Praying to Saints outside-the-box-method

[MarcoPolo]

In discussions with those who do not believe in asking saints in heaven to pray for us, I have often encountered the “I only ask living Christians to pray for me because the dead are not omniscient or can’t hear our prayers.” There is really no denial that those in heaven are righteous or that their prayers are very powerful.

What about a prayer to God like this: "God, please exhort [saint] to pray for me."

Would someone who used the red above find this prayer to solve the dilemma?? (Assuming you knew the person was in heaven. Take Moses or Elijah for example.)

FYI, I have no problem praying directly to a saint for his/her intercession.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

In discussions with those who do not believe in asking saints in heaven to pray for us, I have often encountered the “I only ask living Christians to pray for me because the dead are not omniscient or can’t hear our prayers.” There is really no denial that those in heaven are righteous or that their prayers are very powerful.

What about a prayer to God like this: "God, please exhort [saint] to pray for me."

Would someone who used the red above find this prayer to solve the dilemma?? (Assuming you knew the person was in heaven. Take Moses or Elijah for example.)

FYI, I have no problem praying directly to a saint for his/her intercession.

I went to my study notes and have listed some scriptures below, that clearly show that God is not God of the dead, but of the living.

Mar 12:26 And as concerning the dead that they rise again have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
Mar 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You therefore do greatly err.

Mar 9:4 (9:3) And there appeared to them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

The next one should make anyone think about someone being “dead” if they believe in Jesus and his promises.

Luk 23:43 And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

To me, this next quote clearly shows that those with the Lord have concerns about the goings on here on earth.

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord (Holy and True), dost thou not judge and revenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Heb 12:1 And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:

Please note all of these scriptures are from the New Testament. Usually their belief is probably taken from the book of Deuteronomy. I also believe they read more into it than what it’s really saying. To me it seems to warn against consulting soothsayers or mediums as we call them today.

Deu 18:10 Neither let there be found among you any one that shall expiate his son or daughter, making them to pass through the fire: or that consulteth soothsayers, or observeth dreams and omens, neither let there be any wizard,
Deu 18:11 Nor charmer, nor any one that consulteth pythonic spirits, or fortune tellers, or that seeketh the truth from the dead.

The next quote comes from the Old Testament. Note the first verse states the torment of death shall not touch them. To me, this also affirms God is not God of the dead, but of the living.

Wis 3:1 But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.
Wis 3:2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:
Wis 3:3 And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace.
Wis 3:4 And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality.
Wis 3:5 Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.
Wis 3:6 As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Perhaps this idea is TOO outside-the-box??

 

[inJESUS]

Interesting approach Marco.

I love our huge family in heaven

 

[ralphinal]

Perhaps this idea is TOO outside-the-box??

Not too outside the box, I would say. Interesting, though.

I have discussed praying for the souls of the departed with non-Catholics before. Tough job, until I tried starting with God being outside of time. How can we be sure that my prayer today didn’t give someone grace yesterday>?