My concern is that God will be offended if we pray to a dead saint, instead of just going directly to Him with our prayers.
I would agree that some in my Church get it wrong. This is TRUTH.
Praying ‘with’ someone is quite different than praying ‘to’ them or ‘through’ them. You have to remember that these saints, as holy or upright as they are, are still creatures like you and I. If satan wants to draw us away from God, he might use prayer to a saint as a distraction so you are speaking to the saints more than to God.I would agree that some in my Church get it wrong. This is TRUTH.
But this is not Church teachings. This is also, TRUTH.
Can you agree to pray “with” Saints.?
You are a good person
And I don’t think misguided in your concerns. We are to be on guard in our walk. BUT I always ask them to pray ‘with’ me… TO God. -------St. AugustineMy concern is that God will be offended if we pray to a dead saint, instead of just going directly to Him with our prayers.
My God is big enough that he reads hearts He know you are praying to Him through the saints. He knows all before it happens.
It’s not that I reject Catholics, but that I worry that praying to saints is a man-made tradition that God may not approve of. I don’t want to tick Him off.
**Hi Chris,
Everything man does in one way or another is a man made tradition. Even showers, baths, wearing clothes, living in buildings, cooking food, etc. We have many traditions that could in no way offend God. Many traditions are just as you said “traditions”
Praying to saints is one from God **through scriptures both OT and NT.
Some people take respect for dead saints too far, and bow down to images and spend too much time and energy venerating them.
Who can "judge “too far” for another person? That is a personal thing isn’t it? There is no prohibitation against “bowing” It is only a sign of “respect” I have oriental relatives we do it all the time. We are no worshiping eachother.
Whe people do something to excess. The church will tell them to stop. It happens a lot like when peole worship oil stains in the shape of Jesus’ face etc.
But personal expressions of Love and respecxt are just that “personal” If they do it to excess it is their personal problem and choice isn’t it?
Some people craw on their knees the entire way of the cross that Jesus carried the cross when He died. That is their privilege to do or not do those things. Many Catholics would agree with you and guess what. It isn’t a requirement of the catholic church! Did you know that? It “doesn’t” hurt anything but isn’t required for salvation or to practice the religion. What it does do is deepen the feeling of family. Like looking at a "family albumn and hearing stories of your great grand fathers and heis farher and grandfather. To read how they felt etc.
I think you and kimmie are good for each other. I “like” your warning to be careful" That was very nice of you. We all should be careful. The Devil is out here trying to trap and trip people up. That is why we look to the RCC for the “real” truth" not that “others” don’t have it, but honestly, They may not. Why not “be careful” and get it from the original source?
God Bless
Chris no offense but if satan wants to draw us away from God, he sure is not going to use someone like the saints, who have already kicked his butt:hammering: Look at St Michael he protects us from the devil. He is one good example who kicked his butt. Trust me if satan is going to use someone to distract us from God it will not be a true follower of God. Think about it how can a Saint who is already cleansed and righteous stray you away from God. They themself Love him, honor and obey him. If not they would not be a saint. So I have to say I disagree completly. It would be impossible for satan to use a saint to Go against God.:nope:
Hiyas Nino
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PLEASE! 
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!There is no difference. Those of whom we ask intercession are those who are glorified, in perfect union with HIm in heaven. They do not ask for anything not of HIs will.
Ya know I don’t fear Satan, as much as I fear myself ( call me a naive kid ). I fear that some act I do or some thinggie I say,…might lead someone away from Our Father, even if well intentioned. How do I help protect me from doing this.? Intercession
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Hi Kimmie,
You are a naive kid!
Satan may use what you do or say to lead someone away from Our Father even if your intention was good. You can’t stop the devil from doing anything except by prayer.
If you want to give someone advise, pray on it. If it is good advise it will waith until after you have prayed about it. The popular “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do) approach only works if you actually have learnt what Jesus would do. Sometime it isn’t “nice” what He would do! He is love but love isn’t always permissiveness as the money changers found out! God is “Just” not stupid! We must obey Him not the other way around as many people believe!
I am a old man, as a youth, I was told that Prayer is the answer to any question. I have found that to be so true over the years. Why do I sin? I don’t pray enough! Why don’t people like me more? I don’t Pray enough! How can I change? Pray! What should I do? Pray. How can I fix this problem? Pray! The more you pray the closer to God you get, The devil will still attempt to use you and make you fall. Pray!
“You know why the world is a stinking mess? I have failed to be as holy as I am called to be. Bottom line. I don’t have any control over anybody else. I’ve gotta deal with ME. One person at a time we must be perfected as our Heavenly Father is perfect.” - Fr John Corapi
If everyone made themselves as perfect as possible, think what the world would be like.Kinnie, my naive friend, It begins with YOU!
Oh, I quite agree! However this is a contradiction in terms. Those who are saints in heaven are alive forever more. They have conquered death, in Christ, who defeated death. They enjoy the vision of His glory. Catholics never pray to the “dead”. That would be a form of necromancy, which is strictly forbidden.
Well, you don’t have to act like you are part of the family. If you choose not to interact with your other family members, then that is something you will answer to God about when you see Him. However, I think Jesus demonstrated the importance of family by creating human beings in family form, and being born into one Himself. Could you imagine Him not speaking to His father and mother?
I don’t think so. Catholics only interact with saints who are alive!
Actually, it is not different. The reason we use the words “pray to” is because they are not physically present.
**Hiyas RC
"Satan may use what you do or say to lead someone away from Our Father even if your intention was good. You can’t stop the devil from doing anything except by prayer.’]
** Originally Posted by kimmielittle Ya know I don’t fear Satan, as much as I fear myself ( call me a naive kid ). I fear that some act I do or some thinggie I say,…might lead someone away from Our Father, even if well intentioned. How do I help protect me from doing this.? Intercession .
Both say the very same thing.
I’m sorry, it’s my fault that I gave the impression that, I don’t pray before I post. In fact, I do.
WWJD… I have the ‘feeling’ He would leave it as written. In order that people might see that there are more than one way of writing the same thing.
I love your esoteric joke about Saint Jude. There is a great institution dedicated to this Saint of mystery and for hopeless situations, near where I live. You might know of it. It’s called Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. I have been blessed to see many, what I consider to be, miracles happen there. Just counting conversions. I am blessed that I can pay for my care, but they turn no one away.
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Hi Kimmie,
We agree that prayer is needed and that prayers to Saints provide others to pray with us to God. (Nice way to make it understandable to people.) I wonder if that is why our church teaches the “Communion of Saints?” We all, the living and dead, pray for each other’s needs and our souls. Wow, what a family we have.
As a youth, when researching for my confirmation name I read of St Jude, I almost took that as my name but took St Gregory the Great instead. I use to watch “Make Room For Daddy” when it first came on TV. OK, so I am old!
I advise people who want to “give” to any organization Do not contribute to their fund raisers**. Send a check directly to the organization. Most have paid companies who receive a precentage of the donation to pay for the cost associated with obtaining and processing the donations decreasing the amount that actually gets to the use intented. However with St Jude’s every penny goes to the hospital. All other costs are covered by sponsors. As you said no one is ever turned away!