Who to pray to? I dunno!

[GreyRabbit]

It seems there are alot of people to pray to, or ask intercession for besides the Lord Himself: Mary, Saints, Angels…etc?

How do we pray for their help (intercession) without making it seem like we’re adoring them? Or, how do we pray for their help without making it seem like we’re turning to them and not God? Or maybe what I’m asking, is how do we know when to pray to them? Or maybe just all of the above.

Oh, and how does one pick a patron saint? Well, that doesn’t sound right, I mean no disrespect, but some people say they’ve got a partron saint. Since there are so many saints, do you just decide which you’d pray for intercession from?

Much thanks!

–Grey

 

[Andruschak]

Oh, and how does one pick a patron saint? Well, that doesn’t sound right, I mean no disrespect, but some people say they’ve got a partron saint. Since there are so many saints, do you just decide which you’d pray for intercession from?

Much thanks!

–Grey

Well, if nothing else, is their a Saint whose life story you admire? Good enough right there.

Or maybe a Saint who day is also your birthday? I was born 4 October 1944, feast day for Saint Francis of Asissi:thumbsup:

There are also lists of saints for particular causes. Again in my case, Mary Magdalene for us repentent sinners.

A Saint with the same problem or condition you have? In my case, St. Ignatious of Constantinople.

Is your church named after a saint? In my case, St. Philomena

Always remembers that the saints are always happy to help out when asked.

 

[SeekerJen]

I always ask the saints to pray for me, or to join me in prayer. They have no power on their own, but all of us have power through prayer, given to us by God. Anything that comes of our prayers comes from Him.

It helps me to remember that we are all part of the communion of saints spoken of in the Apostles’ Creed, those of us baptized here on earth, and those already blessed to be in heaven. So it makes little difference if I ask someone here on earth to pray for me, or if I ask someone in heaven. Except that as some are already in heaven, they might work a bit more quickly.

As for who to pray with, look at lives of saints, or a list of patron saints. Then communicate with saints with whom you feel a kinship. My personal patroness is St. Cecilia, who I chose when I was young and wanted to be a big famous singer (she’s patroness of musicians). I did become a singer, but not in the way I had planned. I believe her prayers availed much and helped me toward the path of service to my parish as a cantor. She’s a very powerful prayer partner, you can’t go wrong with her IMO.

 

[Biblioassistant]

It’s pretty simple: Just say, Dear St. (name) please pray to God for me so that I may (name your request). That’s not adoration, that’s asking the saint to pray for you.

As for which saint - there’s a lot of them. Get a good Lives of the Saints and you will find many of their stories. Some saints appeal to different people. Me, I am very fond of and devoted to St. Thomas More, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Philip Howard, Blessed Per Giorgio Frassati, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Michael the Archangel.

Different saints appeal to different people, but they can all pray for us.

 

[jc-servant]

I have conversations with the Blessed Mother because, well she’s a woman who knows about being humble and obedient to God and going through really hard times. She knows and I know that she is not God and she is not being worshiped, so we’re cool like that.

I dont think that you have to “pray” to any saints in order to be a good Catholic. I think using that term confuses lots of people as to what exactly you are doing anyway. In my mind I don’t “pray” to saints, I ask for their prayers at times. Of course I’m a convert, so maybe I’m just more sensitive to the language than someone who grew up Catholic and just “knows” the different uses of the word “pray” from childhood.

You can talk to or pray to Jesus or the Holy Spirit or God the Father all day long and not be wrong. You can talk to Mary or another saint that you relate to also if it feels right or don’t talk to them if it feels weird to you. I’ve talked with lots of potential converts about this in RCIA.

We use the Hail Mary at times in class as a group prayer and when teaching about the rosary. When you break that prayer down it is all Scripture that honors the mother of Jesus except the end which is just a petition asking Mary to pray for us now and at the hour of our death. I look at this prayer as following the commandment to honor our mothers and fathers.

Once we are baptized Mary becomes our mother also because we join Christ’s family. I like to give her a little “honor” every day which I think would please Jesus too. I mean who does not like it when someone does something nice for their own mother? The saints are a living part of that family for me also because those who “die” in Christ actually are more alive than we are in our imperfect existence on Earth. They have seen His face, so I would think that they know how to rock the prayers now!

 

[GreyRabbit]

Ah, okay, thanks all! I know we’re not praying to them, I know it’s not an adoration to them, but rather asking for their intercession. I just didn’t want to offend anybody in Heaven!

Thanks alot for all your help!!

 

[Ramalama]

I always ask the saints to pray for me, or to join me in prayer. They have no power on their own, . . .

"St. Michael, defend us in battle. Be our defense against . . . Cast into hell, Satan . . . ", etc.

How can this be reconciled?

 

[TOP]

"St. Michael, defend us in battle. Be our defense against . . . Cast into hell, Satan . . . ", etc.

How can this be reconciled?

You forgot “by the power of God”. St. Micheal, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil, May God rebuke him we humbly pray and do thou, Prince of the heavenly Host, by the power of God , cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. AMEN