I have been asked by my 9 year old if it is OK to pray for satan to return to God. Since we are called to pray for everybody, would this include him?
I was stunned into silence as I did not know how to answer this. Can you please help me out with?
Thank you and God Bless!
Dear Friend,
It speaks well of your nine year old son that he would ask such a question. Indeed as Christians we are called to be God-like in our attitude and way of life. And the way of Christ is the way of Love.
Is it wrong to pray that Satan repents? The answer is no. However, Satan has already made his choice and is not likely to change his mind.
Interestingly enough in the Anaphora Prayer during the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, we pray that those who are evil may become good.
Indeed God wishes that all of us be saved and not perish. It is good that we pray for our enemies. We condemn the sin, not the sinner. We should always pray that those who are evil repent.
Your son is blessed with spiritual insight that many much older than he lacks. Thank God for his tender and loving heart! As a Father, I would encourage him to use his energies to pray for tangible people/situations that are evil that they repent and come to the knowledge of God and be saved.
I hope you found this answer to be helpful.
Father Peter Paproski
