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How Effective is Prayer?

Photo: imagesoftheworld.org

I recently read an article entitled Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomised controlled trial by Leonard Leibovici in the British Medical Journal.

In this particular article, 3393 patients with a blood infection detected during the period 1990–1996 were, in July 2000, split into two groups without being informed. One group was to act as a control group and the other had prayers said for their well-being and full recovery. Data was then collected (amongst both groups) for the number of deaths in hospital, the length of stay in hospital from the day of first positive blood culture to discharge or death, and the duration of the fever. The results obtained were as follows:

Mortality was 28.1% (475.1691) in the intervention group and 30.2% (514/1702) in the control group (P for difference = 0.04). The length of stay in hospital and duration of fever were significantly shorter in the intervention group.

From these results the discussion which followed was:

Remote, retroactive intercessory prayer was associated with a shorter stay in hospital and a shorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infection. Mortality was lower in the intervention group, but the difference between the groups was not significant. A larger study might have shown a significant reduction in mortality.

The conclusion that is drawn later is that remote, retroactive intercessory prayer is effective.

Photo: Adam Hart-Davis/DHD Photo Gallery

Praying for something that has already happened is not something that I have ever really done before. However I did more recently come across a conversation between a Capuchin Franciscan Friar called Blessed Padre Pio (1887–1968) and someone else who asked him who he had been praying for. “I was praying for my grandfather to have a happy death” Padre Pio replied. “But he died quite a while ago” the man replied. “Yes I know” he answered. This response shows to me that the method used in this study may have shown the effect of prayer, but I’m not sure how great that likelihood is.

Looking at the results table in the original article, it does appear that there is a slight improvement in the intervention group. ‘P values’ of 0.01 and 0.04 indicate that there is a 1 in 100 and 1 in 20 chance respectively of the results happening by chance. So perhaps there is a case. However, I think that the issues being dealt with are far more complex.

My experience from doing science practicals up to A-level has been that when the graph was plotted at the end, biology practicals had points quite a distance from the line of best fit, chemistry practicals had the points fairly close to the line of best fit, and physics practicals had points that were by and large exactly on the line of best fit. The reason for this I presume is because of the greater ease of reducing background ‘noise’ (i.e. other interfering factors) in physics, and that in biology it was very difficult. And, I suppose, the issue being dealt with here is a biological-theological practical. Therefore the results don’t immediately fit the nice equation of: you pray = God acts. But why doesn’t the equation work? Why does God appear to be more of a biologist than a chemist or a physicist? Obviously it’s not the random noise of the angels singing in heaven!

The human being is very complex, with a great multitude of factors influencing his or her life. In addition to this, suffering is not just something of no value at all whatsoever to be got rid of at any cost. Indeed it can be beneficial and help turn people towards God, removing the clutter from their lives to enable them to see the things that really matter. It is also a very noble gift, enabling us to “share in the cross of Christ” (see Colossians 1:24). Yet I am also aware that suffering can make some people bitter and angry towards God. Whether healing would be best for someone or not is something which God has far greater knowledge than us, and therefore our prayers for someone’s recovery may or may not be answered, depending upon whether it is God’s will. The sacrament of the sick (which has the scriptural basis of Mark 16:17–18 and James 5:14–15) does indeed heal people but on the condition that it is “ … conducive to the salvation of his soul” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1532).

So is it worth praying, and if so, how much? Well, in order to have any sort of a relationship with someone we need to speak to them in one form or another. A personal relationship with God is important, and therefore prayer is important. St. Alphonsus Liguori even went as far as to say: “Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned.” St. Paul also said that we should “pray constantly.” St. John Chrysostom said that:

It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling along, or seated in your shop … while buying or selling … or even while cooking.

It must also be remembered that prayer is not just about asking for things. The mnemonic ACTS reminds us that adoration, contrition and thanksgiving as well as supplication are forms of prayer. If our prayer is just asking for benefits, it becomes hedonistic and selfish and therefore not very pleasing to God; in effect it is sinful, in that we are trying to use God for our own ends and advantage rather than allowing God to use us for his wonderful plan.

How effective is prayer? Once again, it depends on many factors. However, I would say that it is effective enough to persevere in. St Monica prayed for many years before her son St. Augustine finally converted. But it must also be remembered that prayer affects those who partake in it. Not just by getting some sort of ‘spiritual high’ but by enabling us to deepen our relationship with God and to become more like him. The ‘spiritual high’ will not always happen. This can be due either to sin, or to God purifying us, making sure that we are praying for the correct reasons and not just because we feel better afterwards.

So, the concluding message is: prayer works. Pray well, pray with the heart (i.e. mean what you say) and persevere. Try to pray throughout the day, even if only briefly whilst working, or on the way to somewhere. But don’t say “I have no time for prayer.” Prayer is as necessary for the soul as food is for the body. So my advice is: pray more, sin less and live the life that God is calling you to live.

Michael Puljic

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Last modified: 25th November 2005