"There Is No Right Way To Pray" - Father James Martin On The Many Ways To Talk To God 

im Hindu but did actually appreciate this segment for a little something different and to see a more personal side of Colbert through his faith. I know he touches on it at times but I can see how this is something more directly personal to him.

I love Saint Joseph...hidden life of those who quietly do the work of service so that we can all make it through this pandemic.

Joseph is my confirmation name. The Bishop asked me about it. I responded that Joseph was a worker and I want to be a worker (4th grade).

Father Martin to Stephen at one point apparently: "You pray like a nerd."

I'm an atheist, but I love how relaxed and at-ease Stephen is here. There certainly is another side of him connected to his faith, and it's amazing to see more of that!

I’m a full blown atheist but I do appreciate religious people with a realistic view on religion. My dad was catholic and his faith provided comfort in his personal life and his job as a prosecutor, but he never allowed his religion to rule over his opinions about people.

“There not a right or wrong way to pray”. That in and of itself speaks VOLUMES! I am not Christian but pray my own way.

So impressed at Stephen Colbert for being unabashedly Catholic on mainstream TV

These two could have the entire show just talking about faith and I would not complain. There's always substance in what Fr. Martin says, and Stephen asks these poignant questions without taking things too seriously. I enjoyed this segment, but it left me wanting more from them.

I've been an atheist for literally as long as I can remember. I remember asking my mom (christian/mormon/been part of Jehovas/not quite sure where she stands now, all I know is that she's still quite religious at least. My father as well used to call himself a christian and even joined Jehovas with my mom for a while.. I don't believe he truly believes in a god, I believe he's more of a "cultural christian" rather than an actual "religious christian".. but I'm not going to speak for him. Despite them being fairly religious, at least considering both of them were apart of not only church, but Jehovas - which we know is taking it a little step further.. they never baptised me or my brother, because they wanted us to find our own path. We never really spoke about religion unless us kids brought it up. That was usually me asking my mom about it, but I never got it. It just never made sense to me, even as a gullible young child. To this day I've felt strongly that there is no god of any kind. I am a little spiritual regardless, but not in the sense many think of spirituality. Now - me not "feeling" religion at all doesn't mean I don't respect religious people. I don't respect religion itself so much, but I have respect for religious people doing good with their religion. I think even less of you if you use religion as a shield for everything. Denying other people's rights etc. because "my religion doesn't condone it" is just bullcrap to me. If you religious folks can't respect other people and their way of life (obvs leaving out when it harms other people and all that), don't demand respect yourself. That shit doesn't fly at all. C'mon. My point sort of is, despite me feeling the way I do about religion (ALL religions), I still enjoyed this very much. It never bothers me when Colbert talks about his faith, nor do I mind watching this. This was a lovely interview that didn't make me feel left out, and that's a good feeling to end up with. What a lovely priest. Not going to send any prayers, that doesn't sit right either for me or people that pray. So I'm sending my thoughts and good vibes to everyone out there struggling, hoping and wishing for the best for all good people. Lots of love, everyone 🌱❤✊

Good heavens, between being a Dune (and LOTR) geek and knowing major Catholic heresies, is Colbert the most educated late night host ever? Respect!

I love the way you speak about Catholicism. You make faith approachable, relevant, topical. Thank you. I converted as an adult before my marriage, now married for 26+ years, 2 great children, and I have found so much strength in my faith. I don’t “push” it on anyone. Thanks Mr Colbert. You do it well 👍🙏🏽

It's not only pray,we have to do good deeds,its what matters,a person could be home,and pray.Having a concience,trying as much as possible to be kind,loving,and sharing.Not feeling,for example u better than anyone. Treat the Janitor as the CEO.What matters is how we live our lives in this earth is what is accounted by god.

If you're ever in a room full of priests and need to find the Jesuit, he'll be the one that's smiling. I've never seen a hateful Jesuit.

its impressive to see 2 Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox Christian icons on a wall of a Catholic priest residences home

My two favorite Catholics(that I'm not related to).

I could always use more help with prayer! ❤️

I like Anne Lamott's three prayer options: Help. Thanks. Wow. Covers the bases!

Fr. Martin is a gift.

Church is within Stephen. Remember, the temple of God is your heart.

Wow. Father Martin is ... a good Christian. He's maybe the first Christian who has struck me as actually Godly.

What a lovely man. He is very heart warming. Bless him.

Seriously fan girling right now. Two of my favorite famous Catholics. Ahhh! Thank you Fr. Martin for the work you do on behalf of lgbtq+ people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Part of the reason I’m so drawn to Colbert is his unwavering faith that he integrates into each aspect of his life. It’s beautiful.

Thanks Fr Martin..praying for my son discerning as a college student at Manhattan.

Greetings to America from across the pond

If a movie is ever made about James Martin he should be played by Stanley Tucci.

The conversation here is universal.

What a inspiration. I appreciate his views. What a blessing to hear.

Dear Father Martin and Stephen, The Spirit of Christ shines brightly through you both. God bless you with showers of blessings!! 💖💖💖

God bless.. I do pray every nite on my knees.. And i just give thanks.. He knows your needs and wen is best.. Inner peace is 🔑 and god has all the glory.. Amen.. Health and peace for all.. And yes i do feel something around me!! Chills and stuff.. Then i go in full meditation mode and just let goooooooo!! Beautiful!! You sleep better!! Blessd.. Amen and my blessing!! 🙏❤🙏😎👍✌

I dabbled in Christianity. Many other faiths as well. To each their own as long as you don't hurt nobody. I still give respect to anyone respect to practice praying to god or to rocks if they want.

We share that prayer during our livestreams for people who cannot attend Mass in person. An Act of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

There is a wrong way to pray. It starts with: "My Lord, Donald J. ..."

A lovable priest. I’m Protestant and want to steal him.

Prayers. The minimum you can do and still feel good about yourself.

Nice interview. Thank you.

I can understand that this may not be the most popular or accessible content on your show, but I want to thank you for having Father Martin on. I've been struggling lately, and I really needed this.

Hey, Stephen! I miss your Catholic throw downs between you and Jack White. I’m challenging you to one right now! C’m mother effer! Let’s do it!

Thank you so much, Mr. Colbert, for having Father Martin on the show. With what is going on in my family right now, because of Covid, this idea of different ways to pray is strengthening and helpful for me in being strong for my family. And, thank you Father Martin. I love the stars and the ocean and to contemplate God while I look at these beautiful things of nature, is indeed spiritual help. And I haven’t even read your book yet. But I will. Thank you both, once again.

Whatever floats your boat.. live and let live, without judgement.

Nice to see James Father on a night talk show.I'm not religious but i have become interested in how the catholic community deals with politics so i been reading The American Magazine and I have become more respectful and understanding of people that are religious. May do those that need it find peace in prayer.

I grew up in a protestant church. After reading about many world religions I realize that most people are having a one sided conversation. They do all the talking and have not learned to listen. Meditation shows people how to slow down and even stop the mind, and in that silent state of awareness, flow answers, insights and inspiration, and yes, sometimes words and visions.

I love this

When we hurt, it is HIM trying to draw us within our hearts to see HIM. We are fighting all the way inside us, taught to by the demons. Not seeing or want to.

I really like this segment. I'm not religious AT. ALL. but I do think in terms of psychology of humanity that prayer is a type of meditation and stillness is good for the mind so I'm not mad at it. Also I like how Colbert makes religion not a scary place. Religion has been so perverted by those who wield it like a weapon that it makes people turn away from it but religion on so many levels can be a welcoming place if it is used correctly.

POPE FRANCIS IS A LIVING SAINT , I LOVE THE JESUITS !

You are a sorrow, a death within you. Living your heart. i do NOT know how to live. But HE gave me the Truth. No one wants to be HERE. HEAVEN only desiring. Or a demon caught you blindsided.

Whoever is reading this, God bless you and your family❤

Hehehehe “somewhat academic.” Somehow that doesn’t surprise me, Colbert!

God bless Stephen Colbert and his light that shines through his faith. It's his unshakable confidence in his beliefs that makes him a shining light in this world. I'm not Catholic nor Christian But I appreciate Steven and the way that he believes and chooses to believe in God. And this Catholic priest is 100% correct that there's many different ways to pray and believe as long as they bring you internal peace and back to center then they are all valid. I talk about these kinds of ideas often on my show which is non-religious, Metaphysical Soul Speak--The Podcast! Anchor.fm/metaphysical

I never got prayer, tried it for 20 years. Meditation on the other hand changed my life.

AMEN

Thank you Sir Colbert, your wisdom to educate is a masterpiece beyond books.

I miss Jon Baptiste s expressions while Steve tells news!, 😁

i am an atheist, always have been, but i do respect people who have faith as long as they don't harm anyone with their beliefs and leave me alone. I can imagine that for many people praying is a powerfull tool to help them through their lives, so good for them. where I draw the line is when it affects the rest of the world with wars, hatred and bigotry. and that is unfortunately most of the time. i am certain that if the second coming of Christ would happen today, most of the overzealous evangelists would nail him back on that cross immediately, cause he would be very inconvenient for them - preaching all that bs like loving your neighbor, being tolerant, turning the other cheek, not being greedy etc.

Something to bear to in mind for Lent coming up soon.

Really love this episode , I think I’ll go and meditate with my spirit

It is so empowering to turn on my favourite funny guy and hear about my Catholic faith!

I’d love to see Stephen interview N. T. Wright again. He did it during the Colbert Report, I’d love to have “real” Stephen talking to him.

Nice man.

This gentleman is the Rick Steves of religion...

Mathew 6:6-7 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. ... But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Prayer template can be found in Mathew 6 from verse 9.

There is a great new book about the Consecration to Saint Joseph. Very insightful and worthwhile. 🙏🙏🙏

I am so here for this filioque reference 😁😁😁

Stephen is looking so relaxed recently. Wonder why?

"there are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground." rumi...heck you don't need to be a christian to pray!

good

So, if Stephen gets his streams crossed and refers to the angels as "the Valar", God will be okay with it.

I once had a dream where God came to me as the Ocean. Powerful moment.

I pray to God like a child seeks guidance from her father.....a loving and wise father who is ultimately just.

Loved to hear Father James. Wow

🙏🙏🙏

More people have died praying "the wrong way" than any other reason.

Refreshing take and topic.

I am a theist, but I have always felt without prayer, there is not hope.

What an awesome conversation! 🙏

I prepare a Power Point presentation for my prayer. God seems to have a very short attention span.

I love Father Jim! I love the Jesuits. I sent my son to Gonzaga just so he would be exposed to the Jesuit ways.

🙏☮❤

Father Please Bless Me During These Tough Times

I'm an atheist and typically dislike priests (also pastors, because they always try to shove the Babble down my throat), but I tend to like Jesuits. They question authority, remind the Church of scripture that conflicts with Catholic dogma, and do what they can to bring the Church into the 21st century. In other words, they're educated, fair, and accepting of diversity.

Wow, one of the INCREDIBLY FEW intelligent Christians

I'm pretty sure I remember Fr Martin from the Art Bell show a few times back in the '90s.

Love this priest! So many Clergy and laypeople still try to force certain things on you and tell you how to pray. But Fr Martin guides you gently and teaches true universality.

“I don’t strive for high office (i.e. acclaim)...” Stacks a dozen of his just released book in plain sight. Well played.

I've found that one of the most surprising ways to pray is to hide in a closet, leap out at passersby with a loud shout. Quite a few people respond with, "Oh my God!" Usually followed by, "Don't EVER do that again!'

My former Lutheran church (I moved to a different state and never found another church I liked) has been posting video services on Facebook, and they do "communion" online or via drive-thru. In the videos they just say to use whatever is on hand, which means I occasionally communion with tortillas and coffee. A friend of mine used Chex Mix, only to then realize it was spicy kind. Her family now calls hot Chex Mix "Spicy Christ" 😂🤦‍♀️😂

Always loved his visits to the Colbert report.

Is Father James holding a book-signing at his "location of safety"? He's a wonderful person above all! Father, please keep well and healthy! Pax

When Stephen said he felt uncomfortable hearing someone cough in the church - I thought he meant he felt coughing interrupted the service - re-watching it I realise he means Covid. Be wary of priests, seriously. I'm a recovering catholic & when the church faces up to its brutal treatment of unmarried mothers and children, among other things, then I might be more interested.

Here's input from a prophet of God, the prophesied return of Elijah: I love Stephen Colbert. His light-hearted approach to life is to be commended. And he's helped a lot of people endure the four-year reign of a literal anti-Christ. And concerning the subject of prayer, James Martin is correct that "there is no right way to pray" in this sense: The important thing is that one acknowledges the existence of The Creator ("God"), no matter how one does that. However, Yeshua One with Christ ("Jesus Christ") gives us a lot of insight into the Meaning of Life when one understands His recommended prayer. Because, "The Lord's Prayer" is misunderstood by most people for this reason: The Aramaic language Jesus spoke had no provision for TENSE, which had to be determined from context. And the Lord's Prayer was translated incorrectly as a future-tense prayer of supplication, when in fact it is a present-tense prayer of AFFIRMATION. If you knew exactly WHAT God is you would understand that God is absolutely all-powerful and is in total control in this world (as my book explains). And here is the Lord's Prayer as translated with the intended meaning: Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed IS thy name. Thy Kingdom IS come; thy will IS done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. You give us this day our daily bread And your forgive us our trespasses To the extent that we forgive those who trespass against us. You lead us NOT into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom and the Glory and the Power forever, AMEN.

"You can't say to someone. You should pray the rosary or you shouldn't pray the rosary." I wish my Asian Catholic Mum could hear this

It’s family tradition to say “Clean the house and say the rosary” every time we walk out the door. Now I feel like a jerk. 😉😆 Love and respect to both Stephen Colbert and Father Martin! 💙💚💙💚

I just love Father Martin. Jesuits are so brilliant.

I think more public figures would do good to emulate Father Martin here. He does take his faith seriously, it seems, but it only matters to him and if people don't agree, that is fine. He lives his beliefs and it shows.

Matthew 6:7 When praying, do not say the same things over and over again as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. Philippians 4: 6 Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God

Sin is still sin. Fr Martin is incorrect in leading people astray.

You should pray the Our Father, because Jesus gave us that prayer. You should also pray the Rosary as Mary told us to, many many times in history, and she revealed at Fatima that the Rosary needs to be prayed for the reparations of the sins of the world and for the offences caused to Jesus and His holy heart. She said He is very much offended. However in the end her immaculate heart will triumph, and the final battle will be over marriage and the family.

I usually don't hear about filioque either, in late night tv shows or otherwise.

We pray twice a day to the kami at our home shrine. We sent our prayer to our priest, and he said it was fine. Shinto doesn't have a fixed way to pray, either.