Why do catholic’s pray to the saints when they can’t answer?

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Why do catholic’s pray to saints when they can’t answer? There is no example recorded for us in scripture to do this it is quite the opposite. There is only one mediator between God and man and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Help please
 
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Way to kick in the door with guns a blazing. First, you posted in the wrong sub-forum(prayer intentions),so hopefully a moderator will move it. Second, we have a wonderful search function that will easily provide you all the answers you seek. God bless!
 
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Where is it in scripture that saints do the opposite? I’ve read the Bible all the way through, twice, and the NT at least three times.
 
truthseeker74 said:
Why do catholic’s pray to saints when they can’t answer? There is no example recorded for us in scripture to do this it is quite the opposite. There is only one mediator between God and man and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Help please
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We don’t ask saints to “answer us”. We ask them to add their prayers to our own, no different than you would ask your family, friends or pastor to do the same. Do you believe that asking for anyone’s prayers take away from Jesus’ role as mediator?
 
2 Maccabees 15 shows deceased former high priest Onias intercedes for Judas Maccabees and the Jews.

Plus the saints in Heaven shown as interceding in Heaven in Revelation, and the mention of the “cloud of witnesses” in Hebrew.

But we’re not a sola scriptura religion. The intercession of the saints has been a Christian belief since the beginning.
 
Do you pray for others? Do you ask others to pray for you?
By doing so you share in Christ’s mediation, as we are called to do by virtue of our baptismal priesthood when we “put on Christ” (Gal 3:27).
This continues into heaven. It’s right there in Scripture. See Revelation 5:8.
 
truthseeker74 said:
Why do catholic’s pray to saints when they can’t answer? There is no example recorded for us in scripture to do this it is quite the opposite. There is only one mediator between God and man and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Help please
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Saints do answer! God makes them aware of our prayers for intercession and they pray for us.

Merriam Webster: answer, noun (3) something done in response or reaction

Scripture:
  • Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;
  • James 5: 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.
  • 1 Timothy 2 : 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. 3 This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
  • Ephesians 6: 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
 
Well Mary is also a mediator to the Father and to Jesus. Catholics don’t pray to Saints, that would suggest polygamy. Catholics ask for Saints help, to pray for us sinners and to look out for us. To have them ask Jesus to help us out.

It’s the same as asking a friend to pray for you when a relative died or when you want prayers. We are asking Saints for prayers also. And since they are Saints we know they are in Heaven.
 
7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

Book of Job Ch. 42:7-9 A very good example of intercession asked for by God Himself.
 
truthseeker74 . . .
Why do catholic’s pray to saints when they can’t answer? There is no example recorded for us in scripture to do this . . .
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Here is an example truthseeker74.

Heavenly angels are “holy ones” or “saints” (i.e. SAINT Michael the archangel is an example of a saint).

Here is a saint who was asked by Jacob/Israel for a blessing.

Jacob . . .
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”
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Angelic host . . .
And there he blessed him.
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Jacob-Israel received that blessing that he asked of that saint in the Bible.

It is precisely BECAUSE the Saints have a share, or “participation”, or “koinonia” IN-Christ, that the Saints can answer intercessory requests for prayers.

To deny this, would be to deny the power of Christ working IN and THROUGH the saints.

Hope this helps with your seeking.

God bless.

Cathoholic
GENESIS 32:26-29 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel,[b] for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Tell me, I pray, your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.
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I understand people get busy, but is it me, or has the OP not responded yet? I mean they might be doing something, and I’m not offended, I just want to know what they mean.
 
The OP is obviously a non Catholic who just joined and is eager to poke Catholics without bothering to read and learn first. Very rude. I doubt he/she comes back.
 
I was going to answer, but considering that the OP has not returned, I suspect the question was just a dig at Catholicism rather than a good faith query, so I’ll skip it.
 
I just want to say that while the OP may have been a troll looking to poke fun I am not, so thank you ladies and gentlemen for your answers relating to using saints as mediators. As your responses assist forming my ideas with more indepth words (particularly the examples of verses within scripture).

Is this also mentioned in the Catechism? Many thanks

-Jim
 
Hi Jim, Glad you found the topic helpful.

Yes, asking for the intercession of saints is mentioned in the Catholic catechism at CCC 2683
2683 The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom,41 especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were "put in charge of many things."42 Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.
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There are a couple Scriptural references in that paragraph and more in the overall section. Click the hyperlink to go to the Vatican page to see the footnotes for Scriptural references.
 
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