Prayers to the Saints cannot be proven?

[jim1130]

The daughter, in the example of the original post, is not in full communion with God. I think that the problem lies in a faulty understanding of what happens when we die. It also lies in being unable to put scripture together as a whole. This is one theological area where the lack of the deuterocanonical book of Tobit has a great impact. In Tobit, we see where an angel hears the prayers of humans and intercedes on their behalf. Now even if non-Catholics at that pitiful website actually believed that Tobit was inspired, they might reply that angels aren’t people who have died and gone to heaven. Well, not exactly— it is true human Saints are not angel Saints, however we are told in scripture is that human’s who go to heaven will be made ‘as the angels’. Angels are servants of God who, in addition to praising and worshipping God, also minister to the needs of people.

We are also told that ‘no one is righteous, no not one,’ but then we are told that the prayer of the righteous avails much. Wait a minute, no one is righteous yet the prayers of the righteous avail much?? It isn’t as contradictory as it may seem, we are not made fully righteous until we get to heaven. We are forgiven for our sins, certainly, but we continue to sin. But nothing unclean shall enter heaven. Does anybody at CARM stop to wonder why nothing unclean can enter heaven? It is because of the intimate communion with God that occurs when we get to heaven. What better time to pray for our brethen?!! Does it even make sense that the command to pray for our brethren cease just when our prayers become the most efficacious?

I find it sad and ironic that these people somehow think that it is taking away from God’s Glory to ask Saints to intercede for us. In my view, it adds to His Glory. That He has the ability to grant special gifts of His Spirit to those in heaven so that they can intercede only makes God look greater to me.

I do not know if this is a good analogy or not, but since it is football season: How often do we hear about a “coaching tree?” Two examples: Paul Brown (of the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals) had many former assistant coaches and players become successful NFL head coaches, including Chuck Noll and Don Shula. Bill Walsh (of the San Francisco 49ers), who was also an assistant under Paul Brown at Cincinnati, had assistant coaches become successful head coaches (Andy Reid and Mike Holmgren). Does the success of the former assistant coaches and players diminish the success of Brown and Walsh? Not at all. In fact, their success enhances Brown and Walsh and makes the two former coaches look even greater.

The same can be said of God.

Do the saints diminish the importance of God and God’s role? Not at all. The saints enhance and enrich God and make God look greater.

As I said, not sure if this is a good analogy, but it is worth a shot. I suppose if people think it is silly I will hear about it