Why do are Catholics encouraged to pray to the Saints and Mary?

[Judas_Thaddeus]

Why do are Catholics encouraged to pray to the Saints and Mary? If you do that, doesn’t it go against the commandment ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me’ (KJV).

Well for starters, KJV is a unbelievably horrible translation, advertized with the deceptive (but technically true)
idea that it was translated centuries ago by the best scholars of Hebrew/Greek to English. That doesn’t make
it a good translation, just that people still consider, but don’t know, otherwise.

ANYWHO, we don’t make sacrifice to saints, we don’t call them gods, we don’t attribute divine status to
the saints, the most they can do is pray for us. As Catholics, we can trust that the saints in Heaven tru-
ly are interested in praying on our behalf. We trust also that, being perfect in Christ (because nothing un-
clean is in Heaven), that their prayers are very powerful and that God would respond well to their prayers
more, as mildly suggested in James:Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray
for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent
prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

• James 5:16
  There are many wackadoodles on the web who make such an issue out of praying
  to saints, intentionally misrepresenting the practice, do not listen to them. I’ll refer
  you now to Father Jeff: Why Do Catholics Pray to Saints?
  (link)

 

[HeadingBackHome]

Because family sticks together! The saints are alive with God in heaven. They pray for us so we can be with God as they are with God.** If your friend asks you to pray for them do you send them away, accusing them of violating the first commandment?**

haha, a good one

Its even better to pray for Marys intercession than for Family members to pray for us as she is very Close to her Son in heaven.
I understand the skepticism of the OP if he is protestant.
I struggled With the position of Our Lady for several months when I began my Journey into catholicism. That she is concieved without sin is a hard nut to crack as a protestant, but give it some time and it will hopefully get better if Your interessted in getting closer to the Church.

I felt like she was encouraging me to seek to know her better, I started praying the Holy Rosary nervously and day by day it got better
Now She is so important for me, I pray for her intercession several times a day.
How Ive missed her, My Mother.

Our Blessed Virgin Mary is such a big gift to mankind from a dying Jesus at the cross.
I agree With one of the previous posts that said, its sometime easier to ask Our Mother to pray for us than to turn to God in prayer ourselfs, it depends on what we want to ask.

If I feel very sinful I sometime pray for her intercession becouse it feels like am not worthy of praying directly to Our Lord. (This has to do With the fact that Im unable to confess before I join the Church Next spring so I have a lot of unconfessed sins.)
Also I would like to add that after every prayer to Mary I usually end the prayer by, Through Him Christ Our Lord.Amen. I think its important to keep in mind that Jesus is the only Connection we have to God, so when We`re praying to Mary or any other Saints its only made possible becouse of Jesus as the one mediator.

If you would like to know Mary better Ill recommend for you to pray to God for guidance. If he is fine With it you will feel it, Trust me

God Bless!

 

[KaraGordon]

There are many wackadoodles on the web who make such an issue out of praying
to saints, intentionally misrepresenting the practice, do not listen to them.

Referring to those who did not grow up ingrained with certain practices and therefore find it difficult to grasp them completely as “wackadoodles” may not be your best decision.

Haven’t you ever been unfamiliar with a concept and perhaps misguidedly got defensive about what you were under the impression was correct?

For someone who grew up and was taught that there is only one God and that you should only pray to Him, it definitely seems like the Catholic church proposes that one should disregard that and pray to Saints. However, I can see where the idea is coming from, but only after a half hour of looking up many explanations that were user-friendly and not directed toward a cradle Catholic audience.

Seriously. Be nice.

 

[HeadingBackHome]

Referring to those who did not grow up ingrained with certain practices and therefore find it difficult to grasp them completely as "wackadoodles" may not be your best decision.

Haven’t you ever been unfamiliar with a concept and perhaps misguidedly got defensive about what you were under the impression was correct?

For someone who grew up and was taught that there is only one God and that you should only pray to Him, it definitely seems like the Catholic church proposes that one should disregard that and pray to Saints. However, I can see where the idea is coming from, but only after a half hour of looking up many explanations that were user-friendly and not directed toward a cradle Catholic audience.

Seriously. Be nice.

There are so many People that just through accucations towards Catholics due to ignorance. I think Your question where honest If you dont ask, how can one recieve answers?

As a former Lutheran I totally understand your difficulties.
Believe me, I had some BIG issues and concerns about some aspects of the Church catecism.
in particular the Purgatory, Saints and Mary.
Actually no problems With the Vatican and Our Holy father though.
Most Protestants I know have strong dislike towards the papacy and the entire structure of the Church.

But anyway, the fact that you signed up at this forum and are asking questions about Our Faith shows that you at least are open for some discusions and to learn more about Catholicism and thats Good

If youre interested in catholicism Ill strongly recommend to attend sunday mass and RCIA, Remember that one dosent have to convert if attending RCIA its for People who just like to know more about the faith as well.

God Bless!

 

[misskay56]

When I converted to the Catholic faith, I too struggled with praying the rosary and praying to the saints then I understood that the angels and saints pray for us. Just as we ask one another on earth to pray for us we can as for help from the saints including Mary. I read a book about a boy who went to heaven when he was very ill. He talked about his visit with Jesus. Toward the end of the book he mentioned that Mary was praying at the feet of Jesus. The boy didn’t say that Mary prayed all the time to God, but he saw her sometimes praying to God/Jesus. This young man was raised in a protestant faith, but saw this when visiting heaven. I believe that this alone is proof enough that Mary prays to God/Jesus. She doesn’t need to pray for her salvation, because Mary is already in heaven, but she prays for all of us whether we ask her to pray for us or not.

 

[xvFIRESTORMvx]

Firstly, I am not a troll. This is an honest question in attempt to further my understanding of why Catholics are encouraged to pray to the Saints and Mary. Despite 10 years of Catholic Schooling, this wasn’t ever covered in any great detail, or was always deemed inappropriate, and they would refuse to answer the question, therefore leading me to come to my own conclusions through mostly my own abilities of reasoning built upon reading and conversations on religion. It is not something I have a proper understanding of, which is why I asked the question in the first place. Secondly, I am not Protestant, although if I come across like that, then it is due to my current understanding of religion and current religious beliefs, not due to being of a Protestant background or anything.
Thanks to everyone anyway, for all the replies.

Do you ask your friends to pray for you? Do you ever pray for your friends?

Sure I pray for my friends because I’m well aware that they see no need to pray. One of my best-friends is an Atheist, so I know she definitely isn’t going to be praying to God. But in terms of praying to the saints/asking them to pray to us, they’re dead, so how can they pray for us?

Think of it this way… if you had a parent or grandparent who has died, have you ever talked to them? Even if when only visiting their grave? And if you did, every say “Grandpa, please put in a good word for me with Jesus”?

Fortunately I’ve never had any of my grandparents die, or anyone that close to me die for that matter, but I don’t see how I’d be able to talk to them if they’re dead? Ando on top of that, how would I know that they’d even made it to heaven/paradise in first place, to even be able to talk to Jesus?

What is your basis for using the KJV? Curious.

It’s the version my Mum used to use (Now she uses the JW version, but I think she’s a little unsure now that they’ve made a new 2013 version)

Because family sticks together! The saints are alive with God in heaven. They pray for us so we can be with God as they are with God. If your friend asks you to pray for them do you send them away, accusing them of violating the first commandment?

How do you know they are alive? DO you mean in a purely spiritual way or something else?
And no, I wouldn’t say that if one of my friends came to me asking me to pray for them was against the first commandment, BUT, for a friend to ask me this, they would have to be alive, physically and spirtitually, not dead.

Not sure if the OP understands who is in heaven and who wills us to be there.

True, I’m not too sure about who is in heaven and all. Maybe I should have asked this as a question before this one…

We pray to Saints,for them to Intereced for what we are asking for in our pray,and we pray to Mary because she is Queen of Heavan and Earth,were are not praying to the Statues ,of Saints or Mary as we look upon them,but look at them, to let them know we are asking for their help,and theirs nothing wrong looking at the statue,when we pray.

EH? She is the queen of Heaven and Earth?
And I don’t necessarily disagree with your point of looking at the statues during prayer, in a book I read, I liked how the guy being questioned put it, that statues aren’t there to be worshiped but to help with concentration. Before that book, I’d never thought about it from that perspective before, although I’m not sure why you brought this point up in the first place.

[/INDENT]There are many wackadoodles on the web who make such an issue out of praying
to saints, intentionally misrepresenting the practice, do not listen to them.
[/INDENT]

I don’t appreciate being called a ‘wackadoodle’. It’s not my fault I wasn’t brought up with the same beliefs as you/haven’t yet found the same beliefs as you. I was brought up that there is only one God, and to only pray to him. No-One else. SO this means that my question wasn’t about causing some sort of massive issue out of why people pray to the saints, it’s simply questioning why in the first place, because it’s against what I was taught. It’s not something I feel I understand well, therefore it is only logical for me to ask a question in attempt to further my understanding, and help me grasp the concept from the perspective in question - the Catholic Perspective.

There are so many People that just through accucations towards Catholics due to ignorance. I think Your question where honest If you dont ask, how can one recieve answers?

As a former Lutheran I totally understand your difficulties.
Believe me, I had some BIG issues and concerns about some aspects of the Church catecism.
in particular the Purgatory, Saints and Mary.
Actually no problems With the Vatican and Our Holy father though.
Most Protestants I know have strong dislike towards the papacy and the entire structure of the Church.

But anyway, the fact that you signed up at this forum and are asking questions about Our Faith shows that you at least are open for some discusions and to learn more about Catholicism and thats Good

If youre interested in catholicism Ill strongly recommend to attend sunday mass and RCIA, Remember that one dosent have to convert if attending RCIA its for People who just like to know more about the faith as well.

God Bless!

I would go to mass, but I don’t think my Mum would let me, because she believes more in Jehovah Witness Stuff now What is RCIA?

 

[Dorothy]

Firstly, I am not a troll. This is an honest question in attempt to further my understanding of why Catholics are encouraged to pray to the Saints and Mary. Despite 10 years of Catholic Schooling, this wasn’t ever covered in any great detail, or was always deemed inappropriate, and they would refuse to answer the question, therefore leading me to come to my own conclusions through mostly my own abilities of reasoning built upon reading and conversations on religion. It is not something I have a proper understanding of, which is why I asked the question in the first place. Secondly, I am not Protestant, although if I come across like that, then it is due to my current understanding of religion and current religious beliefs, not due to being of a Protestant background or anything.
Thanks to everyone anyway, for all the replies.

Sure I pray for my friends because I’m well aware that they see no need to pray. One of my best-friends is an Atheist, so I know she definitely isn’t going to be praying to God. But in terms of praying to the saints/asking them to pray to us, they’re dead, so how can they pray for us?

Fortunately I’ve never had any of my grandparents die, or anyone that close to me die for that matter, but I don’t see how I’d be able to talk to them if they’re dead? Ando on top of that, how would I know that they’d even made it to heaven/paradise in first place, to even be able to talk to Jesus?

It’s the version my Mum used to use (Now she uses the JW version, but I think she’s a little unsure now that they’ve made a new 2013 version)

How do you know they are alive? DO you mean in a purely spiritual way or something else?
And no, I wouldn’t say that if one of my friends came to me asking me to pray for them was against the first commandment, BUT, for a friend to ask me this, they would have to be alive, physically and spirtitually, not dead.

True, I’m not too sure about who is in heaven and all. Maybe I should have asked this as a question before this one…

EH? She is the queen of Heaven and Earth?
And I don’t necessarily disagree with your point of looking at the statues during prayer, in a book I read, I liked how the guy being questioned put it, that statues aren’t there to be worshiped but to help with concentration. Before that book, I’d never thought about it from that perspective before, although I’m not sure why you brought this point up in the first place.

I don’t appreciate being called a ‘wackadoodle’. It’s not my fault I wasn’t brought up with the same beliefs as you/haven’t yet found the same beliefs as you. I was brought up that there is only one God, and to only pray to him. No-One else. SO this means that my question wasn’t about causing some sort of massive issue out of why people pray to the saints, it’s simply questioning why in the first place, because it’s against what I was taught. It’s not something I feel I understand well, therefore it is only logical for me to ask a question in attempt to further my understanding, and help me grasp the concept from the perspective in question - the Catholic Perspective.

I would go to mass, but I don’t think my Mum would let me, because she believes more in Jehovah Witness Stuff now What is RCIA?

RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation. Those who wish to learn about Catholicism in order to make a decision, and those who are very interested in converting to Catholicism attend and go through the teachings.

There is no pressure put on anyone who decides not to go forward with the program.

Catholics believe that those who have gone before us to be with the Lord are alive in Christ. We do not think of them as dead…their body is separated from their spirit until Christ comes and restores everyone to their bodies, and their eternal life continues with their bodies, whether they are saved or damned.

 

[HeadingBackHome]

Firstly, I am not a troll. This is an honest question in attempt to further my understanding of why Catholics are encouraged to pray to the Saints and Mary. Despite 10 years of Catholic Schooling, this wasn’t ever covered in any great detail, or was always deemed inappropriate, and they would refuse to answer the question, therefore leading me to come to my own conclusions through mostly my own abilities of reasoning built upon reading and conversations on religion. It is not something I have a proper understanding of, which is why I asked the question in the first place. Secondly, I am not Protestant, although if I come across like that, then it is due to my current understanding of religion and current religious beliefs, not due to being of a Protestant background or anything.
Thanks to everyone anyway, for all the replies.

You have been student for 10 years at a Catholic School and Your knowledge of the faith is so slim?! That should be known to the princible or to the Board of the School. Its just not good enough. I am sorry that I assumed you where a protestant, I didnt read noticed that you called yourself “non-practicing catholic”.

Sure I pray for my friends because I’m well aware that they see no need to pray. One of my best-friends is an Atheist, so I know she definitely isn’t going to be praying to God. But in terms of praying to the saints/asking them to pray to us, they’re dead, so how can they pray for us?

The way that we sees it, they`re not dead. They may be dead on Earth, but they live on in heaven With God. Therefor their prayers on Our behalf are so powerful becouse they are as Close to God as it is possible to be. And especially the intercession of Mary is very strong. Remember the story of Jesus and Mary in the wedding in chana. Jesus listens to his mothers.

Fortunately I’ve never had any of my grandparents die, or anyone that close to me die for that matter, but I don’t see how I’d be able to talk to them if they’re dead? Ando on top of that, how would I know that they’d even made it to heaven/paradise in first place, to even be able to talk to Jesus?

At this point my advise is to stay Clear of praying for dead relatives to interceed for you in heaven. I find it very problematic to pray to my dead grandpa myself. First of all: is he in heaven? He believed in Jesus but wasnt Catholic. Is he in purgatory?
I will try to be better to pray for him to God to ease his time in purgatory, but to pray for intercession of relatives in heaven I cant manage. (This is My problems and opinion, NOT the Church view).

How do you know they are alive? DO you mean in a purely spiritual way or something else?
And no, I wouldn’t say that if one of my friends came to me asking me to pray for them was against the first commandment, BUT, for a friend to ask me this, they would have to be alive, physically and spirtitually, not dead.

Again, They live on for all eternety in Gods presence in Heaven so they`re most definitley NOT dead. We pray to the Saints through Christ. He is the only Connection we have to God and all prayers goes through him so by praying to the Saints we communicate With them through Jesus. Pray to and to worship is two very diffrent Things. I can ask many People for stuff, but I dont worship them becouse of that.

EH? She is the queen of Heaven and Earth?
And I don’t necessarily disagree with your point of looking at the statues during prayer, in a book I read, I liked how the guy being questioned put it, that statues aren’t there to be worshiped but to help with concentration. Before that book, I’d never thought about it from that perspective before, although I’m not sure why you brought this point up in the first place.

Yes and its biblical. Its from John Revelation Im not sure where in the Revelation its written, but og through it and you will find it

I would go to mass, but I don’t think my Mum would let me, because she believes more in Jehovah Witness Stuff now What is RCIA?

If she belives in Jehovah Witness dont listen to her. Og to mass and talk to Your priest about cathecism. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) its a educational program for With catecism for People who are New at the Church and for others who are interested in deepening their knowledge of the Catholic Faith.

God Bless you and good Luck on Your Journey

 

[johnthebaptist2]

As a Catholic,We pray to saints to interceded for us to God for,our pray Intentions,and we pray to Mary,because she Intercedes for us to her son Jesus,for our Intentions,and for those that don,t pray to Saints or Mary, but only to God ,because that what you feel like you only should do,that,s up to you,but for us that Pray,to Saints and to Mary,you will never stop us,for we believe in praying to them.May God help you to understand what I,am saying.

 

[Judas_Thaddeus]

I don’t appreciate being called a ‘wackadoodle’. It’s not my fault I wasn’t brought up with the same beliefs as you/haven’t yet found the same beliefs as you. I was brought up that there is only one God, and to only pray to him. No-One else. SO this means that my question wasn’t about causing some sort of massive issue out of why people pray to the saints, it’s simply questioning why in the first place, because it’s against what I was taught. It’s not something I feel I understand well, therefore it is only logical for me to ask a question in attempt to further my understanding, and help me grasp the concept from the perspective in question - the Catholic Perspective.

Sorry, when I say “wackadoodle”, I’m referring to the EXTREMISTS/RADICALS, I’m sure that
you’re not one of them. Those whom I speak of are **particularly **ANTI-Catholic, posting you-
tube videos and blogs all over the web calling Catholics polytheists, WHORE OF BABYLON,
Mary-Goddess Worshipers, “Pope is the Antichrist”, and so forth, the kind who are not inter-
ested in really searching for answers, but make up their own, I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE
that none of those apply to you. Ergo You Not Wackadoodle!

 

[StrawberryJam]

There are many here that will support you as a seeker of the Catholic Faith.

You can rest here. I will help you as I am able. You can feel at home here.

 

[KaraGordon]

Sorry, when I say “wackadoodle”, I’m referring to the EXTREMISTS/RADICALS, I’m sure that
you’re not one of them. Those whom I speak of are **particularly **ANTI-Catholic, posting you-
tube videos and blogs all over the web calling Catholics polytheists, WHORE OF BABYLON,
Mary-Goddess Worshipers, “Pope is the Antichrist”, and so forth, the kind who are not inter-
ested in really searching for answers, but make up their own, I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE
that none of those apply to you. Ergo You Not Wackadoodle!

So be careful when you generalize and don’t specify that you’re not talking about everyone who doesn’t believe the exact same thing as you.
Seriously.

 

[HeadingBackHome]

So be careful when you generalize and don’t specify that you’re not talking about everyone who doesn’t believe the exact same thing as you.
Seriously.

Generalizing is never clever as it tends to ruin communication, but when thats being said one should keep in mind that some of us converts has been going through a lot on our way to the Catholic Faith.

There are many prostenstants who has a toxic view on some aspects of our faith that we hold very dear (Our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Pope and The Saints) to mention some. Those of us who have converted/ or going to convert has put up With this attitudes of Family and friends for a long time and unfortunatly it tends to make us defensive.

Just imagine how you would feel if someone you love start trash talking Your faith everytime you see them. It leaves marks.

So generalization is not to suprising, but when one mention their religion as “Protestant” they leave some rom for generalization as well.

Mutual Respect is allways the key

 

[liturgyluver]

Why do are Catholics encouraged to pray to the Saints and Mary? If you do that, doesn’t it go against the commandment ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me’ (KJV).

There is a misconception - one pepetuated by many Catholics - that we pray to Mary. The cateshism of the Catholic Church is quite clear, as others on this thread have said that we pray with Mary and ask her, and the Saints to pray for us.

*2682 Because of Mary’s singular cooperation with the action of the Holy Spirit, the Church loves to pray in communion with the Virgin Mary, to magnify with her the great things the Lord has done for her, and to entrust supplications and praises to her. *

This article is very helpful in explaining Pope John Paul’s view about how praying with Mary, or indeed praying the Hail Mary, unites us with God and Jesus.

catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0907.htm

*As a model disciple of Christ, who said “yes” to God’s will all throughout her life – from the time when Gabriel first appeared to her all the way to the Cross – Mary is the ideal person to be interceding for us through the many trials and struggles we face in our lives. We ask her to pray for us, so that we may follow God faithfully like she did. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “She prays for us as she prayed for herself: ‘let it be to me according to your word.’ by entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her: ‘Thy will be done’” (no. 2677). *

 

[bsroufek]

We have The Apostles’ Creed, wherein we state that we believe in “the Communion of Saints”. Thus, in the Saints we have intercessors with God, chief among them the Mother of God, as the Church infallibly teaches.

 

[KaraGordon]

Generalizing is never clever as it tends to ruin communication, but when thats being said one should keep in mind that some of us converts has been going through a lot on our way to the Catholic Faith.

There are many prostenstants who has a toxic view on some aspects of our faith that we hold very dear (Our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Pope and The Saints) to mention some. Those of us who have converted/ or going to convert has put up With this attitudes of Family and friends for a long time and unfortunatly it tends to make us defensive.

Just imagine how you would feel if someone you love start trash talking Your faith everytime you see them. It leaves marks.

So generalization is not to suprising, but when one mention their religion as “Protestant” they leave some rom for generalization as well.

Mutual Respect is allways the key

I’m well aware that mutual respect is important. That’s why I’m here in the first place, or even going to any kind of Catholic services, even though it causes me a lot of anxiety (and I have the fingernail marks to prove it.) I’m going semi-regularly so I can learn about the faith and have a more balanced view of the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, to better respect my significant other and his entire family.

So I don’t appear as a bigoted, ignorant, prejudiced jerk when I present my opinions.

If you notice, the person I was quoting used the term “wackadoodle” to describe people with viewpoints different than that of the Catholic church, and did not specify the radicals and/or not-so-nice, stubborn Protestant faction.

I’m sorry if you’re defensive because of some people who maybe weren’t sensitive to your beliefs, But that’s no reason to call an entire denomination`derogatory names.

 

[deeds]

I find it very hard to pray anything but the Lord’s prayer.I dont feel anywhere near wise or worthy enough to ask God to change his almighty devine plan for me. Being raised to think praying to Mary was a sin,I now know for myself the prayer’s of the saints have power and spirit.And i believe catholicism reflects a deeper desire to be with God thru the saints and their spirit without overstepping that boundary of his majesty. This is how i would feel if i ever prayed to a saint anyway , and only my opinion.

 

[johnnykins]

Revelation 5:8 suggests the Elders offer to God the prayers of the saints…

Also, “pray” can simply mean “ask” or “please.”

Adoration is due God alone. The Latin is “Latria.” Catholic do not adore - offer latria worship - anyone/anything but God.

Honor - veneration - “Dulia” is something that be be offered any worthy person or thing. You can venerate elders, saints, icons…

Asking someone do do something for you - requesting intercession - is not prohibited, and often is wise. And, apparently, the Elders offer those requests to God for us - see above.

 

[HelenRose]

Firstly, I am not a troll.

I don’t appreciate being called a ‘wackadoodle’. It’s not my fault I wasn’t brought up with the same beliefs as you/haven’t yet found the same beliefs as you. I was brought up that there is only one God, and to only pray to him. No-One else. SO this means that my question wasn’t about causing some sort of massive issue out of why people pray to the saints, it’s simply questioning why in the first place, because it’s against what I was taught. It’s not something I feel I understand well, therefore it is only logical for me to ask a question in attempt to further my understanding, and help me grasp the concept from the perspective in question - the Catholic Perspective.

No one should call you a wackadoodle. Your questions are legitimate.

I don’t think of Mary as being “dead”. My goodness she is Jesus’ mother.

What is your interpretation of Revelations 12:1-6? Who do you think the Woman is in this passage?

 

[johnnykins]

I don’t think of Mary as being “dead”.

Although the bodies of the saints are “dead” until the resurrection, they are quite alive in Heaven. At least that is the Catholic belief. Indeed, Mary has been assumed body and soul into Heaven - that is Catholic belief.

Some folks complain that the saints can’t hear our prayers. Of course, that is nowhere stated in the scriptures. The reference in Revelation suggests otherwise, though it is not a lock.

Some will say, only God could hear everyone. That’s not in the Bible. Frankly, that we hear at all is in one way simply a gift from God. Why can’t He grant the saints a greater and more glorious hearing?

Also, it’s the clear practice of the Church from the earliest days and carried through to this day in the oldest forms of Christianity: Catholicism and Orthodoxy including the Non-Chacedonian eastern churches.

Finally, some will claim it’s counter-intuitive or impossible and the dead are dead. Maybe, but that is not the faith of the Church. Further, so much of the faith would fall into that trough that you might as well reject the Faith wholesale if that is the concern. I mean: Virgin Birth? God made man? Rising from the dead? Miracles?

The Faith tells us there is something greater and more wonderful than this world and its limitations. It tells us we are loved; we are individuals; we shall live forever in peace and beauty. Maybe it’s all fantasy and wishful thinking. But, even if it is, I’d prefer it to the absurd banality of a bunch if chemical reactions that mean nothing in any real or lasting sense.