Communion of Saints and Marian Apparitions/Devotion?

[kdganey1991]

So, I’m very confused about everything that we hold dear as Catholics. I have no idea what’s what anymore. Mainly over the communion of saints and our attention to Mary. I do believe in her perpetual virginity, because many extra biblical resources would attest to that. I also believe in most of what Catholicism is, such as the Eucharist, confession, clergy of deacons, bishops, and priests, salvation by faith and works, something sort of like purgatory, etc… but the communion of saints, I seem to have a problem with lately.

How do we know that the saints can hear us? I know they are aware of our prayers in Revelation 5:8, but that doesn’t mean they hear them coming from us, right?

Also, why do we devote ourselves to Mary? What justification do we have for it? Do some of these messages contradict what has been said by Jesus? like at Fatima: My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God. Isn’t it Jesus who does that? Doesn’t the parable of the rich man and Lazarus mean that nobody comes back from the dead? But then again, Moses and Elijah appeared at the Transfiguration…

I’m just so confused. Somebody please fill me in on this.

 

[Carolus_Martell]

The communion of Saints is part of the Apostles creed and Catholics are obligated to fall in step with this.

The Marian devotions are an optional devotion. But be advised the Pope has declared the BVM as the #1 intercessor of our prayers…and that draws a lot of water.

You may be more comfortable praying the chaplet of Divine Mercy, that devotion and its novena prayers all orbit around our lord, Jesus…

…except for 1 Hail Mary and an Apostles Creed.

 

[Waiting]

So, I’m very confused about everything that we hold dear as Catholics. I have no idea what’s what anymore. Mainly over the communion of saints and our attention to Mary. I do believe in her perpetual virginity, because many extra biblical resources would attest to that. I also believe in most of what Catholicism is, such as the Eucharist, confession, clergy of deacons, bishops, and priests, salvation by faith and works, something sort of like purgatory, etc… but the communion of saints, I seem to have a problem with lately.

How do we know that the saints can hear us? I know they are aware of our prayers in Revelation 5:8, but that doesn’t mean they hear them coming from us, right?

Also, why do we devote ourselves to Mary? What justification do we have for it? Do some of these messages contradict what has been said by Jesus? like at Fatima: My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God. Isn’t it Jesus who does that? Doesn’t the parable of the rich man and Lazarus mean that nobody comes back from the dead? But then again, Moses and Elijah appeared at the Transfiguration…

I’m just so confused. Somebody please fill me in on this.

If the proof is in the pudding, if results count, then maybe I can help. Recently I heard that a nephew of mine was in danger of losing his home because his work hours had been seriously cut. I began saying the Litany of St. Padre Pio, and within a few days another employee quit and my nephew’s hours were restored. Another time I made a bad decision in finding a home for my cat. I tried to get her back, but was firmly rejected. Finally, I decided to just go to the home and try one last time to retrieve the cat. All the way to the home I prayed the Memorare to Mary – Remember, oh most holy Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.,etc.-- When I arrived at the home, the owner was very gracious and returned my cat immediately.

You have many loving friends among the saints. They are close to God. Why would you hesitate asking them to intercede for you? There is no commandment telling you to ask for help, but you are clearly the loser if you don’t. God bless.

 

[pablope]

So, I’m very confused about everything that we hold dear as Catholics. I have no idea what’s what anymore.

How do we know that the saints can hear us? I know they are aware of our prayers in Revelation 5:8, but that doesn’t mean they hear them coming from us, right?

I’m just so confused. Somebody please fill me in on this.

Do you believe in angels? Do you believe angels can hear us?

If yes, then saints can hear us. It is in the gospels that those who die and make it to heaven have the attributes of angels.

Matt 22: 30…"For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
But are as the angels of God in heaven; or, as in Luke, “are equal unto the angels”; and which he explains their immortality: “neither can they die any more”; no more than the angels can: for this must not be extended to everything; not in everything will the saints be like, or equal to the angels; they will not be incorporeal, as the angels are, but then, even their bodies will be spiritual, and in some respects, like spirits; they will not stand in any need of sustenance, by eating and drinking, any more than the angels; nor will there be any such things as marriage, and procreation of children among them, any more than among angels; for they “are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection”: they will then appear to be the children of God by adopting grace, through their enjoying the adoption, even the redemption of their bodies; and possessing, in soul and body, the heavenly inheritance they are heirs of: indeed, the souls of the saints before the resurrection, during their separate state, are in some sense like the angels, to which may be applied those words of Maimonides (d), *

 

[fred_conty]

So, I’m very confused about everything that we hold dear as Catholics. I have no idea what’s what anymore. Mainly over the communion of saints and our attention to Mary. I do believe in her perpetual virginity, because many extra biblical resources would attest to that. I also believe in most of what Catholicism is, such as the Eucharist, confession, clergy of deacons, bishops, and priests, salvation by faith and works, something sort of like purgatory, etc… but the communion of saints, I seem to have a problem with lately.

How do we know that the saints can hear us? I know they are aware of our prayers in Revelation 5:8, but that doesn’t mean they hear them coming from us, right?

Also, why do we devote ourselves to Mary? What justification do we have for it? Do some of these messages contradict what has been said by Jesus? like at Fatima: My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God. Isn’t it Jesus who does that? Doesn’t the parable of the rich man and Lazarus mean that nobody comes back from the dead? But then again, Moses and Elijah appeared at the Transfiguration…

I’m just so confused. Somebody please fill me in on this.

 

[fred_conty]

Saints having died, the body has been consigned to the earth, but their soul, being spirit,
is with God, who knows all things. Spirits communicate differently than we do since they
do not have ears any longer. Angels and people in heaven communicate immediately,
mind to mind, thru an instant sharing of knowledge when so willed. It would be like
telepathy on earth, a knowledge communicated by human minds with pure thought.

Saints know your thoughts when directed to them as any spirit does, even the devil who
also is a spirit. Talking in the spirit world means directing thoughts. And we know thru
revelation that we communicate to the devil when exorcism is performed. Mary talked to
angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. These are spirits who heard human beings on earth.
And the spirits in purgatory we may communicate with them, as well as help them in
their progress to heaven thru our prayers of petition.

“…the heartfelt prayer of a good man works very powerfully.” James 4;16-17
“…dear to him is the prayer of honest men.” Proverbs 15:8
“…but he listens to the prayers of the virtuous.” Proverbs 15:29

Now who is more good, honest, virtuous, than the saints praying for us.
Especially Holy Mary being at the top of the list of saints as the Mother of God.

Just something to think about.