Prestor,

Like you, I have not heard this before. I suppose I would ask about two New Testament passages (there may be others, but these come to mind):

1) I Corinthians 1:2 has Paul identifying the Church as ..."all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.... Is "calling upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" praying to Him? My impression is that in the Old Testament when people called upon the name of the Lord, so to speak, they were praying.

2) In Acts 7, when Stephen said "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit", is that a prayer to Jesus?

I guess I am a little bit curious about this statement, because the Gloria in Excelsis, in some form or another, is a rather old prayer/hymn of the Church, and it features prayer addressed to Christ as well:

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


So--I too would be interested if anyone else has further thoughts. I do know prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus is certainly Scriptural, but the statement you heard has me pondering.

Theo