H
Holland
Guest
We Catholics are always asking the Saints, Angels and Mary to pray for us. How do we know they have the ability to pray for us? When we are in Heaven will we be able to pray for others?
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J
JaneFrances
Guest
Sacred Scripture tells us that we when come before God in prayer and worship, we “draw near to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to myriads to angels in festal gathering, to the assembly of the first-born enrolled in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks more eloquently that that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22-24).
Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, is the metaphor for the communion of saints in heaven. When we approach God, through Jesus Christ, we no longer “draw near to an untouchable mountain” (Heb. 12:18). We are in communion with our Lord, his angels, and all those “spirits of just men made perfect.” This is how we, as Catholics, understand our prayer to the angels and saints. It is communion through Jesus Christ. It is communication. It is fellowship.
We believe the angels and saints hear us, too, as we read St. John’s Revelation. He tells us that in his vision he sees “the Lamb” and with the Lamb are “four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [who] fall down before the Lamb.” (Rev. 5:6-8). The Lamb is Christ, of course. The twenty-four elders are by all scholarly accounts representative of the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of Jesus. In this same vision, St. John describes the scene: “Along with their harps, the elders were holding vessels of gold filled with aromatic spices, which were the prayers of God’s holy people” (Rev. 5:8).
According to St. John, those in the heavenly communion are glorifying God and offering to him “the prayers of God’s holy people.” This is, in part, how we understand the intercession of the saints and angels. They offer, on our behalf, prayers as offerings before the Lord.
So, how do we know their prayers are effective?
St. James tells us “the fervent prayer of a holy man is powerful” (James 5:16). We know that those in the heavenly communion of saints have been “made perfect” and are thus “holy.” We know that when we come before the Lord, we are also drawing near to them. We know that they are in heaven offering prayers on our behalf. So, we conclude, through the teaching of the Church that when we pray to Mary, the saints, and angels that they, according to Divine Providence, are given fellowship with us through Jesus Christ and that their prayers are powerful.
Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, is the metaphor for the communion of saints in heaven. When we approach God, through Jesus Christ, we no longer “draw near to an untouchable mountain” (Heb. 12:18). We are in communion with our Lord, his angels, and all those “spirits of just men made perfect.” This is how we, as Catholics, understand our prayer to the angels and saints. It is communion through Jesus Christ. It is communication. It is fellowship.
We believe the angels and saints hear us, too, as we read St. John’s Revelation. He tells us that in his vision he sees “the Lamb” and with the Lamb are “four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [who] fall down before the Lamb.” (Rev. 5:6-8). The Lamb is Christ, of course. The twenty-four elders are by all scholarly accounts representative of the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of Jesus. In this same vision, St. John describes the scene: “Along with their harps, the elders were holding vessels of gold filled with aromatic spices, which were the prayers of God’s holy people” (Rev. 5:8).
According to St. John, those in the heavenly communion are glorifying God and offering to him “the prayers of God’s holy people.” This is, in part, how we understand the intercession of the saints and angels. They offer, on our behalf, prayers as offerings before the Lord.
So, how do we know their prayers are effective?
St. James tells us “the fervent prayer of a holy man is powerful” (James 5:16). We know that those in the heavenly communion of saints have been “made perfect” and are thus “holy.” We know that when we come before the Lord, we are also drawing near to them. We know that they are in heaven offering prayers on our behalf. So, we conclude, through the teaching of the Church that when we pray to Mary, the saints, and angels that they, according to Divine Providence, are given fellowship with us through Jesus Christ and that their prayers are powerful.
H
Holland
Guest
Thanks for such a thorough answer. Now the next part of the question. When we are in Heaven will we be able to pray for others?
J
JaneFrances
Guest
If we are in heaven, then we have finally attained the rewards of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Our life has not ended, but has been perfected and made eternal. Thus, as Catholics, we believe through that ultimate communion with our Lord and his Church that our heavenly prayers are heard.
We know through Scripture, that we are to pray for each other. Again, through Scripture, we know that “the fervent petition of a holy man is powerful” (James 5:16). We know that once we have attainted life eternal that we have been made perfect; we are holy. There is no good Scriptural evidence that would indicate that once we have reached heaven we are no longer active members of the Body of Christ. This would include prayer for each other. And we can be assured that our heavenly prayers, just as our wills and hearts, have been perfected according to God’s plan.
And again, through Scripture, we are given a vision of the heavenly worship which includes those who have gone before us in the faith offering prayers on behalf of others.
So, I think it is quite right to believe that if we are in eternal communion with our Lord in heaven that we will continue our membership in the Body of Christ–even more perfectly than on earth–and that our membership (per Scripture) includes and even requires prayer and intercession for others.
We know through Scripture, that we are to pray for each other. Again, through Scripture, we know that “the fervent petition of a holy man is powerful” (James 5:16). We know that once we have attainted life eternal that we have been made perfect; we are holy. There is no good Scriptural evidence that would indicate that once we have reached heaven we are no longer active members of the Body of Christ. This would include prayer for each other. And we can be assured that our heavenly prayers, just as our wills and hearts, have been perfected according to God’s plan.
And again, through Scripture, we are given a vision of the heavenly worship which includes those who have gone before us in the faith offering prayers on behalf of others.
So, I think it is quite right to believe that if we are in eternal communion with our Lord in heaven that we will continue our membership in the Body of Christ–even more perfectly than on earth–and that our membership (per Scripture) includes and even requires prayer and intercession for others.
P
Pax
Guest
Your questions can be answered by getting a glimpse of heaven and what it means to be one of the “souls of just men made perfect.” What we are “now” is not diminished when we are in heaven. What we are able to do during our earthly lives is not diminished in heaven. If anything we will reach the pinnacle of what it means to be fully human and our capacities will be enhanced.
Scripture tells us “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him,”[1 Cor 2:9]. We also know that the heavenly host rejoice over the repentence of even one sinner on earth. Heaven is not an inert place occupied by inert beings. Heaven is an active and vibrant community of angels and saints that are in the presence of Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. The heavenly saints and those on earth are members of the body of Christ and the members care about one another.
Not only are the saints in heaven active and vibrant, but they are “partakers of the divine nature”[2 Peter 1:4]. The apostle Paul says in Rom 8:38-39 that “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Based on all of the above statements about heaven that are found in scripture, I think the burden of proof is not on those that believe in the “communion of saints” and intercessory prayer. I find it hard to imagine that life in heaven would not include these things. The burden of proof should be placed on those that treat the saints in heaven as if they are dead. If anything they are more alive in Christ than we are.
T
Todd_Easton
Guest
In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus said the dead rich man in the fiery torments of Hades interceded for his living brothers.
In 2 Maccabees 15:12-14, dead Onias and dead Jeremiah were seen in a vision worthy of belief fervently praying for the whole Jewish community.
In 2 Maccabees 15:12-14, dead Onias and dead Jeremiah were seen in a vision worthy of belief fervently praying for the whole Jewish community.
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