“Since responding to a question about certain promises attributed to private revelations that suggest saying certain prayers for several years will guarantee one’s salvation, a number of writers have asked about my assertion that it is a superstitious practice,” responds Colin Donovan, EWTN vice president for theology. “Others have asked about the Pietà prayer book.”

“Concerning the Pietà booklet, it is a collection created in the 1970s by a layman who wanted to have something simple to give people he met during the apostolate. In general, it certainly has had that influence, despite the presence of claims that are neither accepted by the Church nor consistent with Catholic teaching.

“A case in point are the prayers attributed to St. Bridget. These prayers have many extraordinary claims associated with them. Writing of them in 1954, the Holy Office, known today as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated that they were not proven to be supernatural and that bishops should not allow them to be published (EWTN.com/library/CURIA/CDFBRID.HTM).

“I can think of two reasons why the Holy See would say this. First, having been found in Rome apart from any known writings of St. Bridget, they cannot really claim any historical connection to her, and thus cannot be judged to be credibly from God based on her recognized sanctity. Even if it were demonstrated historically to be one of her writings, it would still have to be judged by its content against the faith, something the Church does with the writings of all the saints and blesseds.

“Secondly, in no case has the Church ever accepted any practice as meritorious apart from the faith which motivates it, together with charity and virtue of life” (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2111).

Have you always wondered about some aspect of the faith or Church teaching? Or maybe you’d like to know some trivia about Pope Francis or the saints. If so, email us your question at [email protected] and look for the answer in an upcoming issue.