[Ultra Sonic 007]

It seems that there’s a fundamental difference between how Catholics and Protestants treat prayer.

To Protestants, prayer is equivalent to worship.

To Catholics, prayer is not quite the same, in that is merely ‘speaking spiritually’...or something to that degree. Prayer can be a form of worship, but not always?

[Petronski]

Prayer can be a form of worship, but not always?

Precisely. It is a matter of intent.

[FourtySeven]

Prayer can be a form of worship, but not always?

Correct. Prayer is actually a form of communication. As, in older English, it was common to say, "I pray you are well" or, "I pray thee...(do this or that)." That is, it's a way of asking something.

So, asking something is just that, "asking something". It's not worship to God alone in every instance (although it CAN be). It's not NECESSARILY so.

Again, this all stems from the obstinate refusal on the part of some Protestants to see that "worship" is not always "worship to God alone". IOW, some Protestants only have one definition of worship, and they claim that there are no other definitions in Scripture; they have obviously never read Rev 3:9.

[Antoninus]

To Catholics, prayer is not quite the same, in that is merely ‘speaking spiritually’...or something to that degree. Prayer can be a form of worship, but not always?

In truth, "prayer" is merely a petition, as in, "I pray you, pass the butter." It's not worship at all and never has been. Those who equate prayer with worship either 1.) do not understand what worship is or 2.) do not understand what prayer is.

In my mind, there is absolutely no difference between asking my mother to pray for me when I'm having a problem, and asking the Blessed Mother to pray for me. Both are alive (one on earth, one in Heaven) and both may petition God on my behalf.

If Protestants don't wish to avail themselves of the prayers of the saints, that's fine. No one forces them to. And a Catholic may certainly spend his whole life directing his prayers (ie. petitions) to Jesus alone and no one would bat an eyelash. But it irks me when some Johnny-come-lately group (in ecclesiastical time, anyway) comes along and tells 3/4 of all Chritians alive today that a pious devotion they've been practicing since the earliest days of the Church is somehow heretical.

Now that is the epitome of pride if you ask me.

[CharlesWayneCT]

To Protestants, prayer is equivalent to worship.

I've seen several people say that here, but I don't know that it's true. I know my church includes prayer as an appropriate act during worship, but we are also taught to pray individually, and to petition God for our needs, which I suppose some could equate to a "worshipful thing", but practically speaking, it's asking for help.

[La Enchiladita]

The Mass itself is a prayer. Catholics are encouraged to be always at prayer, and fervently so!!

Are you currently attending Mass regularly, if I may ask?

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

You make a good point. But all Protestant prayer is not “worship” or you wouldn’t have Protestants praying for each other.