This Catholic Journey
I've never understood the "dead in heaven" remark. When we get to Heaven we will be more alive than ever!
You should join up with the team at Catholic Answers! You explain things so well!
Thanks! :)
That's definitely a dream but I believe I have much more to learn first, Tim! It's easy when you are able to take the time to look things up and put it in writing. It's completely different when you have to pull it from your head at a moment's notice in the heat of an attack!
Thank you for the compliment, however. I will treasure it!
Whenever someone tell me we shouldn't pray to the saints because they're dead, I ask them to open their Bible (they always have one)and read John 11:25,26-Jesus raising Lazarus. "Jesus said to her (Martha) 'I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" Then I use my best Clint Eastwood voice and say, "Well, do ya?" I get mixed responses but maybe that's because I'm not a very good mimic.
This was thoughfully written. Sometimes it's difficult to explain to non-Catholics about intercession . . . especially where Mary is concerned. Thank you for doing such a good job (I'll remember some of your points next time this conversation comes up!)
Hello again Amber,
I'd just like to make a few comments on this particular post. First, I pretty much agree with you on the "One Mediator" point. But there is a difference between praying "for" someone and praying "to" them. We pray TO Jesus (and ONLY to Him / God) because of His role as Mediator in paying the full price for sin on our behalf. But nowhere in Scripture are we allowed to pray TO anyone else. It is not the same thing as praying FOR other people, e.g., for health, blessings, guidance, etc.
Concerning those in Heaven, yes, they are very much alive. But the two passages you offered in Revelation simply tell us that the angels and elders "offered" the prayers of the saints to God. It never says that the prayers were first directed to the angels, or anyone else in Heaven.
The verses you quoted in Psalms are not directing us to PRAY TO the angels, but are simply exhorting ALL (even the Heavenly hosts) to praise and exalt God, because He is worthy. You didn't mention the next verse (103:22), which encourages His "works" (not just living creatures) to also praise Him. Does that mean that we pray to all His "works" also? What about when PEOPLE are admonished to praise Him? Are we praying to THEM too?
It is perfectly fine to pray FOR someone here on earth. But we find no precedent in the Bible where anyone obediently prays to ANYONE ELSE but God.
Thanks, and looking forward to your response.
Russell
When we are praying "to" the saints, we are not praying so that through their own power, they might answer us. We are praying for their intercession, prayer being a message to God asking for them to intercede for us. Praying "to" God is asking him directly. Praying "through" the saints is asking for their intercession. Whenever you hear a Catholic saying that they are praying "to" a saint, what they really mean is that they are praying for God's help "through" that saint. A person saying "I am praying to St. Therese" is using a common shorthand "to" for the actual meaning, "I am praying to God through the intercession of St. Therese". Its just a lot easier to say the first way. Unfortunately, this shorthand has created confusion on the part of some Catholics and most non-Catholics. That's why its up to us to learn our faith!
Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but through me" John 14:6 This applies to prayer also. Jesus Christ is the only way, the only Mediator 1 Tim 2:5
1 John 2:1-5
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
All throughout the Gospels, Jesus prayed to God the Father, and God the Father alone. Not to the saints, not to angels. If we are to walk as Jesus walked we need to follow His example otherwise we're praying to gods & not God Almighty.
I pray that eyes, minds and hearts will be opened to the truth of God's word, and that the Holy Spirit will grant us all wisdom and discernment so that we can distinguish truth from false doctrine. May the Lord bless you & keep you!
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