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 Todd
As if Catholics didn't already have enough man made rules that don't matter or have anything to do with the Bible.
Reply
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.
Reply
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
Wednesday 02 September
By omniscrapman
I was raised Catholic, and went to Catholic schools in the Chicago area.
I chose to be a non-practicing Catholic about 20 yrs ago. I attend a non denominational since then and enjoy it. Got really tired of the Catholic B.S.
and all the covert stuff that goes on within the Catholic society.
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By MICHELLE
Catholics already have a pre-sex prayer. I believe it starts "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned..."
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By eugene
You mean, Forgive me Father, I am going to sin.
Wednesday 02 September
By John
Judging from the divorce rate, current lack of awareness of God's presence in the sacred vow of marriage ... and the need to make God a part of one's marriage, it is a good prayer.
Wednesday 02 September
By Rachel Mathew
On the other hand, loving thoughtful couples often do plan to make love. and do care about the needs of their partner. And yes, it can be a spiritual experience as well as emotional and physical. After all, God is the author of sex. Why not ask Him to bless our experience?
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By r nap
what prayer does a priest recite before they have sex with an altar boy.
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By JANE L. RAYMOND
You must have read my mind! I was thinking the same thing. The Catholic church has become a big joke, and I think that everyone is starting to see through the BS.
Wednesday 02 September
By sequin
Pre sex prayers for married folks written by a church that is infested by pedophiles and homosexuals? They have no clue about love and sex between a man and a woman!
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By cartrite12
Hey douchebag, just because some of them are pedophiles and like little boys does not mean they are homosexuals. Child molesters and homosexuals are not synonymous. A majority (read: > 90%) of child molesters are heterosexual married men. Get your facts straight, like say, from a book, rather than just pulling facts from that ass you call a brain.
Wednesday 02 September
By kycgeorge
Umm todd this kind of sex is in the Bible look at the Crucifixion, Paul's letter to the Ephesians, and the Book Song of Songs.
Pre-marital Sex is adultery. Sex for pleasure of oneself alone is selfish and not what God intended. Sex is the physical way a man leaves his family and becomes one with his spouse. And the Big one it mirrors the Love Christ Showed on the Cross, it Mirrors the Union of the Trinity, and It mirrors the union between God and Man in the Beatific Vision.
Christ married His Bride, the Church, at the wedding feast known as the Last Supper. Then he consummated that marriage on the Cross when He offered Himself Fully, Freely, Faithfully, and Fruitfully to us by dying for us. As a Husband loves his bride by offering himself to his bride fully, faithfully, freely, and fruitfully therefore his bride in turn submits herself to him by accepting this gift of self thus the two become one as we, the Church, become one with Christ’s body through the Consummation Act of the Cross. We Catholics believe the renewal of this consummation happens when we receive Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist.
I believe St. Paul talks about this is Ephesians and Corinthians.
This is a very beautiful prayer. It invokes the true meaning of self-giving Love, which is the point of sex. Sex is for procreation with God not recreation. It is not a game of pleasure, but pleasure can indeed be gained as long its not selfish gain.
Sex is about becoming one with your spouse physically as the act of Marriage is the spiritual union. Therefore the act of sex is the consummation of the Marriage.
A Husband gives himself to his bride and his bride accepts that gift giving herself to him and out of that unitive love a child is born. As God the Father gives His Love to His Son and the Son gives that Love to the Father from that Love comes forth the Holy Spirit.
I am not married, yet, I understand this concept well. I am a virgin until marriage and if I am called to the Priesthood I will be a virgin forever, but being In Persona Christi, I will give myself to my Bride, the Church, through the Sacrifice of the Mass known as the Consecration. Then I will consummate it through giving of Communion. What a great way to show love!
This is all from Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body btw.
Reply
Wednesday 02 September
By thomasmelanson
When you reply to people who have no spiritual life whatsoever, you can expect the kind of comments you see.
Pray for them.
Wednesday 02 September
By Eugene
If sex is for procreation and not recreation then everytime you have sex when it is not for reproduction, you are sinning. No amount of spin bullshit will change that fact.
Wednesday 02 September
By James Major
Why would you choose the Catholic religion rather than another Christian denomination, or a non-Christian denomination? Do you assert that the Catholic faith is The Right way?