M
mightymo
Guest
Absolutely we are to pray for each. I pray for others daily and have belonged to an intercessory prayer group for 15 years. I know the scripture verses you refer to from Revelation; Rev 5:8 "Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones, " and Rev 8:3-5 “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censor. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones,…The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.” Throughout the New Testament, believers are referred to as ‘saints/holy ones’. A few examples; 1 Cor 16:1 "Now in regard to the collection for the holy ones…(some translations use the word ‘saints’), Acts 9:32…Peter…went down to the saints (some translations use ‘holy ones’) living in Lydda…Eph 6:18…pray at every opportunity…with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones (saints)…There are many more examples.
Another concern expressed by bloggers is the impact to some Catholics in the denial of their faith if the church declared some of these apparitions as unsubstantiated or even false. That is the successful deception of Satan and an example of the belief in Mary over Jesus Christ. Any statement by the Church which warns of, or doesn’t confirm any of these apparitions should have absolutely no effect on the faith of any Catholic Christian. That again is the successful tactics of Satan and another reason to not be taken in by these apparitions. Scripture says to 'Be watchful! Mark 13:22; “False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect. Be watchful!”
Another concern expressed by bloggers is the impact to some Catholics in the denial of their faith if the church declared some of these apparitions as unsubstantiated or even false. That is the successful deception of Satan and an example of the belief in Mary over Jesus Christ. Any statement by the Church which warns of, or doesn’t confirm any of these apparitions should have absolutely no effect on the faith of any Catholic Christian. That again is the successful tactics of Satan and another reason to not be taken in by these apparitions. Scripture says to 'Be watchful! Mark 13:22; “False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect. Be watchful!”