , he never ever gives up not for a moment. In this he is doing the will of God which allows Him rein to test us , to strengthen us in grace. In a very real sense we are, all of us in a war to the death, a war for our very souls. I am afraid we have learnt our sense of urgency about this but as St Peter warns:

    [​IMG]
     
    Julia, AED and gracia like this.
  14. gracia

    gracia Archangels

    When I pray for Pope Francis, which is something I admit that I began doing only recently, somehow I can feel something begin to pull on my clothes, as though unhappy / frustrated that I am praying for him. It is real, and bizarre.
     
  15. padraig

    padraig Powers

    I was noticing lately that the devil had not been bothering me in sleep for quite some while, but he came back again last with a real vengeance. In a terrible mood as usual. In these incidents it is hard to tell if I am asleep or awake. I think I am in a kind of in between world. Between being awake and being asleep were we meet. But sometimes in the past I have seen physical objects being moved.

    Last night I was in a deep sleep when I was suddenly, 'Awoken', (though I still slept) by me hair being pulled and my head swung quickly and sharply to one side (in fact in the 'real world I suspect this would be impossible as my hair is too short). I awake in shock to see the figure of the devil staring down at me in a rage. I took a little few moments to respond in prayer to Our Lady to Jesus and to St Michael the Arcangel. For the first time ever I called him a bad name :D:D I think this was because of the shock of it all.:D:D and a bad Irish temper.

    I then heard chains being rattled and coming up the hallway to me room, very loud and threatening. Then I heard the voice of two young men talking outside by bed room window quite loudly and clearly. I then really did awaken . It always surprises me this transformation from one world to the next. Form a world of violence and movement and voiced and rage to one of total peace. As though someone had thrown a light switch. Was I scared? well yes somewhat but I have grown so used to these things, I have developed a tolerance.

    Why does the devil do this? Why choose one time instead of another? Why at some times so in rage? Who knows? But he is and does.

    One thing it as certainly taught me the devil really does exist and he really is out to get us.

    [​IMG]
     
    Booklady, josephite, AED and 2 others like this.
  16. padraig

    padraig Powers

    I think prayer can be something of a two edged sword. When we reach out to someone in prayer , if they respond in grace it can be a ladder up which they can climb , if they do not respond it can be stick to beat them. In other words our rpayers cna count towards their condemnation in that they did not respond to preoffered graces.

    But we need never be afraid to pray, as they say God will sort it, He is our Post Office and will sort what is going where, we do not need to do it for Him.

    There are however two cases I think were there are great limitations on this. I have found in the past that when I have prayed, unknowingly for souls that are, in fact, in hell, I ahve been warned on several occasions that this is so and I should cease. Not that my prayers were wasted , for they are applied elsewhere were needed , but a courtesy

    Secondly in praying for those who are far gone down the dark path, Satanists for instance, a certain care must be had , for their may very well be come back. The demons and often the person themselves may be aware they are being prayed for and their may well be kick back. This may not stop us , but we should be ready for an equal and opposite reaction , so to speak.

    In the case of praying for Pope Francis at the minute I would not be the least surprised if there was a certain kick back. A certain rage from the demons.

    [​IMG]
     
    Julia, AED, josephite and 1 other person like this.
  17. padraig

    padraig Powers

    Also I think when we pray for certain graces for certain souls God likes to remind us what a big , big thing we are asking for. To remind us we are really exhausting His mercy, so to speak.

    Pope Francis is a very, very big fish to go fishing for at the moment. We should not be surprised if it rocks our boat if we pull him in a little just at the moment.



     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2017
  18. padraig

    padraig Powers

  19. josephite

    josephite Powers

    Padraig I believe you have touched on something that, Our Lady spoke of at at her apparitions in Kibeho Rwanda.

    Immaculee Ilibagiza, says that at the time of the apparitions, many Tutsis were actively praying for the death of the president who happened to belong to the Hutu tribe. The Hutus at the time were persecuting the Tutsis, and the Tutsis believed that if they prayed for the president’s demise then their persecution would end!
    However Our Lady told the seers that she did not want the people to pray this way, she said something like....... you do not understand, if the president dies then even greater evil/persecution will be unleashed and that is exactly what happened when he died.


    In the 100 days that followed the April 1994 assassination of dictator Juvénal Habyarimana, by most accounts, 800,000 Rwandans, by some accounts, over one million, were slaughtered by their countrymen and, in some cases, their next-door-neighbors. The violence was the culmination of intensifying animosity between the two ethnic groups – the Hutus and Tutsis.

    I believe we should only pray that God blesses those that we pray for, even those that we may consider our enemies or the Churches enemy, and like you say let God work out in what way that is to happen.



     
    Booklady, HeavenlyHosts, Sam and 3 others like this.
  20. AED

    AED Powers

    Yes Gracia. I believe you. We have been sidelined for. Awhile but now we get it!! Prayer!! Prayer for the Pope. Sincere prayer. The worst possible outcome for the enemy!!
     
    josephite, gracia and Julia like this.

Share This Page