Protestants:If you don't pray to Saints, do you pray to Angels?

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In another thread, I have heard Protestants deny that Saints in heaven are aware of us, and that they are not like angels in this regard.

So in light of Scripture telling us about the angels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, do you as a Protestant ever pray to these angels to intercede for you with the gifts they have from God??
 
MarcoPolo said:
In another thread, I have heard Protestants deny that Saints in heaven are aware of us, and that they are not like angels in this regard.

So in light of Scripture telling us about the angels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, do you as a Protestant ever pray to these angels to intercede for you with the gifts they have from God??
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I’m kind of a bapti-catholic that mixes both traditions. I do pray to saints, especially St. Joseph (since I’m a father and husband) and pray to my guardian angels and the other angels such as Michael and Raphael. I see nothing wrong with it. In fact, if the help is there and available (which I think it is), then I would be missing out if I didn’t.

Peace…

Fa Chan
 
MarcoPolo said:
Why not! 😃 Sure you would ask someone on earth to pray for you?
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Simply put, I pray to God through Jesus as Christ/God instructed me too:shrug: I see nothing wrong with that and I dont feel like Im missing anything either.😃

I also dont see anyone praying to angels in the bible. I guess I dont feel there is a purpose for doing so. Plus we are not told to pray to anyone but God.👍

If you choose to that is your choice.😉
 
No, I don’t pray to saints or angels…I pray with them…but not to them as we are all alive in Christ.
 
Publisher said:
No, I don’t pray to saints or angels…I pray with them…but not to them as we are all alive in Christ.
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Amen. I hope that’s what MarcoPolo meant too and pretty sure it was. When we ask for their intercession we are asking for their prayers, for them to pray for us.
 
I too are sure the OP meant “intercession”, Catholics understand what it means - but others would thing that we replace God with Saints.
 
water said:
I too are sure the OP meant “intercession”, Catholics understand what it means - but others would thing that we replace God with Saints.
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Some of us are learning to speak “Catholic” and use “Catholic” words with their meanings instead of “Protestantizing” the words and phrases…some of us may still not agree with Catholic theology…but we are gaining a better understanding of it…at least enough to answer a “Catholic” question in “Catholic.”
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Simply put, I pray to God through Jesus as Christ/God instructed me too:shrug: I see nothing wrong with that and I dont feel like Im missing anything either.😃

I also dont see anyone praying to angels in the bible. I guess I dont feel there is a purpose for doing so. Plus we are not told to pray to anyone but God.👍

If you choose to that is your choice.😉
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I know…and you are too sweet a young lady for me to bang heads with you. 😃

But I think the Psalmist prays to angels in Ps 148:1-2, Ps 103:20-21, and the people ask for the angel’s intercession in Zechariah 1:11-16, and the angel goes to God and God shows mercy on the people! At least that’s how I understand it.

And good for you for praying through Chirst. This is wonderful. 👍
 
Publisher said:
Some of us are learning to speak “Catholic” and use “Catholic” words with their meanings instead of “Protestantizing” the words and phrases…some of us may still not agree with Catholic theology…but we are gaining a better understanding of it…at least enough to answer a “Catholic” question in “Catholic.”
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I understand. That’s why I would avoid using the word “praying to Saints” but emphasize on “intercession”.
 
I pray the way Jesus taught us to pray, to the Father through Christ. When he was asked how we should pray, this was the example that was given. I am personally not comfortable going beyond this model but am not condeming those who do. He also said to not babbel on & on because he knows what we are going to pray before we do. I can not find any biblical examples of anyone praying to “Saints” or angels. If you know where please show me.
 
byoby said:
I can not find any biblical examples of anyone praying to “Saints” or angels. If you know where please show me.
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Just remember, when a Catholic “prays” to saints or angels, he is asking that saint or angels intercession to pray for him. The saint or angel is not an end, but a means to pray with that person to God. 🙂

I read the Psalmist praying to angels and heavenly hosts in Ps 148:1-2, Ps 103:20-21, and the people ask for the angel’s intercession in Zechariah 1:11-16, and the angel goes to God and God shows mercy on the people!
 
byoby said:
I pray the way Jesus taught us to pray, to the Father through Christ. When he was asked how we should pray, this was the example that was given. I am personally not comfortable going beyond this model but am not condeming those who do. He also said to not babbel on & on because he knows what we are going to pray before we do. I can not find any biblical examples of anyone praying to “Saints” or angels. If you know where please show me.
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1 Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places. 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Psalm 148:1-2

11 And they answered the angel of the Lord, that stood among the myrtle trees, and said: We have walked through the earth, and behold all the earth is inhabited, and is at rest. 12 And the angel of the Lord answered, and said: O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the cities of Juda, with which thou hast been angry? this is now the seventieth year. 13 And the Lord answered the angel, that spoke in me, good words, comfortable words. 14 And the angel that spoke in me, said to me: Cry thou, saying: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Jerusalem, and Sion with a great zeal. 15 And I am angry with a great anger with the wealthy nations: for I was angry a little, but they helped forward the evil. Zacharias 1:11-15
 
MarcoPolo said:
Just remember, when a Catholic “prays” to saints or angels, he is asking that saint or angels intercession to pray for him. The saint or angel is not an end, but a means to pray with that person to God. 🙂

I read the Psalmist praying to angels and heavenly hosts in Ps 148:1-2, Ps 103:20-21, and the people ask for the angel’s intercession in Zechariah 1:11-16, and the angel goes to God and God shows mercy on the people!
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I see examples of Saints praying with and for other Saints who are still alive (I know that Saints are all still alive spiritually and will be physically at the ressurection, Praise God! you know what I mean). I am quite certain that I have been prayed for as well by my brothers & sisters in Christ… at least I think so? I surely hope on the other hand that none are praying to me. I am also understanding that there seems to be a difference between who the Bible deems as Saints and who the Catholic Church deems as Saints, am I wrong? I cannot find any examples of praying to other people or celestial beings practiced in the old or new test. if this is a normal practice would we not see examples in the old testament as well, like praying to Moses or Abraham or Isaac or Jacob? These are just some of my thoughts on why I cannot come to grips with praying to anyone other than my God in the way he taught us to pray.

As for the Scriptures used above to justify this, maybe I do not see it the way you do. In the Psalms it appears to me that the Psalmist is praising God for the Good Angels, those who obey his commands (Remember some are very, very not good) among other things, I still think his praise and communication is directed directly to God. As for Zechariah he spoke directly to an Angel he was being visited by in a vision (Quite different than praying to in the way I am accustomed to). Angels as well as the the Apostles when others had shown them any kind of reverence such as bowing down or hitting the floor, quickly told them to stop, saying I am just a servant or I am just another man like you.

In the new testament Jesus says he is our intercesser along with the Holy Spirit to the Father, do we not have faith that he will hear our prayers? Can you see where I am coming from? Praying to someone or something other than God to me in my spirit would make me feel like I am putting them on a pedestal that scripture seemingly shows at leat to me something the Apostles or Angels do not want. Since praying to me has always been to God, I feel that I would somehow or in some way be elevating Saints or Angels to deity.

Off the subject, just wondering if the Pope is seen as an Apostle or is there a distinction made between an Apostle and a successor. Any direction as to where I can find the answer is appreciated.
 
Although most of the protestants here will tell you that they don’t ask the angels and saints to pray for them…

As a recent convert into the True Catholic Faith, I have to say that I’ll bet 99% of them have said something to a person who has died.

Whether that be at a funeral…looking into a casket and saying something as simple as "I love You, I’m gonna miss you, or WHY.

When I argued with my Father about becoming Catholic, our main topic was as follows:

Dad: Why would Catholics talk to Mary, you know thats wrong.

ME: You know when you go to your mothers grave and you just sit there for hours, and sometimes you talk to her.

Dad: Yeah, I’ve done that a few times.

ME: Do you think she can hear you, and is in Heaven watching over you?

Dad: I guess.

ME: Then why don’t you think you can talk to Jesus Mother? Don’t you think she is in Heaven.

Dad: Ok, you are probably right on that one.
 
MarcoPolo said:
I know…and you are too sweet a young lady for me to bang heads with you. 😃

But I think the Psalmist prays to angels in Ps 148:1-2, Ps 103:20-21, and the people ask for the angel’s intercession in Zechariah 1:11-16, and the angel goes to God and God shows mercy on the people! At least that’s how I understand it.

And good for you for praying through Chirst. This is wonderful. 👍
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😊 Thank you Marco. I will look up those verses you gave me and take a look.👍

I have never done a study on Angels so Im not knowledgable on them.:o
 
byoby said:
I am also understanding that there seems to be a difference between who the Bible deems as Saints and who the Catholic Church deems as Saints, am I wrong?
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No the Catholic Church does distinguish similar to you. In one sense the “saints” are all persons in the Church (CCC #946) and then there are those the Church has declared in heaven.
byoby said:
As for the Scriptures used above to justify this, maybe I do not see it the way you do. In the Psalms it appears to me that the Psalmist is praising God for the Good Angels
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I might have agreed except they are directly addressed as “you angels” and “you” heavenly hosts. He is asking them to pray with him.
byoby said:
As for Zechariah he spoke directly to an Angel he was being visited by in a vision (Quite different than praying to in the way I am accustomed to).
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The point is they went through an angel. I don’t think the lesson is that we can only pray through angels if they manifest themselves visibly. I think I this would miss the intercessory lesson shown in this passage. 🙂
byoby said:
Angels as well as the the Apostles when others had shown them any kind of reverence such as bowing down or hitting the floor, quickly told them to stop, saying I am just a servant or I am just another man like you.
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Amen! 👍 They are not to be worshipped!
byoby said:
In the new testament Jesus says he is our intercesser along with the Holy Spirit to the Father, do we not have faith that he will hear our prayers? Can you see where I am coming from?
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I certainly do. And we pray to Jesus always. But missing out on what God in His love has shared with us is to miss on part of God’s glory, even Who He is. He wants us to commune with each other, serve each other, and ask us to pray for each other. (I thought this was a good short post on the matter). Still, I would not tell anyone to do something against their faith! So I am not criticizing you for not asking for any saints or angels to intercede. 🙂 You should believe it first.
byoby said:
Off the subject, just wondering if the Pope is seen as an Apostle or is there a distinction made between an Apostle and a successor. Any direction as to where I can find the answer is appreciated.
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He is a successor, but does not bear the “Apostle” title. Someone could correct me on this but you had to be a direct witness for this title, like Matthias in Acts 1. Paul later received His witness directly, even though He did not witness the Passion.

And I’m sorry for the point-by-point long post. If you have seen my posts, you know I don’t like to do that, but there were many worthy questions here! 😊
 
If a Protestant reads Psalm 103:20 KJV with faith, he is by that act praying to angels, as the verse directly invokes them.
 
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