Why should we pray to saints

[BHB65]

Humble mother has it right, at least in my completely unimportant opinion. Her response is the one I give to non-Catholics who ask me if we actually worship statues. I explain that the statues are just representations of people who lived, just like pictures of family and/or friends. Only God can answer prayers, but praying to the saints is like asking friends to pray for you. We don’t expect friends to answer prayers, but it surely doesn’t hurt to have others pray to God for us. But in all things we pray for, we understand that it may not be in God’s Divine Will that our prayers will be answered in the way we want. We always pray “Thy Will be done.” St. Rita is an especially close friend of mine because her prayers and intercession on my son’s behalf. She is definitely the Saint of Lost/Hopeless Causes. Hope others turn to her regularly.

 

[BarryI]

Isnt a person who died just in the ground awaiting judgement day? How do you know if a person who died had gone to heaven. How do you know they didn’t go to hell? Isn’t that to be decided on Judgement Day?]

 

[BHB65]

We don’t know where anyone’s soul goes after death. All we can do is pray that, if they go to Purgatory, their stay there may be lessened by our prayers for them because they can no longer pray for themselves. That could be a reason that we ask the saints and others to pray for us. If their souls go to Hell, there’s nothing we can do, but I still pray that the suffering of those who are there might be lessened somewhat. According to what I know, which is not always a lot, my prayers for those in Hell won’t provide any relief, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

 

[pablope]

Isnt a person who died just in the ground awaiting judgement day? How do you know if a person who died had gone to heaven. How do you know they didn’t go to hell? Isn’t that to be decided on Judgement Day?]

No…there is the “particular judgement” immediately after death:

ewtn.com/faith/teachings/judga1.htm

*However, those who die before the parousia will be judged immediately at their deaths. This is known as the particular judgment. The Epistle to the Hebrews says (9:27): " It is appointed to men to die once, and after that comes the judgment". Then, “Each one will receive his pay, according to his works” (1 Cor 3:8).

There are three possible outcomes to the particular judgment. Those whose love for God has been perfected in this life are taken straight to heaven, where they enjoy endless happiness in the face to face vision of God. Those who die in God’s love but still love Him imperfectly must be purifed in the intermediate state of purgatory. Those, however, who reject God’s love by mortal sin and die without repenting are condemned to the everlasting torments of hell. The general judgment at the end of time simply solemnly confirms the particular judgments of each one, with the difference that then the body as well as the soul will receive what is due it. And all God’s judgments will be revealed as most just.*

How do you know if a person who died had gone to heaven. How do you know they didn’t go to hell?

By the “canonization process” is the way to know when one is in heaven.

catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-process-of-becoming-a-saint.html

 

[Holysolger]

Look people if you know the bible good enough rather them ur puffed up imagination. You’ll know that scripture tells is there’s only ONE Mediatir between God and man.
But of course your RELIGION teaches different so …
Let’s believe man instead of God.
All your talk about dead people praying for us is just that. Gods Word tells us we all are Asleep in Christ when we die and know nothing. All you have is Idoltry a god formed in ur own image based on mans mind.
We are ALL Saints as a Christian made so by Jesus Not a man !
But I know my reply will make no difference in ur minds for their carnal, alienated from the things of God, unable to understand sound doctrine they are but foolishness to you.
I used to be a catholic fir 29 years of my life, then I met Jesus n He showed me the truth.
Catholicism is but a Religion of man made rules n in the end indifferent then an atheist or Buddhist or mornan or Muslims faith hopeless n without power.
I pray that u go wo one day before it’s to late know Jesus the author n perfect of our faith instead of man.

 

[JRKH]

Question… Who made the so called saints, Saints?

God did. All those who are in heaven are saints. All the Church has done is to recognize certain individuals through the process established by the Holy Spirit in the Church.

If it was man who did , then by what authority did he have?

The Church makes such declarations through the authority granted to Her by our King, Jesus Christ.

How do you know if a particular person , who died, is in Heaven???

There is a rigorous process in place for determining this.

Peace
James

 

[pablope]

Look people if you know the bible good enough rather them ur puffed up imagination. You’ll know that scripture tells is there’s only ONE Mediatir between God and man.

  But of course your RELIGION teaches different so

 

[Holysolger]

The bible us a catholic book ? Are you kidding me ?
It’s very sad to see u believe that only taught by men.
It’s clear you know not the bible nor God himself. I encourage you to stop for a moment n lay down yourself n think outside ur religion that’s been taught to u probly since u was a baby.
Most Catholics are Catholics by birth, they only believe on their parents faith n have never stood on their own. If you ever read the bible you will see the truths of God m Hus Awesome incredible love for mankind not for just Catholics
Religion is mans way to Heaven Jesus is Hods way through relationship not by merit. I pray that you will look past ur own pride n give Jesus a chance to open ur eyes to the truth.
John 14:6

 

[pablope]

The bible us a catholic book ? Are you kidding me ?

Are you kidding me? You do not know? The books that make up the Bible that you have today were selected by Catholic bishops…a process that took several centuries, filtering out several hundred other early writings.

It’s very sad to see u believe that only taught by men.

 

[pablope]

Look people if you know the bible good enough rather t
I pray that u go wo one day before it’s to late know Jesus the author n perfect of our faith instead of man.

By the way…you did not answer this question from me:

Quote:
Let’s believe man instead of God.

How does God communicate here on earth?

 

[JRKH]

Look people if you know the bible good enough rather them ur puffed up imagination. You’ll know that scripture tells is there’s only ONE Mediatir between God and man.

So… This means that we should not ask others to pray for us…nor should we pray for others - right? After all, we should not presume to mediate with God on behalf of another…right?

But of course your RELIGION teaches different so …
Let’s believe man instead of God.

I think that if you hang around here a while you will find that there is very good biblical support for prayer to the saints…
And of course there is the fact that Scripture tells us that it is the Church that is the pillar and ground of Truth…and when there are questions and issues to be addressed we are to settle them as a group - a Church…we are to “tell it to the Church” and to “listen…to the Church”…

All your talk about dead people praying for us is just that. Gods Word tells us we all are Asleep in Christ when we die and know nothing.

There are references in Scripture that would seem to contradict this…
The Transfiguration of Christ being just one. If Moses and Elijah are “asleep in Christ and know nothing” how could they be speaking with Jesus?

All you have is Idoltry a god formed in ur own image based on mans mind.

Says you…

We are ALL Saints as a Christian made so by Jesus Not a man !

Quite right, so long as we remain in a state of grace we are indeed, saints.

But I know my reply will make no difference in ur minds for their carnal, alienated from the things of God, unable to understand sound doctrine they are but foolishness to you.

Comments like this are hardly likely to endear you to others, or to help you plead your case… In fact, such comments could get you band from the forum…

I used to be a catholic fir 29 years of my life, then I met Jesus n He showed me the truth.

May he continue to guide you and lead you back home.

Catholicism is but a Religion of man made rules n in the end indifferent then an atheist or Buddhist or mornan or Muslims faith hopeless n without power.
I pray that u go wo one day before it’s to late know Jesus the author n perfect of our faith instead of man.

Thank you for your kind wishes.
For myself, my wish for you is that you continue to grow in faith and that the Holy Spirit shows you the benefit of a softened heart toward your fellow Christians who are, after all, following our Lord to the best of their ability.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

But I know my reply will make no difference in ur minds for their carnal, alienated from the things of God, unable to understand sound doctrine they are but foolishness to you.

I wonder then why you bother to post here?
Since you already “Know”.

Peace
James

 

[Pax]

or anyone other than God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit? I tried to search for a thread on this, so if you want to redirect me, thanks.

The following passage from Hebrews is very informative in terms of our relationship to the saints in heaven:

Hebrews 12:21-24
“Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.”

All Christians pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We pray daily to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Likewise, the above passage mentions Jesus as the “mediator of a new covenant.” That phrase is paramount to the idea of Jesus as the “one mediator between God and men” as mentioned by Paul elsewhere in scripture.

The thing is, however, that we have not come to Jesus “alone.” As Christians we have come to the city of the living God which includes God’s angels and His saints. Heaven is now open to us through our rebirth in Jesus. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses[Hebrews 12:1], and those witnesses are the heavenly angels and saints. We are not dead to them and they are not dead to us. They are there with Jesus Christ our Savior, and they are there to our benefit because of the mediation of Jesus.

That passage from Hebrews is worth pondering over and over. Those in heaven are the friends of the Lord, and any friend of the Lord is a friend of mine. We pray for one another and we ask one another to pray for us. Not even death will separate us from the love of the Lord and membership in the body of Christ. *For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. *[Romans 12:4-5]

I’m happy to have those just souls made perfect, and now in heaven, praying for me as I travel my Christian walk with the Lord. Heaven is a happening place and Jesus is not alone. He comes with His angels and His saints.