REPETITIVE PRAYER IS PLEASING TO GOD

Matthew 6:7-8
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Does this mean that the repetitive prayers of Catholics and Orthodox are not pleasing to God?

Absolutely no. In reality, no verse in the Bible says that repetitive prayer is not pleasing to God. In the aforementioned Scripture, Jesus does not condemn repetitive prayer at all, but rather warns us against ranting, making prayer cumbersome and inconclusive like that of the ancient pagans. In fact, the Greek verb “battalogeo” has the meaning of “chattering”, “talking nonsense”. During prayers, Catholics and Orthodox do not chatter, do not talk nonsense, but pray with feelings of charity and faith. Repetitive prayer is biblical. Let’s see some examples:

Psalm 136 contains twenty-six repetitions: “For His mercy endures forever.” (verses 1-26)

The prayer of the three young people, in Daniel 3, repeats the blessing to the Lord about forty times (verses 51-90).

Jesus teaches us that when we pray we must say: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

In Gethsemane, Jesus himself prayed, repeating the same words: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39.42.44)

The four living beings, before the throne of God, day and night do not cease to repeat: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)

Therefore repetitive prayer is by no means condemned by God, but it is pleasing to him.

“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!” (From the Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska)