Do you ever pray for the plans of evil doers to be thwarted? For corrupt officials to be exposed? I've been praying for that kind of thing lately and just wondered if anyone else does that or if you think it is wrong somehow.
Why would it not be? In Scripture I would refer particularly to St. John the Evangelist https://www.frontlinestudy.com/truth/truth-in-the-gospel-according-to-st-john/
I'm not sure. I was praying "against" some things. Evil deeds, corruption etc. Praying that any evil plans be exposed and thwarted. Then I felt a pang of conscience about it. I was trying to think of times when I had ever heard something similar and couldn't think of one. For example, I never hear that type of thing during the collect. We only pray stuff like "for our leaders, that they may have increasing respect for the unborn." It's never, "that all evil plans of the government come to nothing and the planners exposed and removed." I can't think of any time I ran across something like that in a prayer book either.
But why not? Why not pray for, 'Evil deeds, corruption etc.', to be exposed? I am afraid you have lost me? Litugically or outside it? I mean why would this be a bad thing?
I guess if you're thinking evil has power, then that would be bad, kinda depends how it's phrased. Maybe Psalm 35 as an example of a good way of saying it: Psalm 35 Oppose, O LORD, those who oppose me; war upon those who make war upon me. 2Take up the shield and buckler; rise up in my defense. 3Brandish lance and battle-ax against my pursuers. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” 4Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgrace. Let those who plot evil against mea be turned back and confounded. 5Make them like chaff before the wind,b with the angel of the LORD driving them on. 6Make their way slippery and dark, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. II 7Without cause they set their snare for me; without cause they dug a pit for me. 8Let ruin overtake them unawares; let the snare they have set catch them; let them fall into the pit they have dug.c 9Then I will rejoice in the LORD, exult in God’s salvation. 10My very bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you,d Who rescue the afflicted from the powerful, the afflicted and needy from the despoiler?” III 11Malicious witnesses rise up, accuse me of things I do not know. 12They repay me evil for good; my soul is desolate.e 13*Yet I, when they were ill, put on sackcloth, afflicted myself with fasting, sobbed my prayers upon my bosom. 14I went about in grief as for my brother, bent in mourning as for my mother. 15Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee, gathered against me and I did not know it. They slandered me without ceasing; 16without respect they mocked me, gnashed their teeth against me. IV 17O Lord, how long will you look on? Restore my soul from their destruction, my very life from lions!f 18Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you before the mighty throng.g 19Do not let lying foes rejoice over me, my undeserved enemies wink knowingly.h 20They speak no words of peace, but against the quiet in the land they fashion deceitful speech.i 21They open wide their mouths against me. They say, “Aha! Good! Our eyes have seen it!”j 22You see this, LORD; do not be silent;k Lord, do not withdraw from me. 23Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord. 24Defend me because you are just, LORD; my God, do not let them rejoice over me. 25Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! Our soul!”* Do not let them say, “We have devoured that one!” 26Put to shame and confound all who relish my misfortune. Clothe with shame and disgrace those who lord it over me. 27But let those who favor my just cause shout for joy and be glad. May they ever say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in the peace of his loyal servant.” 28Then my tongue shall recount your justice, declare your praise, all the day long.
I think we should pray for evil to be exposed and for people who are weaker in faith to have spiritual support that does not allow them to fall into the deception of atheism or false religions. The Marcial maciel affair not only shook people's trust in the legionaries of Christ (regardless of any good fruits they bore over the years) but also shook people's faith in the church as an institution.
Ok, thanks for the feedback. You know, just reflecting on some of the psalms I can see prayers against evil, enemies and wickedness etc. So I think it's fine as you say.
Like Padraig says, exposing the filth is a good thing. So it was a great grace that the scandal of Fr. Maciel was exposed and dealt with. However, I remain disappointed that little is made of Pope Benedict's restoration of the Legion of Christ which was an 8-yr process culminating in about 100 Legionaries being removed (some of whom chose to leave the Order) and new constitutions approved in 2014. The Order is vibrant with numerous apostolates impacting mostly youth throughout the world.
I would thread cautiously. In praying specifically against evil on your own you will come up against evil, and if you are not spiritually protected or don't know how to protect yourself, you will end up under oppression. I've had experience of this in my young naive days and it is not nice. The oppression can last years.
Yes, I do not disagree that it is a great grace when evil is exposed in all spheres of society. However, I wanted to highlight that when we pray for evil to be exposed in church, this must be accompanied by an increase in prayers for people who have their faith swept away by this whirlwind of scandals. This is something I have seen in many people over the years in the face of pedophilia scandals among the clergy. Many end up losing confidence in the priesthood in general because of this.
Yes. Exactly. It is best to never take it on by ourselves. Deprecatory prayer is the best. Example: "Lord Jesus please banish this evil in the power of Your Precious Blood and give us Your peace"
