Prayer Question

[catholicbball17]

Hi there,
I am curious if it is wrong to “pray” to a recently deceased person (i.e. Francis Cardinal George) to intercede for me. I am asking since I am thinking of asking Cardinal George, if he is in heaven, to intercede for some of my petitions especially with school and possibly getting an internship.
Thanks/

 

[RitasKid]

Of course it’s OK. That’s how causes for sainthood begin. ( Even so, praying to people I know feels weird. )

 

[fezzesarecool]

Hi there,
I am curious if it is wrong to “pray” to a recently deceased person (i.e. Francis Cardinal George) to intercede for me. I am asking since I am thinking of asking Cardinal George, if he is in heaven, to intercede for some of my petitions especially with school and possibly getting an internship.
Thanks/

Not sinful. You can’t know if he’s a saint or not until you ask for his intercession and God grants your wish because of his intercession. Thus, asking is necessary.

 

[mommy_k]

That is a tricky question. We are to pray for the deceased, and not assume the state of their soul.

In general,I was taught not to ask a deceased person’s intercession directly, but to go to our Blessed Mother and ask in this way–If so-and so is in heaven please ask them to intercede for me with you. The reason is above, we don’t know the state of their soul. What if a person is in hell?

A priest told me this. In your case, the person is Cardinal, so perhaps it’s ok.

 

[Joannm]

But Mommy k, it is by praying to a deceased person and having a request answered that it is determined, at least officially by the Church, if a person is in heaven. A person cannot be beatified or canonized unless a miracle is granted to someone who has prayed for their intercession.