Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 487 – Part III.

YOUCAT Question n. 487 – Part III. Why should we petition God for other people?

(Youcat answer - repeated) As Abraham intervened by his prayer for the inhabitants of Sodom, as Jesus prayed for his disciples, and as the early Christian community looked “not only to [their] own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:4), so too Christians always pray for everyone - for people who are dear to their hearts, for people who are not close to them, and even for their enemies.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2647) Prayer of intercession consists in asking on behalf of another. It knows no boundaries and extends to one's enemies.

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) The more a person learns to pray, the more profoundly he realizes that he has ties to a spiritual family through which the power of prayer is made effective. With all my concern for the people whom I love, I stand in the midst of the family of mankind and may receive strength from the prayers of others and may call down divine assistance for others.   

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2636) The first Christian communities lived this form of fellowship intensely (Cf. Acts 12:5; 20:36; 21:5; 2 Cor 9:14). Thus the Apostle Paul gives them a share in his ministry of preaching the Gospel (Cf. Eph 6:18-20; Col 4:3-4; 1 Thess 5:25) but also intercedes for them (Cf.  2 Thess 1:11; Col 1:3; Phil 1:3-4). The intercession of Christians recognizes no boundaries: "for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions," for persecutors, for the salvation of those who reject the Gospel (2 Tim 2:1; cf. Rom 12:14; 10:1).

(The next question is:  Why should we thank God?)