Monday | October 29, 2007

Praying to Saints? Why Not Take Your Request Directly to God?

Pray:

Pronunciation:
ˈprā
Function:
verb
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French prier, praer, preier, from Latin precari, from prec-, prex request, prayer; akin to Old High German frāga question, frāgēn to ask, Sanskrit pṛcchati he asks
transitive verb 1 : entreat, implore —often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea <pray be careful> 2 : to get or bring by praying intransitive verb 1 : to make a request in a humble manner 2 : to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving


I have have been discussing, or rather mostly watching a discussion of Catholics and Saints lately. And I would like very much to answer a few questions...or perhaps set the record straight.

When a Catholic says "praying to St. [Really Holy Person], what they they really mean is (or should mean) "I am asking St. [Really Holy Person] to pray with me and for me. Notice the 'and' there, it's important. We are asking the Saint to pray in communion with us. It's that first definition that Catholics have in mind when they speak of praying to a Saint. There is no adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving that is due to God that is given to a Saint.

We do not think that the Saint is divine.

The Saint is NOT a mediator.

The Saint is an intercessor. Just like your Aunt Sally is an intercessor when you ask her to pray for you or when your Aunt Sally asks you to pray for her. If your Aunt Sally told you that she was having difficulties and asked you to pray for her, would you answer "You should go right to God!! Don't be asking me to pray for you." You are not a mediator for Aunt Sally, nor is she one for you....you are INTERCESSORS, so please stop quoting me the verse about "one mediator between God and man." Believe it or not, I know that one.

And I've covered this before but Saints are not dead either. They are alive in heaven. When you [general non-Catholic you, not necessarily you specifically] tell me that the reason I should not ask Saints for pray is because they are dead, what you are really saying to me is that you don't believe in a life in heaven after we die. To me that seems a staggering denial of the Resurrection of Jesus....just a thought.

And Catholics, you could help our non-Catholic brothers and sisters by simply saying, "I asked St. [Really Holy Person] to pray with me."
Posted by Red Neck Woman at 14:14:00 | Permanent Link | Comments (5) |
Comments
1 - why do people have such trouble with this? it seems to be a common theme among protestants, but as a not-yet-catholic, i've never had a problem with it. the thing is, you can explain it to them but they still don't seem to get it. same goes with mary. i had a friend comment that she just didn't understand why pray "to" mary. i explained it that we are asking her to pray for us. "but why ask her? why not just pray to jesus?" the response i gave her was to the effect of, "he listens to her; she's his mother" and gave the example of the wedding feast at cana. probably not the best answer, because it makes it sound like i don't think jesus listens just to me, but it seemed to satisfy her.

peace,

amy
 (Comment this)

Written by: amy at 2007/10/29 - 19:21:24
2 - I have been trying to get this exact idea across to my evangelical brothers and sisters, to some avail. But I have to go through the same explanation that you posted EVERY DOGGONE TIME.

It peeves me, but at least I see that dawning of understanding. Well, sometimes.

I'm linking this post from my own blog -- hope you don't mind. It will (I hope) save me from having to explain it a few times..... :)

Susanne (Susie B in CA) (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2007/10/30 - 04:23:47
3 - Just some thoughts from an almost former Prostentant who will be (hopefully) swimming the Tiber Easter 2008: when you explain about the community of saints, and the fact that they are not dead, but alive in Christ, and it's sort of like asking a friend who is alive on Earth right now to pray for you, that will help SO MUCH. Once you get THAT concept down, it is much easier for a Protestant to view "praying with the saints" versus "praying to the saints." I mean, I don't pray to my best friend, I ask her to pray WITH me. But before you can understand THAT, you need to get the fact that the saints in Heaven are alive in Christ. (By the way, this is in response to, and in sympathy with Susanne.) Thank YOU, RNW, for once again enunciating in plain language Catholic dogma!

Shannon (Comment this)

Written by: Shannon at 2007/10/30 - 18:07:01
4 - To further clarify (after thinking about this), I guess what I was trying to say is that it makes more sense to a Protestant that you are intercessing (is that a word?) with the saints, when they realize that it is just an extension of the saints being "alive in Christ." Hope that helps a littles....Shannon (Comment this)

Written by: Shannon at 2007/10/30 - 19:30:42
5 - I have indeed used this analogy with several people at our church about asking a saint to pray with me is the precise same thing as asking one of our church members to pray with me for a particular request.

I've also mentioned the definition of "pray" that RNW mentions in her post. That delineation helps a great deal, too.

Susanne

Again, it helps that my Sunday School teacher at our evangelical church attends Mass and prays the Rosary lately. Between the two of us, we find that we're changing some long-held prejudices, with the help of the Holy Spirit, of course. :)

Unity in the church is something I pray for -- and hope for with all my heart. After all, we will all be worshiping in heaven *together* one day.... (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2007/10/31 - 02:50:35
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