Why does Catholocism place such a high emphasis on asking Mary and the Saints to pray for them?

Question

Use Biblical proof. Thanks!

Answer 1

Catholicism does place a high emphasis on the saints, especially Mary. Catholics do ask these people to pray for them. Unlike what other people have suggested, Catholics do NOT worship the saints, or statues of anyone. Nor would they ever place Mary higher than Jesus. Considering you did not insinuate this in your question, I will assume you understand this already and move on from there. Also, as I believe someone else has said, the Church doesn't place especially high emphasis on praying to the saints; certainly not nearly as emphasis as it places on praying to God.

Reasons to pray to saints:
1. Mk 10:40 seems to indicate that the saints will be in communion with Jesus in heaven.
2. Jesus seems to listen to them: Lk 9:29-30 "While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah."
3. Likewise, Jesus always listened to his mother while on Earth (Jn 2:1-11), would he then discontinue the practice in Heaven? She certainly cannot control God, but she will always be a powerful intercessor.
4. Acts 3:6-7; 14:9-10; 19:11-12, etc. show that the Apostles were miracle-workers. Not through their own power, of course, but through the power of God. God granted them this power while they were living, why would he remove it once they were with him in heaven? Also, the people the Apostles cured could just have easily asked God to cure them. Yet they were indeed cured when they asked the Apostles. What does it matter if God does the miracle directly or through an instrument? It is all for his greater glory.

Catholics feel that as holy people, the saints' prayers will be especially pleasing to God. Also, we frequently feel we have a special bond with the saints, and that they can understand our plight better than most; thus perhaps their prayers will be more fervent and understanding than most, pleading our case along with us before God. For instance, if a woman fears a miscarriage, she might ask St. Elizabeth to pray for her, since Elizabeth, too, knew what it was like to be childless.

Answer 2

It is not a High emphasis, it is only a portion. We ask people to pray for us here on Earth don't we? Well, Mary is our Mother and like all Mothers they talk to the Father for you so, that's not anything difficult to understand. I think the hardest part about understanding Catholicism is understanding The Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints. We are constantly together. Those that have gone before us are not dead and they are truly aware of us and we ask for their intercession because (as the bride) they are able to go into the throne room anytime to see our Lord (the book of Esther) and ask for a favor. He is more than Happy to grant these things to us.

Answer 3

I've never seen any "high emphasis on asking Mary and the saints to pray for them."

Answer 4

Hi, the Catholic church does not place anyone above Jesus as our Mediator thats the first thing, what it does say though is that those who by their heroic and virtuous lives and now in Heaven are able to offer our prayers before God on our behalf and that God delights in and wishes this to be so as a testament to the church triumphant( the body of Christ already in Heaven)
in revelation:5.8 John sees the 24 elders( the leaders of the people of God in Heaven) fall down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the Saints, and so the Saints in Heaven offer to God the prayers of the Saints on Earth.
Rev.8:3-4, An Angel came and stood before Gods altar with a golden censer and was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the Saints etc,
finally there is this from the mouth of St.Paul`First of all, then I urge that supplications,prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men,for Kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life,godly and respectful in every way.
this is good and pleasing to God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.(1 Tim.2:1-4) so clearly intercessory prayes offered by Christians on behalf of others is something" good and pleasing to God" and not something that infringes on christ`s role as Mediator.
And this being good and wholesome for us then how much purer and efficacious are the prayers of Mary and the Saints in Heaven!

Answer 5

The basis is rather in ancient Jewish and Christian "Tradition." It has simply always been that way. Jesus mention Abraham grabbing up Lazerus to his bossom. The speaks with Elijah and Moses on a peak.

The saints join man in prayer. For if they performed great deeds on earth when they were worried about themselves, how much more can they do when they are in Heaven? (paraphrased from memory, St. Jerome)

Answer 6

I don't think we emphasize it any more than we emphasize praying directly to God, or asking others to pray for us. We ask Mary and the Saints to pray for us because they are very holy and are close to God, but I pray more to God through Jesus than I do through the saints and Mary. It is nice, though, to know that they are there for me when I need them.

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 7

There isn't any biblical proof about asking Mary and Saints to pray for them. Catholicism is practicing idolatry.

Answer 8

Is there something wrong with asking anybody to pray for us? Is it not written in the bible that we should pray for one another(1 Tim. 2:1-4)? Did not Paul ask the other disciples to pray for him((Rom. 15:30, Col. 4:3, 1 Thess. 5:25)? And did not Paul prayed for the others, too?(2 Thess. 1:11)?

No document in all of early christianity prohibits praying for one another or asking those saints who already departed this world. In fact, early christians ask for intercessions of the departed ones:

Clement of Alexandria
"In this way is he [the true Christian] always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him [in prayer]" (Miscellanies 7:12 [A.D. 208]).

Origen
"But not the high priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep" (Prayer 11 [A.D. 233]).

Cyprian of Carthage
"Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides [of death] always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence the first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father's mercy" (Letters 56[60]:5 [A.D. 253]).

For those who claim its not christian to ask for the saints' and Mary's intercession, please post even just one early christian document(complete with date and doc title as i posted above) proving your claim?

Answer 9

I was raised Catholic and don't recall ever being given a biblical references. Having said that, the reason I was given was that we are ( I was) asking them to intercede on our behalf. I'm no longer catholic.

Answer 10

because they need female deity to convince the pagan romans so thay choose the best female in bible which is mary. You will not see any people (lived between 100 AD to 300 AD) like Polycorp or Iranues worshiping or quoting mary