Intercessory prayer and saints

  • Thread starter Thread starter KevinK
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KevinK

Guest
Do saints have the power to decline to intercede on your behalf when you say a prayer to them? For example if they think it is not in your best interests or otherwise inappropriate?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You sidestepped the question. Do they automatically ask God anything you ask or can they choose to not intercede. People will make absurd or ill-advised prayers. Are the saints obligated to intercede for these prayers or can they choose not to? That is the question.
 
I didn’t side step anything.
They ask, he decides.
What’s so hard ?
 
If you ask for something ridiculous, I think they probably pity us.
 
So, in heaven, it’s impossible to sin.

Do those in heaven have the ability to discern between x being God’s will, and x being opposed to God’s will?

So, if they have the ability to recognize God’s will, then asking for something they specifically know is contrary to God’s will is a sin. On earth, we are very limited in how we perceive things. But in heaven, there’s just reality… no excuses, no explanations, no pretending. So if a saint is invoked, I would be surprised if God didn’t allow them some sort of understanding of the situation they’re being invoked into.

Otherwise, we’re left with a mental image of the saints being parrots. 🙂

“Hey, Mom, ask Dad if I can have a .243 Winchester for Christmas…”

(robot voice) “Dear, shouldn’t we get Junior a .243 Winchester for Christmas?”

Versus, “Dear, Junior wants a .243 Winchester for Christmas… I don’t think he’s really mature enough for that, but what do you think would be a good alternative for him? Whatever you think is best.”

We ask for stuff that can hurt us. Or is wrong for us. Or that we’re not equipped to handle. Or things that aren’t meant for us. Or things that God wishes to give us— but not quite yet. And so ultimately, when our prayers mature, the most successful ones end up being along the lines of, “Thy will be done.”

I would suspect that the prayers of those in heaven align similarly-- where they’re not so concerned with God giving us the exact details of what we desire, a la Santa Claus, but giving us what we need the most, in his plan for us.
 
KevinK said:
Do they automatically ask God anything you ask or can they choose to not intercede. People will make absurd or ill-advised prayers. Are the saints obligated to intercede for these prayers or can they choose not to? That is the question.
Click to expand...
The saint would likely always pray to God for you, but would use common sense in doing it. If you were asking for something clearly wrong or dangerous, the saint would simply pray that God would protect you and give you grace so you’d have more wisdom in your choice.

If not something inappropriate, the saint would likely pray to God on your behalf but would defer to God’s will in the matter.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top