G
genevich
Guest
Hi:
I am having an ongoing discussion w/an evangelical friend of mine, who
continues to undermine the teachings of the Catholic church. She has me stumped
on one question regarding our prayers to Mary. I have explained that we do
not “worship” Mary, we simply ask for her intercession, just as we ask
“earthly saints,” our friends and relatives on earth, to pray for us.
Her question that I am having difficulty with revolves around Mary’s
ability to hear our prayers. This is her response:
Jesus is man and God, the only perfect, sinless savior. As God He is able
to hear your prayers. Any person lacking the qualities of deity cannot do so.
We are finite and shall always be finite for all eternity. If you are in a
room with ten or 15 people speaking at once, you are soon unable to
understand any of them. Imagine having a million people speaking to you at once! To
be able to hear them all simultaneously and respond to them would require
infinite intelligence and power. Jesus has that, since He is God. Mary is a
glorified saint, but still finite as are the rest of the saints and all
created beings. Jesus was never created, but existed with God and as God from all
eternity. Therefore, Jesus can hear you and go to the Father on your behalf,
if you trust Him. Mary cannot possibly hear and answer all the prayers
being directed her way every day, she is a finite human being. Only Jesus can
help you, and He wants you to ask Him to. Jesus makes this invitation to you: “
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;
and you shall find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28,29).
Can you help me with an answer to my friend? I can’t find anything that
addresses the saints’ ability, as former mortals, to “hear” prayers in heaven.
Thanks,
Cheryl Robb-Genevich
+JMJ+
I am having an ongoing discussion w/an evangelical friend of mine, who
continues to undermine the teachings of the Catholic church. She has me stumped
on one question regarding our prayers to Mary. I have explained that we do
not “worship” Mary, we simply ask for her intercession, just as we ask
“earthly saints,” our friends and relatives on earth, to pray for us.
Her question that I am having difficulty with revolves around Mary’s
ability to hear our prayers. This is her response:
Jesus is man and God, the only perfect, sinless savior. As God He is able
to hear your prayers. Any person lacking the qualities of deity cannot do so.
We are finite and shall always be finite for all eternity. If you are in a
room with ten or 15 people speaking at once, you are soon unable to
understand any of them. Imagine having a million people speaking to you at once! To
be able to hear them all simultaneously and respond to them would require
infinite intelligence and power. Jesus has that, since He is God. Mary is a
glorified saint, but still finite as are the rest of the saints and all
created beings. Jesus was never created, but existed with God and as God from all
eternity. Therefore, Jesus can hear you and go to the Father on your behalf,
if you trust Him. Mary cannot possibly hear and answer all the prayers
being directed her way every day, she is a finite human being. Only Jesus can
help you, and He wants you to ask Him to. Jesus makes this invitation to you: “
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;
and you shall find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28,29).
Can you help me with an answer to my friend? I can’t find anything that
addresses the saints’ ability, as former mortals, to “hear” prayers in heaven.
Thanks,
Cheryl Robb-Genevich
+JMJ+