Praying to potential future saints?

[DL82]

Since God exists in the eternal present, i.e. all time is present to Him at all moments, can we pray to people who are not yet in Heaven to pray for us when they get there? I know it’s a risky strategy, but I’ve found by asking the saints that people around me might one day be to pray for me, that gives me a double impetus to evangelise them, not only is God’s grace there for me, but it will (perhaps paradoxically) be there even more if they actually make it to heaven and can pray for me as I asked.

Am I on dangerous ground here?

 

[MarcoPolo]

Maybe someone knows better than I, but it seems not dangerous to me if it is a “qualified” prayer, conditional that whoever you might pray to will exist. I say this because the Church transcends time and the communion of saints includes all. Also, I believe Padre Pio and other saints were known to pray for those long since dead, for their salvation or conversion. God can apply our prayers anywhere as He sees fit because to Him, all of us are present.

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Since God exists in the eternal present, i.e. all time is present to Him at all moments, can we pray to people who are not yet in Heaven to pray for us when they get there? I know it’s a risky strategy, but I’ve found by asking the saints that people around me might one day be to pray for me, that gives me a double impetus to evangelise them, not only is God’s grace there for me, but it will (perhaps paradoxically) be there even more if they actually make it to heaven and can pray for me as I asked.

Am I on dangerous ground here?

I thought Catholic’s only prayed through saints not to saints?

 

[redrosetea]

To pray is only to ask…we ask the saints for their prayers, we know they can’t grant our prayers. but because they are in heaven their prayers might carry a bit more weight than ours

 

[water]

I thought Catholic’s only prayed through saints not to saints?

You’re correct technically. Many Catholics use the phrase “pray to Saints” to simply mean asking for their intercession. We just kind understand it.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Am I on dangerous ground here?

If I have understood your question correctly… I would say that it’s fine. Because the Holy Souls in Purgatory can pray for us. They are not yet in Heaven, not yet full fledged saints. But they are definitely on their way to Heaven… and can certainly pray for us.

The one thing that the Holy Souls can NOT do is pray for themselves… as we on earth, still can. So… it’s very important for us on earth (the Church Militant) to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory (the Church Suffering). Hope this was helpful. God bless.

 

[NPC]

In the context of those who will be formally canonised saints in the future, will not their canonisation come about because someone prayed for their intercession beforehand? - Those appointed to the cause for canonisation will require proof of two miracles which came about because of the intercession of the future saint - one could not determine for certain if the candidate for sainthood had actually interceded unless someone had specifically invoked their aid. I cannot imagine that there is anything wrong with asking for the intercession of a deceased person with the hope that they are actually a saint in heaven.

 

[redrosetea]

NPC is right…that is how we get our miracles to make someone a saint to begin with

We have all missed the obvious…thanks NPC…

 

[DL82]

In the context of those who will be formally canonised saints in the future, will not their canonisation come about because someone prayed for their intercession beforehand? - Those appointed to the cause for canonisation will require proof of two miracles which came about because of the intercession of the future saint - one could not determine for certain if the candidate for sainthood had actually interceded unless someone had specifically invoked their aid. I cannot imagine that there is anything wrong with asking for the intercession of a deceased person with the hope that they are actually a saint in heaven.

Thanks NPC, but I’m thinking more about people who are still alive.

 

[NPC]

Thanks NPC, but I’m thinking more about people who are still alive.

My apologies - I obviously didn’t read your OP correctly! I know we can certainly ask living people to pray for us - in fact I would say it’s encouraged as we say in the Confiteor “…and I ask Blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.” The question then is, when the person dies will they be able to remember our request that they pray for us? I can’t see why, if the person has gone to Heaven, they would not recall our request for their prayers - although, as you would clearly value their prayers, you would no doubt continually ask for their intercession after their death just as you did while they were alive.