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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   3226 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for August 28, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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It's one of those "coincidence that felt too perfect" that most people probably don't consider miracles, but after having atrociously bad romantic success, to the point I thought I must be asexual because I felt 0 interest in any of the men I tried to date, I began what Catholics call a "novena" (nine days of prayer) for my future spouse, if I had one.

As I wrapped up the prayer at the end of day 9, my cell phone rang. It was my coworker who worked the night shift, he needed help with something. I assisted him and then we got to talking on our company chat for hours and hours and... 10 years later we are married, have four kids and still say goofy things like how lucky we are to have found each other. We have arguments that the other is "the best." Sure, I was primed by my prayer to look for a spouse, but also consider that my husband had no such priming and we have had a very high compatibility - more than seems possible from random chance.

Isn't this a little bit of a... do ut des framing? I thought you guys were against this?

Why would we be against God giving guidance on figuring out your vocation? Instead, He's supposed to be a critical part of discernment.

It's not like I was praying for God to conjure up a husband out of thin air or to make someone fall in love with me. I prayed that, if I was to be married at some point in the future, that that man be blessed. I prayed for the well-being of my hypothetical future husband.

It's not about being against God giving guidance. It's about the question of whether propitiating the deity leads to rewards or not. Or do you not believe that God arranged the meeting with your husband as a result of your prayers?

I think God does that all the time...

There are lots of conditionals God has built into the world, "If so and so responds to this prompt of grace to pray for this thing or do this thing, then I will send this other grace." Signal graces, etc.

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