catholic friends, how many saints do you need as mediators for God?

Question

Read 1 Timothy 2:5.

Is Jesus not enough for you church? why?

thanks for the 'immediate' answers. but did you read 1 Tim 2:5? it says, for true Christians there should be ONE mediator, Jesus.

When Jesus felt the greatest fear in His life, that God abandoned Him on the cross, He never called other saints, such as Enoch, Elijah, & Moses, or any angels. He prayed directly to God.

Well, it seems to me that you're not following the Bible...Jesus, is not enough for you, right?

Anyways, is there other Catholic who might have other opinions..beliefs?

Answer 1

I believe in intercessory prayers (1 Tim 2:1), but it must be among saints who are alive. In the Bible, even when you are alive, once you accepted Jesus and truly converted but may not totally perfect, you are a saint.

What I cant find from the Bible is an account wherein a godly man/woman prayed to a deceased person..or even alive person in heaven..similar to what Catholic explains above.

I’m sure Noah was terribly pissed off from the mockery he suffered when he build the ark..but you cant find any verse that he talked/prayed to Enoch asking him to intercede before God. But praying to God directly? he did.

We all know how hard it is for Abraham to actually kill his son, Isaac. But Abraham never asked some help from any known departed saints before him. But praying to God directly? he did.

Joseph was so mentally tortured by what he experienced from his brothers as well as during his being a leader in Egypt, but you cant find any instance he asked some intercession from any known departed saints before him. But praying to God directly? he did.

When Peter was in prison (Acts 12:5), “..prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.” The verse did not say “the church prayed unto saints in heaven..then saints in heaven unto God...”

“All the departed assist us with their prayers”??

My Bible tells me that the “dead knows nothing”, “their memory..and love is forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). It is the spirit or breathe of God that was taken from them. How can they hear or remember me?

The Bible tells us that no human had entered the heaven yet, except Enoch, Elijah, and Moses. And you cant find any verse from the Bible or any suggestions that those godly men/women of God ever prayed to these humans who are already in heaven.

My Buddhist friends here in my neighborhood used to pray to their departed kings and beloved ones. But I choose to be a Christian and give distinction on my belief with regards to Buddhism. I rather choose my Bible’s teachings.

Answer 2

Pastor Billy says: where is the question? This is not a question but a critics opinion on a caricature of the Catholic Church and not reality.

Why do non-catholics ask Tammysue down at the bible chapel to pray for them? Isn't praying straight to Jesus enough? Catholics understand in the Body of Christ we pray for one another and whose prayers are more righteous than those already with our Lord Jesus. Your Catholic friends (if you really mean that) can if they wish make request of the saints to pray for them to Jesus.

If you want to attack something at least try to attack what is actually happening not what you think or would like that to be.

Only mediator in Catholicism is Jesus yet Catholics do not assume as you do they can dictate how Jesus chooses to mediate. What you are really attacking here is intercessory prayer and pretty well all Christian communities practise that.

Answer 3

Jesus is the ONE mediator between God and man because only Jesus was capable of becoming the eternal sacrifice for sin.

Once that was accomplished, Jesus gave virtually unlimited power and authority to his church, both on earth and in heaven, to assist others with their salvation.

Once a member of the church, and whether alive in heaven or on earth, ANY member of the church has a right to request assistance from ANY OTHER member.

God has no problem with it at all, as he himself chose the Jews, and later, a hand-picked group of twelve, plus a humble and faithful woman, to help bring salvation to the whole world.

Like any good Father, God allows his children to actively participate in his great work, whether they happen to be still here on earth, or already perfected in heaven.

In the end, there is nothing that can stop the love of God from being abundantly poured out for his people, and the Saints are certainly some of the finest examples of Christian charity that God ever created.

All this reflects creditably on God himself.

Your flawed interpretation of scripture has robbed you of the proper perspective on this.

Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you, and please tell him that I sent you.

Answer 4

Oh "Relax," you so have us all wrong. Please don't judge the Catholic faith by what you hear from the Catholic bashers and well meaning but misguided souls. Might I suggest that you tune in to EWTN, especially the segment entitled the "The Journey Home" hosted by previous Presbyterian and Lutheran pastor, Marcus Grodi. I may have misspelled his name, but please, give it a view tomorrow at 7:00 in the Midwest or 8:00 on the East Coast. Also Saturday nights at 10:00, Central Daylight Savings Time.

O.K. bro? And remember, You da man!

Answer 5

I am Anglo-Catholic, but I will answer. The more the better. Just like in real life. If you want a favor from the President, you can write to him or maybe talk to him. Or ask his son to talk to him on your behave. That is a good idea. His son's mother, good too. A few close friends, can't hurt. So you see the point. We talk to God directly and ask others on earth and in heaven to pray WITH us, not for us.

Peace.

Answer 6

Saints are intercessors not mediators.

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 living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

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

And prayer to the saints is optional not required.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

Jesus is the rock of the church

Answer 8

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1Timothy 2:5)
http://www.bible.ca/cath-overview-false-teaching.htm
http://www.chick.com/reading/books/160/160cont.asp

Answer 9

We need all of them.
Have you heard of the communion of saints? Read the following:
1 Corinthians 12,26
Hebrerws 12,22f

All the departed assist us with their prayers.
Read: Luke 16,9; 1 Corinthians 12,12.20f; Revelation 5,8

Answer 10

Ok think about it this way...
How many friends do you turn to when you have a problem?
If a doctor told you, you were going to die tomorrow. would you get a second opinion.
Saints are intended to be our friends, and people who we can look up too...
not worship