Praying to Angels and Saints

[Elizium23]

“To pray” is a method of communication. Just as you would “text” your daughter to come home right after school, or you would “email” your boss to say that you are coming in late today, you “pray” to the saints to ask your petitions. That is the method by which you are “asking” them to pray for you, so when you “ask” a saint something, you are “praying” to him. It is not possible to “speak” to a saint because they do not have earthly ears. So when you utter your petition, “prayer” is the method by which your request finds its target. It is not possible to “ask” a saint something without “praying” to him.

 

[houseofsaul]

“To pray” is a method of communication. Just as you would “text” your daughter to come home right after school, or you would “email” your boss to say that you are coming in late today, you “pray” to the saints to ask your petitions. That is the method by which you are “asking” them to pray for you, so when you “ask” a saint something, you are “praying” to him. It is not possible to “speak” to a saint because they do not have earthly ears. So when you utter your petition, “prayer” is the method by which your request finds its target. It is not possible to “ask” a saint something without “praying” to him.

Sure there is…you talk to them as you would a friend. Asking them to PRAY FOR YOU.

 

[Elizium23]

Sure there is…you talk to them as you would a friend. Asking them to PRAY FOR YOU.

As the saints do not have earthly ears that can hear, it is ineffective to “talk” to them or “speak” to them as you would the living. The only way to communicate with a saint is prayer.

It is a simple matter of fact that prayer is our method of communicating with the saints, and the saints with each other, and everyone with God. I could quote myriad Church documents that explain this. Why are you so resistant about this simple point?

 

[IneedGod]

houseofsaul,
Intercessory prayer is a whole new concept for some of us
I had to think and study on it a bit. It can sound to a newbie as if we are " adding Gods" to our prayer. Of course your not, you are asking them to pray with and for you. Think of the times you have ask others to pray for you or they ask you to pray for them and you come to realise how wonderfu it can be.
Just one new convert( converting) to another

 

[houseofsaul]

As the saints do not have earthly ears that can hear, it is ineffective to “talk” to them or “speak” to them as you would the living. The only way to communicate with a saint is prayer.

It is a simple matter of fact that prayer is our method of communicating with the saints, and the saints with each other, and everyone with God. I could quote myriad Church documents that explain this. Why are you so resistant about this simple point?

But what is prayer but a conversation with God.

 

[houseofsaul]

houseofsaul,
Intercessory prayer is a whole new concept for some of us
I had to think and study on it a bit. It can sound to a newbie as if we are " adding Gods" to our prayer. Of course your not, you are asking them to pray with and for you. Think of the times you have ask others to pray for you or they ask you to pray for them and you come to realise how wonderfu it can be.
Just one new convert( converting) to another

I am in total agreement with you IneedGod. I am learning the Rosary and have no problem with intercessory prayers. requesting mary or the saints to pray for me. It’s praying to that I have the trouble with. While most Catholics believe that when they are praying to that are not worshipping or requesting that they answer their prayers, I am merely trying to point out that the verbiage used can sometimes be a stumbling to an outsider looking in . Especially with the way some misconstrue or actually do pray to…and I have met both.

 

[KP3243]

Kudos that upstate NY has such a strong Catholic community where you feel it would be common knowledge of the Catholic Practices. However not everyone lives in that kind of community. Just like the Catholic Community, the Protestants too have strong beliefs that they hold sacred and true and thus dont understand as you feel they should. Just because a Church stands for something and holds its beliefs in high regard does not mean that ALL of its followers hold them as sacred.

Why would someone believe that catholics worship Mary? Because in the Southern Bible belt, where I was first introduced to the Catholic Church and began attending Bible Study and making inquiries abourt the Church a Practicing Catholic woman in the group told me she did worship Mary. So yes while the Church is against it, it cannot control every parishioner.

I think part of the where the confusion with Protestants is that Catholics accept the authority of the magisterium and the pope without question so if something like the Penitential Act were we ask everyone in the church, Mary and all the angels and the saints to pray for us in the same prayer has been incorporated into the liturgy or the order of the mass which was specifically laid out by the magisterium and the liturgy or the order of the mass cannot be altered, we trust that it has been guided by the Holy Spirit. Catholics also don’t consider anyone in heaven to be spiritually dead which apparently Protestants do. We believe they are more fully alive since they are in heaven and with God. We still are 100% against contacting or calling on the dead via a séance or something like that because unless they are a proven saint we really have no idea if someone is in heaven and who knows what spirit might show up given an opening but I think Protestants think that is the road Catholics are going down when we pray to Mary and the Saints.
I have no greater respect for Catholics that live in the Bible Belt. If I found one of those tracks on my car after mass it would probably send my just recently received grace right from me!
God Bless!

 

[houseofsaul]

I have no greater respect for Catholics that live in the Bible Belt. If I found one of those tracks on my car after mass it would probably send my just recently received grace right from me!
God Bless!

Cant hate on someone for believing just as deeply about their faith as you do yours. Nor am I saying what the CC says about Mary and Saints is wrong. Just saying when you are approached about this very thing or if it comes up in conversation, try to explain the misconception instead of just giving a glazed over answer about how you are simply following Church teachings. They are doing the same, only different Church.

 

[KP3243]

Cant hate on someone for believing just as deeply about their faith as you do yours. Nor am I saying what the CC says about Mary and Saints is wrong. Just saying when you are approached about this very thing or if it comes up in conversation, try to explain the misconception instead of just giving a glazed over answer about how you are simply following Church teachings. They are doing the same, only different Church.

I am not hating on them at all that is why I don’t leave them tacks and messages on their car while they are celebrating their Sunday service. I respect them I know they are sincere in their beliefs and they want the best for me I just don’t think leaving track on cars of people who are at mass is appropriate. I have never personally been asked about Mary and the saints because I live in a heavily Catholic area but when I posed the protestant question about Mary and the Saints to my friends no one understood why people would think the Church would allow us to do something so bad and that we would be go along with it.

 

[Bill_7154]

Is there a way through prayer to God and Jesus Christ to ask for the assistance of the Angel’s and Saints to be with us and help us through difficulties in life? How do I connect with the Angel’s and Saints, assuming it’s appropriate for me to do so, or try to do so?

I would be appreciative of guidance anyone can offer as to how I may be able to receive assistance as I live my life from the Angels and Saints? Is that appropriate for me to seek this as a Catholic?

I pray to God and Jesus often, both asking for assistance, praying that I may find ways and do things to be worthy, or more worthy, of receiving assitance, and in thanks for the opportunity to pray and for the help I receive.

I have had a very difficult life, greatfully I have welcomed Jesus and God back into my life and am now a devoted Catholic (was raised Catholic and always believed, but was not truely invested) and seek to be the best person I can be in the eyes of God and Christ.

I still have a lot to learn as this conversion of my heart and soul only occurred recently. How do I connect (if that is possible) with the Angels and Saints to benefit myself, my family, all my brothers and sisters in Christ, and the whole human race? Is it appropriate for me to say prayers to God and Jesus asking that the Angel’s be with me and protect me and guide me through the day? Is it appropriate for me to pray to God and Christ asking that I may develop the qualities the Saints possessed that made them special in God’s eyes?

Basically I am on a path of self improvement with my faith and prayer as the main tools I use at this point. It is working quite well for me but I have a long way to go and will never be finished, and have a wife and son I am responsible for and now, since I have opened myself to God and Jesus I see that this is the path and this is the way, things I should have been doing more of all along. I now have hope that I can overcome personal weaknesses and flaws I have carried with me from a bad childhood and wish to receive as much assistance as I can by being a good Catholic in the eyes of the Lord and if there are ways for me to incorporate the Saints and the Angels along my daily journey I would like to be able to do so but do not know how to do so or what is appropriate with respect to the teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church.

I’m hoping someone can clarify these things for me. Thank you all and bless you all.
Bill