Is-sorijiet joqoghodu bieb faccata il-HQ ta’ Gaddafi . Kieku tkun int toqoghod hdejh?
Ghalija l-Arcisqof ikun qed jaghmel iktar minn dmiru kieku jibqa fil-periklu.

Barring the Rosary, since this is a predominantly Catholic prayer, all other Christians are encouraged to hear Mass, fasting etc … and not because they give consolation. But because the One we believe either did them Himself (eg fasting) or left them for us (confession & Mass).

On the other hand (and here I know I’m stoking the fires), you do have a chip about religion: because otherwise you wouldn’t have said “All of which are pretty pointless”.- You let down your guard!

And by the way, Yes, I did “Think about it” and no, they are not pointless.

[Daphne – It is pointless, Jonathan. That is not the observation of a person with a chip about religion, but the observation of a person WITHOUT a chip about religion. With or without prayer or mass, things carry on regardless. They make a difference to the individual in terms of consolation, but that’s about it. I hasten to add that it doesn’t bother me at all and that I left equally cold by football and athletics, which appear to serve a similar purpose. And I know that people feel equally unmoved by the things that console me, like gardening or reading or particular subjects.]

Silly me.

And there I thought that you mentioned that Bishops asked for prayers for Japan but not Libya.

My! Do you think all the priests could be running a racket behind the Bishops back and praying for all conflict zones daily?

Yes, agree that Christians do not only pray in Church. Prayer should be part of their daily life.

However going to daily Mass, daily Rosary, regular confession, fasting etc should always form part of a Christian’s life.

But now we’re going beyond the original topic …

[Daphne – Not all Christians are Roman Catholics, Jonathan, hence they don’t have to hear mass, say the rosary, go to confession or fast. All of which are pretty pointless when you think about it. But let’s not go there. If they give consolation to those who practise, then that is sufficient reason for doing them. As I say repeatedly, I have no beef with religion. Live and let live. Each to his own. Don’t bother me, and I won’t bother you.]

Isn’t Libya an Arab state, Daphne?

Why would the Bisops, urging prayers for Arab states, pick out Libya in particular?

Do the dead (for the same causes) in Tunesia, Egypt and Bahrain count at all?

Perhaps it’s the scale of the Libyan deaths which has more prominence in our minds, these days?

Praying for Arab states is inclusive, irrespective of the number of deaths suffered in different states.

But then if you didn’t attend Mass, you would know such things would you?

[Daphne – Jonathan, Christians don’t need to go to mass or even to church to pray. That’s a fallacy promoted by the Maltese version of Roman Catholicism.]

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110303/local/bishop-proposes-collection-for-church-in-libya
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110306/religion/an-episcopal-take-on-the-libyan-crisis
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/as-catholics-flee-libya-church-responds-with-prayer-charitable-works/
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/bishops-call-for-prayer-and-solidarity-over-arab-unrest
http://www.ofm.org.mt/?p=2912

[Daphne – David, wouldn’t it be fun if, just occasionally, you contributed an opinion to some discussion on this website, instead of just dropping in to pick nits? You put me in mind of the class creep who gets dunked in the pond.]

Even if that is the case, there’d be no harm in reminding people to pray for Libya, would there?

My thoughts exactly.

No we don’t pray. Maybe agnostics do. Many hope and work for a better world.

If pro-Gaddafi forces are known to shoot on ambulances and drag wounded people out of wards to shoot them, why should they not shoot doctors and nurses as well? In for a penny , in for a pound.