Do Catholics pray TO the saints or THROUGH the saints?

Question

"to" or "through"?
I believe our Catechism says "To" but I thought it was "through".
Thanks.

Oh-kay? Most of you seem WAY more confused than me.

Answer 1

We talk to the saints, asking them to pray for us.

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Southern Baptist here, but I've studied Catholicism for several years (Vatican's POV, not Baptist, BTW).

As far as I can tell, both praying TO the Saints & praying THROUGH them are both scripturally based (references from KJV), though possibly misinterpreted. One in particular is in Revelation, where John says that the saints (not Saints) held bowles of incense, which were the prayers of Christians.

However, it is my (humble) opinion that this practice is no different than Christians who ask other Christians to pray for them - otherwise known as "intercessory prayer." This can also be contradicted by the verse that says the dead cannot hear or speak, etc.

Confession to/through a priest seems to be based on the assumption of Peter being the first "Pope." Until the reformation, this was standard practice - also refuted by the verse, noted above, that Jesus is our only High Priest and intercedes on our behalf (that, however, negates the need for intercessory prayer - where two or more are gathered...).

I think the main issue is whether or not Catholics "worship" the Saints, or the pictures, icons, and what-have-you. Most all Catholics would argue that they do not.

From my studies, I have found no doctrine or tradition that encourages the worship of anyone but God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

I believe there are many misconceptions taught in Protestant denominations (including SBC) that have more to do with what leaders THINK goes on in the RCC, than what is actually practiced there.

Again, JMHO.

Answer 3

To understand how Catholics pray to the Saints, you must first understand the difference between Mediator and Intercessor.

Jesus is the one and only Mediator. However, this does not mean that there cannot be intercessors. Catholics offer intercessory prayer to the saints and paryers of worship to Jesus.

To better understand the role of an intercessor, if you've ever said (or know someone who's said), "I'll pray for you." - that's an intercessor offering an intercessory prayer.

Answer 4

It is a pity that there are so many opinions and views concerning who a Christian prays to. This proves the shortcoming of Catholicism and other churches to teach the truth from the Bible. Who do we pray to? Jesus? Mary? The saints? What does God's Word the Bible say? Jesus CLEARLY tells us who to direct our prayers to. At Matt. 6:9, Jesus said: "You must pray then this way: Our FATHER in the heavens, let YOUR name be sanctified." At John 14:6, Jesus said: "No one comes to the Father except through ME." WHAT COULD BE PLAINER THAN THAT? Do we pray to Jesus? No! Do we pray to Mary or the saints? No. Do we pray through Mary or the saints? No! It's not just the Catholics that are confused about the right way to pray. Most so-called Christian churches are equally confused.

Answer 5

John 14:6 clearly states that Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father.
Hebrews 4:14-16 clearly states that Jesus is our High Priest in Heaven.

More over, try to count how many times the Apostle Paul who wrote over 1/3 of the New Testament wrote "in Christ" when referring to God the Father. EVERYTHING is because of Christ and through Christ. Read the first chapter of John and Hebrews.

No where in the Bible doest it teach to access God through any of the Saints. That is an invented tradition of the Catholic church.

Answer 6

i'm making a raffle you want Scripture, because Protestants continually want each and every thing to come back from Scripture, so right here: James 5:16 consequently, confess your sins to at least one yet another, and pray for one yet another so that you'll properly be healed. The valuable prayer of a righteous guy can accomplish a lot. capture that? The valuable prayer of a righteous guy can accomplish a lot. What makes a guy righteous? His relationship with God, for God is the source of all righteousness. does no longer, therefor, those who're in Heaven, on the foot of the throne of God, be the nearest to Him? does no longer they be the most righteous adult males and women lets ask to desire for us? Are they lifeless? in difficulty-free words bodily, for: Matthew 22:32 i'm the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God isn't the God of the lifeless, yet of the residing. The God of the residing. John 3:16 "For God so loved the international, that He gave His in difficulty-free words begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall no longer perish, yet have eternal life. eternal life. No death. In Christ you stay always. i imagine i am going to believe the authentic words of Our Saviour particularly than those of adult males who quote an old testomony Scripture (which refers to those spiritually lifeless, for sure, as is evidenced by technique of this is corrollary in John 3:16) So all of us comprehend the saints are alive. all of us comprehend the saints can listen us. all of us comprehend their prayers avalith a lot. properly then what's the project? we do not worship them so it isn't idolatry. in truth, this is Biblical. feels like a persons' no longer trusting the Bible...

Answer 7

You shouldn't pray to or through a saint, Mary or the pope, For there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.AS well there is only one vicar of Christ on earth the Holy Spirit. I'm not trying to be mean, just telling you the truth.

Answer 8

Through the saints. When you pray to saints it is asking them to pray for you.

Answer 9

Through the saints, and through Mary, through the priests, etc. Catholics never talk or pray directly to the big guy, only through his accepted and ordained representatives.
The saint concept was introduced in order to incorporate the lesser gods of the various religions that catholism was absorbing. Rather clever.

Answer 10

I wish someone Catholic would show the scripture that says we need to go through the saints to get Jesus to hear us. I thought the Bible said that the veil in the temple was broken when Jesus died for that very reason so we could go directly to the throne room with our prayers. Jesus was and always will be our intercessor. Why do you think the Saints can pray for you or that they listen to your prayers. That is not in the Bible. It is false doctrine. Please read for yourself.