Sure, some of us may think of sex as a religious experience -- especially during a particularly steamy session filled with screams of "Oh, God!" But now comes a new book called "Prayer Book for Spouses," aimed at Roman Catholic couples and encouraging them to recite the "Prayer Before Making Love" before doing the deed.Why? So their intentions are purified and sex isn't about selfishness or hedonism. Maybe we're going straight to hell but we thought those WERE the reasons to make love?
Here's a taste of the prayer (in case you want to give it a whirl). It asks God "to place within us love that truly gives, tenderness that truly unites, self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive, forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes."
If you have the self-control to pray before ripping off your significant other's clothes, then more power to you. But that begs the question -- if you don't pray, do you have any other pre-sex rituals you'd like to share?
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Wednesday 02 September
By nettie
I'm Catholic and that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!
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Wednesday 02 September
By Lee
This is dumb... Men were programmed from birth to spread their seed as they may.. Thats gods will. For men and woman to procreate.. So bone away people. The lord thinks its cool.
Wednesday 02 September
By rkeith306
I gave up abstinence for lent and I ain't even catholic!
Wednesday 02 September
By Aboona Joe
I don't know: when people tell me, "I'm Catholic, Father", I think, "so what? Do you live it or just claim it?" Due to your seeming lack of spiritual awareness, it may be "the stupidest thing" YOUever heard. But it has its inspiration in a very tender scene in the Book of Tobit in the OT. In the middle of the night, the newly married Tobias and his bride, Sarah, arose to offer thanksgiving and dedication to the Lord. They certainly didn't think it was a "stupid" thing to do.
Having said that, I want to take on this biased column and its idiot author. Beginning with the goofy, staged photo at the top, it was clear from the outset that the intention of the "reporter" [yeah, right!] Lauren Brown was NOT to inform, but to ridicule. And not only that: her malicious intent was to use the moment to bring out all the usual rabble spouting their anti-Catholic, anti-priest pedophilia propaganda, regardless of the FACT that less than 1% of priests have ever been guilt of it. [But, hey, why let FACTS get in the way, right, Lauren?]
Wouldn't this have been a real -- and possibly even interesting -- story [as in bona-fide REPORTER-story], rather than the malicious tripe it is, if Lauren Brown had actually sought out responsible spokespeople to explain the concept? Perhaps, then, the knowkledge of readers would have increased. Isn't that a reporter's greatest satisfaction?
But that would take a little LEGWORK, right Lauren? Better to make a worthless living on the chap shot!
Wednesday 02 September
By fivemillion
you are probably not Catholic. In other words you do not practice your Faith as the Church teaches.
Thursday 03 September
By EGG
LEFT BEING AN ALTARBOY AT 17. KNEW TOO,TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD TO STAY. WE HAD THREE GENERATIONS OF PRIESTS IN THERE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN THERE. HAVE NOT BEEN BACK IN A LONG,LONG TIME. SINCERELY HOPE THAT ALL HAS GOTTEN BETTER. TIME WILL,HOPEFULLY, TELL.IT'S BEEN VERY , VERY DIFFICULT RAISING A LARGE FAMILY AS SINCERE CATHOLICS, AND KEEPING MY MOUTH SHUT. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FAMILIES NOW AND ARE TRYING TO RAISE SINCERE,DEVOUT RELIGIOUS CHILDREN. SO FAR, SO GOOD!
Wednesday 02 September
By DemocrapsRsooGullible
You're not a Catholic then.
Wednesday 02 September
By Mike
I was once a Catholic, I remember why I left now... Thanks Catholic Church for allowing yet another idiotic man made rule you've added here.
Saturday 05 September
By Heather
I love my church, but gosh I have to agree with Nettie lol, its pretty darn corny... besides everyone should be thinking those things already anyway right? ;)
Tuesday 27 October
By Theresa
Then you're not truly Catholic. You obviously have a poor understanding of the Fullness of Truth, and I pity you for that.
Wednesday 02 September
By Louise
Sex prayers written by "celibate" priests? Hhhhmmmm?
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Wednesday 02 September
By drumsters
And whose idea was celibacy? Not Jesus! It's not in scriptures anywhere.
Priests used to marry, but after their offspring had to be heirs to the church's money, the Catholic Church decided on celibacy. This wasn't something that Jesus decided on. Funny how their are so many pediphile and gay priests!!!
Tuesday 27 October
By Marianne
And the Catholic Bashing continues -For your information - the prayers were written by a very happily married Catholic couple - but you probably wouldn't know anything about that.
Wednesday 02 September
By Todd
As if Catholics didn't already have enough man made rules that don't matter or have anything to do with the Bible.
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Wednesday 02 September
By Kyle George
Is it me or does this person not like the Catholic Church. By the way to comment on the person who thinks its odd that a celibate priest would write this prayer.
A priest is married to the Bride of Christ, the Church, sinc he is In Persona Christi. In the Person of Christ. He gives himself to his bride at Mass through Communion, the Eucharist.
This is beatiful and something I look forward to if I am called to Marriage. Sex is about becoming one with your spouse. Giving yourself totally, freely, faithfully, and freely to your spouse.
Its not rediculous this is a beautiful thing because it brings the point of sex out. Sex is not about recreation, its about procreation. Creating Life with God. Eros Love with Agape.
Yes, there will be pleasure involved, but its pleasure for the other not of oneself. That is selfish love, to give oneself to another for the point of getting something in return. Sex should be self giving love.
This prayer does nothing, but invoke just that.
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Thursday 10 September
By Pat
Good for you, for trying to put a positive spin on the matter. The Catholic's are the only ones that they can talk about without being sued. I guess it's politically correct to bash Catholics
Saturday 24 October
By Emily
Somebody knows his Theology of the Body!
Yes!
I think this is a wonderful thing. First of all, naysayers, it is not "required." Stop referring to it as a RULE. It isn't. It is an *option* for couples.
And sorry if we Catholics are old-fashioned and we try to have sex MEAN something instead of just being some pure animalistic instict. Sorry we want "love...tenderness...self-offering" to be part of our sexual unions. Sorry we MAKE LOVE and we don't just fuck.
It's a lot more fulfilling when you actually mean it. Try it sometime.
Tuesday 27 October
By Theresa
I couldn't agree more! Well said!
Wednesday 02 September
By kayla
i about choked (no pun intended) from laughter after reading your comment. nice one =]
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By jack
So, was this modified from the one priests say prior to child molestation, the one that adds, "please protect me from being arrested"?
Reply