Catholics and the Prayer Phenomenon of "In Jesus Name"

By Ogiri John Ogiri.

One prayer practice among many Catholics today is that of beginning their prayers, especially when they find themselves in the midst of our Protesting brethren, with the phrase "in Jesus name". These people follow popular trends in praying more than what the Church teaches. Perhaps, they're ashamed of being Catholics among non-Catholics. Consequently, they sheepishly conceal anything that reveals their Catholic identity whenever they're around our Protesting brethren. 

As a Catholic, wherever I find myself, I don't begin my prayer with " In Jesus name " as commonly used by many Christians during their prayer sessions. I wasn't taught that way. I was taught to always begin my prayer "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" and to the best of my knowledge, the Church hasn't adjusted or changed her position on that. So far, in my over 24 years as a Christian of Roman Catholic extraction throughout my life in Benue, FCT-Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Lagos and Nasarawa States, this is what I have always used whether in Catholic or non-Catholic gatherings. 

Now, many Christians barely realize (though some simply ignore it) that Jesus Christ is part of the Holy Trinity and that Jesus Christ has never been taught to be more equal and significant than the other components of the Trinity for they are one and equal. God is one in three persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we're expected to begin our prayers using the complete phrase of "in the name of the Father and of the Son  and of the Holy Spirit".

I am aware that many Catholics, in order to make themselves more acceptable and appealing to the denominational expectations of most protestants' prayer meetings, usually abandon their " Catholic selves" during such prayer meetings. When they're called to pray, you hear them start with "in Jesus name" instead of beginning the prayer "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". However, this shouldn't be so. I think the best place to be a Catholic is when you're not among Catholics. The non-Catholics have a lot to know and understand about Catholicism and it's their ignorance of some Catholic practices that makes them criticize the Church with such a vehement usually derogatory fervour. Make researches, offer the needed intellectual insights that help people to know more about the Catholic Church.

Go into the world and preach the Good News! Be proud of your Catholic faith. 

Glory be Jesus!

Honour to Mary!