Patrick Madrid reflects on the wave of criticism surrounding the phrase “thoughts and prayers” after the tragic school shooting in Minneapolis. He says that while politicians and public figures often use the phrase, many in the mainstream media and entertainment world mock it, treating it as an empty cliché. 

Take a look at Patrick's written reflection on this topic and what he suggests as a solution:

Secular figures mock the phrase “thoughts and prayers” for several reasons.

Some do not understand prayer. To them, prayer is nothing more than wishful thinking or a sentimental slogan. When they hear “thoughts and prayers,” they perceive it as a meaningless platitude and, in truth, it often is, when repeated reflexively without any real prayer behind it.

Some know what prayer is but choose not to pray. Many were raised Catholic or Protestant yet have either drifted from the faith or rejected it altogether. For them, the idea of offering prayer in response to tragedy feels hollow because it is disconnected from their lived reality.

Some are adversarial toward religion itself. They are hostile toward theism in general, Christianity in particular, and Christians most specifically. To such people, steeped in a secular mindset, the very notion of praying to a God they doubt or even deny exists seems absurd. In their eyes, it is empty talk that achieves nothing.

Others confuse prayer with passivity. Even if they grant that prayer might have some spiritual value, they argue that “thoughts and prayers” is used as a substitute for real action, especially in the wake of mass shootings and other public crises.

What they fail to recognize is that Christian prayer is not merely, or even mostly, a plea for protection from harm. Jesus Himself said: “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Authentic prayer extends far beyond asking for safety or self-preservation. We pray for our enemies, for forgiveness, for the souls of those who die, for fortitude in danger, for consolation of the grieving, for strength to endure suffering, for God to thwart the designs of the wicked, and for courage and hope in the face of death.

And here is where, ironically, the critics have a point. The phrase “thoughts and prayers” has been diluted by overuse into something that often sounds trite and perfunctory, like slapping a ribbon decal on a car to virtue-signal support for [fill in the blank] cause.

To bear authentic, heart-changing public witness to the real power of prayer and, more importantly, to God’s presence, we Christians must be intentional and specific in our prayerful solidarity. Instead of merely saying “thoughts and prayers,” we can say:

“I am praying that God will console and comfort those affected by this tragedy.”

“I am praying that in His justice God will thwart the evil intentions of those who plan to harm others.”

“I am praying that God will protect the innocent in moments of danger.”

“I am praying that when tragedies do occur, the Lord will guide us to act wisely and courageously so such suffering is not repeated.”

Such words do not reduce prayer to a hollow gesture or an empty platitude. They testify to real faith in the living God, who hears and responds, and they remind us that prayer and action are not enemies but companions.

Prayer does not replace action; it inspires, strengthens, accompanies it. By grounding our response to tragedies in authentic prayer, we prevent the phrase from being reduced to a trivial sentiment and remind the world that God is present and hears our prayers even in our darkest hours.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Patrick Madrid reflects on the wave of criticism surrounding the phrase &ldquo;thoughts and prayers&rdquo; after the tragic school shooting in Minneapolis. He says that while politicians and public figures often use the phrase, many in the mainstream media and entertainment world mock it, treating it as an empty clich&eacute;.&nbsp;
Take a look at Patrick's written reflection on this topic and what he suggests as a solution:
<hr>
Secular figures mock the phrase &ldquo;thoughts and prayers&rdquo; for several reasons.
Some do not understand prayer. To them, prayer is nothing more than wishful thinking or a sentimental slogan. When they hear &ldquo;thoughts and prayers,&rdquo; they perceive it as a meaningless platitude and, in truth, it often is, when repeated reflexively without any real prayer behind it.
Some know what prayer is but choose not to pray. Many were raised Catholic or Protestant yet have either drifted from the faith or rejected it altogether. For them, the idea of offering prayer in response to tragedy feels hollow because it is disconnected from their lived reality.
Some are adversarial toward religion itself. They are hostile toward theism in general, Christianity in particular, and Christians most specifically. To such people, steeped in a secular mindset, the very notion of praying to a God they doubt or even deny exists seems absurd. In their eyes, it is empty talk that achieves nothing.
Others confuse prayer with passivity. Even if they grant that prayer might have some spiritual value, they argue that &ldquo;thoughts and prayers&rdquo; is used as a substitute for real action, especially in the wake of mass shootings and other public crises.
What they fail to recognize is that Christian prayer is not merely, or even mostly, a plea for protection from harm. Jesus Himself said: &ldquo;In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world&rdquo; (John 16:33).
Authentic prayer extends far beyond asking for safety or self-preservation. We pray for our enemies, for forgiveness, for the souls of those who die, for fortitude in danger, for consolation of the grieving, for strength to endure suffering, for God to thwart the designs of the wicked, and for courage and hope in the face of death.
And here is where, ironically, the critics have a point. The phrase &ldquo;thoughts and prayers&rdquo; has been diluted by overuse into something that often sounds trite and perfunctory, like slapping a ribbon decal on a car to virtue-signal support for [fill in the blank] cause.
To bear authentic, heart-changing public witness to the real power of prayer and, more importantly, to God&rsquo;s presence, we Christians must be intentional and specific in our prayerful solidarity. Instead of merely saying &ldquo;thoughts and prayers,&rdquo; we can say:
&ldquo;I am praying that God will console and comfort those affected by this tragedy.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I am praying that in His justice God will thwart the evil intentions of those who plan to harm others.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I am praying that God will protect the innocent in moments of danger.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I am praying that when tragedies do occur, the Lord will guide us to act wisely and courageously so such suffering is not repeated.&rdquo;
Such words do not reduce prayer to a hollow gesture or an empty platitude. They testify to real faith in the living God, who hears and responds, and they remind us that prayer and action are not enemies but companions.
Prayer does not replace action; it inspires, strengthens, accompanies it. By grounding our response to tragedies in authentic prayer, we prevent the phrase from being reduced to a trivial sentiment and remind the world that God is present and hears our prayers even in our darkest hours.
<hr>
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

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