Why do Catholics Ask the Saints to Pray for Them

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CHESTERTONRULES

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I’ll concede from the start that this case is not explicit in scripture. However, I think the implicit case is compelling. I’ll attempt to make four main points:
  1. Those who have died in God’s good grace are alive and that these people are aware of what is happening on earth.
  2. Those in heaven are concerned about what happens on earth.
  3. That our prayers can be carried by intercessors to God.
  4. That the prayers of the righteous are worth pursuing.
1)Those who have died in God’s good grace are alive and that these people aware of what is happening on earth.

Mark 12

Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses,‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 27 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.”

In Heb 11, the achievements of the Old Testament saints are reviewed with an emphasis on their faith. It ends by stating that they had not yet received salvation:

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Heb 12 starts like this:

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I believe this makes the case that those who have died physically are still alive and that they are witnesses to what occurs on earth.
  1. Those in heaven are concerned about what happens on earth.
Luke 15

7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
  1. That our prayers can be carried by intercessors to God.
Rev. 8

3Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
  1. That the prayers of the righteous are worth pursuing.
James 5

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

To summarize, Catholics, as well as several other faiths, believe that once we are alive in Christ we remain alive in Christ. We also believe that those in heaven are aware and concerned about those still on earth. For this reason, we seek their intercessions.
 
O.S.Luke said:
Starting a statement with “Why do” implies an interrogative, I believe.
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But your assessment was also right.

I answered my own question from my own perspective.

I was looking for comments.

Care to comment?
 
As a Catholic, you answered them, and looks like you towed the Catholic line. No need for me to comment.
 
because we need to make a allies for our battle against Principalities, and other princes of darknesses. ie demons…
 
CHESTERTONRULES said:
To summarize, Catholics, as well as several other faiths, believe that once we are alive in Christ we remain alive in Christ. We also believe that those in heaven are aware and concerned about those still on earth. For this reason, we seek their intercessions.
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I wouldn’t question any of this, really, except to ask that, granting they are concerned about the plight of the Church Militant and pray for us, are they aware of our individual requests for intercession, or do they intercede in a general sense only?

Jon
 
JonNC said:
I wouldn’t question any of this, really, except to ask that, granting they are concerned about the plight of the Church Militant and pray for us, are they aware of our individual requests for intercession, or do they intercede in a general sense only?

Jon
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That’s a fair question.

Given that scripture is not explicit on this question, I would submit to the authority of tradition.

What did the Church unanimously believe for 1500 years?
 
JonNC said:
I wouldn’t question any of this, really, except to ask that, granting they are concerned about the plight of the Church Militant and pray for us, are they aware of our individual requests for intercession, or do they intercede in a general sense only?

Jon
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Here’s a quote from Luther which you may or may not be familiar with, but it is interesting:

One should honor Mary as she herself wished and as she expressed it in the Magnificat. She praised God for his deeds. How then can we praise her? The true honor of Mary is the honor of God, the praise of God’s grace . . . Mary is nothing for the sake of herself, but for the sake of Christ . . . Mary does not wish that we come to her, but through her to God. (Explanation of the Magnificat, 1521).
 
CHESTERTONRULES said:
Here’s a quote from Luther which you may or may not be familiar with, but it is interesting:

One should honor Mary as she herself wished and as she expressed it in the Magnificat. She praised God for his deeds. How then can we praise her? The true honor of Mary is the honor of God, the praise of God’s grace . . . Mary is nothing for the sake of herself, but for the sake of Christ . . . Mary does not wish that we come to her, but through her to God. (Explanation of the Magnificat, 1521).
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I am familiar with it, and I agree with it. I don’t think that Luther was, even at this early point in the reformation, calling for invocation, but rather was saying that her example of faith was so great that we should follow her.
Given that scripture is not explicit on this question, I would submit to the authority of tradition.
What did the Church unanimously believe for 1500 years?
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For this reason, I am reluctant to condemn the practice, even as the Lutheran Confession does. However, since scripture, as you admit, is not explicitly clear, the conscience of a Christian should not be bound to believe it. It should not be an article of faith.

Jon

Jon
 
CHESTERTONRULES said:
… To summarize, Catholics, as well as several other faiths, believe that once we are alive in Christ we remain alive in Christ. We also believe that those in heaven are aware and concerned about those still on earth. For this reason, we seek their intercessions.
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And don’t forget, when two or more are gathered in His name, there He’ll be in the midst of them.

Would it matter if one person was in Europe and the other in Asia?

Would it matter if one person was on Earth and the other in Heaven?
 
JonNC said:
For this reason, I am reluctant to condemn the practice, even as the Lutheran Confession does. However, since scripture, as you admit, is not explicitly clear, the conscience of a Christian should not be bound to believe it. It should not be an article of faith.

Jon

Jon
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Who determines what should be an article of faith?

Do you believe this should be left up to each individual?
 
CHESTERTONRULES said:
Who determines what should be an article of faith?

Do you believe this should be left up to each individual?
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On the issue of Marion practices and belief, yes, it should be left to the individual. Articles of faith, at least to me, have to do with things directly related to salvation, and should be pretty explicit in scripture. The three creeds express well, articles of faith, etc.

Jon
 
adstrinity said:
Daniel, Chapter 6.
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Anyway, as I was saying, Daniel, Chapter 6:8-13

I remember hearing this story as nobody being allowed to pray but Daniel disobeyed, and thus was thrown to the lions.

I re-watched the Hanna-Barbera Daniel and the Lion’s Den, and it turns out that it was not only a law against praying to gods, but, also, one could not ask anybody else (save the king) for anything. If one is not allowed to ask gods for anything, and one is not allowed to ask men for anything, then doesn’t this go to the definition of prayer?
 
Another reason we ask the saints to pray for us is that as Christians, we are a family. Often times in non-Catholic circles, faith is reduced to a “just me and Jesus” attitude. But as Christians, we are called to be a family, and that belonging does not end when we die. Those Christians who have gone before us in faith are with the Father, praying even more strongly for us then they did in life.
 
RNRobert said:
Another reason we ask the saints to pray for us is that as Christians, we are a family. Often times in non-Catholic circles, faith is reduced to a “just me and Jesus” attitude. But as Christians, we are called to be a family, and that belonging does not end when we die. Those Christians who have gone before us in faith are with the Father, praying even more strongly for us then they did in life.
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I absolutely agree. I’m just not sure they hear (or need?) our requests to do so. But, as I’ve said, I respect how important this is to my Catholic siblings.
Jon
 
JonNC said:
I absolutely agree. I’m just not sure they hear (or need?) our requests to do so. But, as I’ve said, I respect how important this is to my Catholic siblings.
Jon
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In Revelation 6:9-11, we see how those martyred for the faith are under the altar in heaven and are asking how long before God avenges their blood on the inhabitants of the earth. So it would seem that the saints in heaven are aware of events on earth. Also, later on in Ch. 8 verse 3, we are told that an angel offers incense (the prayers of all the holy ones) at the altar.
So, yes, it does seem to me that they can hear our prayers while in heaven.
 
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