Catholic Church prays for NHL Canadiens team

[Dale_M]

Hey, that's no fair!

When only a miracle can save the Montreal Canadiens's dismal season, the Roman Catholic Church stepped in Thursday asking the faithful to pray for the ice hockey team.

The Canadiens are next-to-last in the National Hockey League's 15-team eastern division standings and need to claw their way up to eighth place to play in the playoffs.

To help the Habs reach this goal, the Archdiocese of Montreal placed ads in local newspapers asking fans to pray for the hockey club.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120209-...canadiens_team

The website of the Archdiocese of Montreal had a brief article regarding the newspaper ad.

To prepare our next Annual Collection, this advertisement invites us to pray for the Montreal Canadians in their attempt to be part of the NHL playoffs.

This is a great way to demonstrate the presence of the Church in our society. The Church is a living Institution, close to the people.... with a sense of humor!

And you, do you still have hope?

http://www.diocesemontreal.org/en/ne...s-section.html

Here is what the ad looked like. The word "prions" apparently means "Let us pray."

(click picture to make bigger)

[ConstantineTG]

Here's a photo of Archbishop Miller of Vancouver



We know which team he's praying for

[Phemie]

Originally Posted by Dale_M

Hey, that's no fair!


http://www.france24.com/en/20120209-...canadiens_team

The website of the Archdiocese of Montreal had a brief article regarding the newspaper ad.


http://www.diocesemontreal.org/en/ne...s-section.html

Here is what the ad looked like. The word "prions" apparently means "Let us pray."

(click picture to make bigger)

Thanks for placing the ad. I had a "THEY WHAT?!?!" moment when I heard about this on the radio but now that I see the ad I see that it was done quite tongue in cheek. They just want to see 'Toronto' behind 'Prions'.

[Gift from God]

They're on a winning streak now, so maybe it worked

[Phemie]

Originally Posted by Gift from God

They're on a winning streak now, so maybe it worked

We were discussing that possibility at Tim Hortons this evening.

[ProVobis]

Originally Posted by Dale_M

Hey, that's no fair!

You're right. Praying for someone's "success" AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS (someone has to lose) is theologically unsound. Praying that all perform at their best levels would be better.

[Celticnovice]

Awesome thread. Period.

[baylee]

This is a great way to demonstrate the presence of the Church in our society. The Church is a living Institution, close to the people.... with a sense of humor!

Seriously???

[Dale_M]

Originally Posted by baylee

Seriously???

The ad may have been placed, in part, because the people in Quebec seem to be growing apart from religion.

A new survey by the Association for Canadian Studies and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation shows Quebecers have far less trust in religious leaders than people in other provinces.

Only 27 per cent of Quebecers said the clergy can be trusted, compared with 65 per cent of Maritimers and residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 54 per cent of B.C. residents, 53 per cent of Albertans and 52 per cent of Ontarians.

The survey also shows 33 per cent of Quebecers say religion is an important part of their lives, compared with 44 per cent of English-speaking Canadians.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/...348/story.html

[CaptFun]

Well prayer sewed up a Stanley Cup for the Buffalo Sabres in "Bruce Almighty" ... but remember your Excellency ... mobs then wrecked the town in post-Cup riots.

Also ... the Montreal Canadiens won so many Championships in the LAST Millenium maybe God is letting the field go fallow! ;-)