When you see something often enough, and don’t understand, you make assumptions about it. Is it necessary to pray the rosary or even understand it to be Catholic? Nope. But I see it in movies all the time, and my Catholic friends carry a rosary, and and etc. That and it’s kind of hard to walk into a church and not see the image of a saint somewhere. At least that’s what I think.I have seen frequently on the ‘Ask an Apologist’ forum there are a lot of misinformed people who ask why it’s necessary to pray to the saints.
Why do so many people erroneously believe Catholics think it’s necessary to pray to the saints?
Thanks and God Bless,
Snert
Snert,I have seen frequently on the ‘Ask an Apologist’ forum there are a lot of misinformed people who ask why it’s necessary to pray to the saints.
Why do so many people erroneously believe Catholics think it’s necessary to pray to the saints?
Thanks and God Bless,
Snert
The answer to that is yes – denial of intercessory prayer is a denial of a tenant of the faith (part of “the communion of Saints” we profess in the Creed), and as such it would be heresy to obstinately deny it.Snert,
I know that Catholics are not required to request intercession of the saints and the BVM.
My question is, does a Catholic have to believe the saints can hear our requests, inorder to remain Catholic?
Jon
I thought a bit about this myself. When I came back to the Church, I had just spent a lot of time with a born-again Christian and her influence weighed heavily on me. I still think that influence affects me from time to time, though I know it shouldn’t. So anyway, for a while there I did not pray to the saints, only Jesus, the Father and the Spirit. It took a little while before I became more comfortable praying to the Saints.Snert,
I know that Catholics are not required to request intercession of the saints and the BVM.
My question is, does a Catholic have to believe the saints can hear our requests, inorder to remain Catholic?
Jon
Snert,
Jon,I know that Catholics are not required to request intercession of the saints and the BVM.
My question is, does a Catholic have to believe
The saints in heaven do hear those who cry/pray to them for help. Haave you not read The Rich man and Lazarus?
Luke 16: 19-31There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, 21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. 23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: 24 And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. 25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither. 27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, 28 That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. 29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. 31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.
Jon, Jesus tells us this story Luke 16: 19-31 for our benefit! If a man in hell such as the Rich Man can pray to a saint (Abraham) and then Abraham answers him then this show that all the saints in heaven can hear all who pray to them for help.
Jon, did Abraham answer the rich mans prayer from hell such as bringing Lazarus back from the dead? Well, as you know, their was a man by that name of Lazarus that was raised from the dead. HMMMMMMM…
Yes, if Abraham in heaven heard the rich mans prayer from hell, how much MORE will Abraham listen and answer our prayers to him.
The Catholic Church is not superficial but deep deep in Graces
Ufamtobie
U,Jon,
The saints in heaven do hear those who cry/pray to them for help. Haave you not read The Rich man and Lazarus?
Luke 16: 19-31There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, 21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. 23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: 24 And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. 25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither. 27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, 28 That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. 29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. 31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.
Jon, Jesus tells us this story Luke 16: 19-31 for our benefit! If a man in hell such as the Rich Man can pray to a saint (Abraham) and then Abraham answers him then this show that all the saints in heaven can hear all who pray to them for help.
Jon, did Abraham answer the rich mans prayer from hell such as bringing Lazarus back from the dead? Well, as you know, their was a man by that name of Lazarus that was raised from the dead. HMMMMMMM…
Yes, if Abraham in heaven heard the rich mans prayer from hell, how much MORE will Abraham listen and answer our prayers to him.
The Catholic Church is not superficial but deep deep in Graces
Ufamtobie
Thanks, JMJ. That is what I thought. And, you know, that is a bigger concern for me - the binding of conscience, than the practice itself, which has been done by Christians, both east and west, long before the schism.The answer to that is yes – denial of intercessory prayer is a denial of a tenant of the faith (part of “the communion of Saints” we profess in the Creed), and as such it would be heresy to obstinately deny it.
Refer to CCC 946-962