I dont want it to change a thing but is there anything about your own faith that you were never really able to take on board?
I'm a catholic but i never got praying to saints for intercession,why pray to saints when you can pray directly?
I dont even know where it came from.
.
2007-05-22 10:45:32 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For the record i'm not questioning catholicism and i cant ever be anything other than a catholic
,I'm just not sure of the reasoning behind asking the saints to interceed.
2007-05-22 11:10:17 · update #1
I do get praying to Our Lady.
2007-05-22 11:11:48 · update #2
I converted to Catholicism and came into full communion with the Church in 2000. I wouldn't change a thing about it.
Referring to the saints: Whenever a person "prays" to a saint, they are simply asking that person to pray for them to God. It is no different than a Baptist or Methodist asking one of their friends to pray for them as an intercessor. Many people assume Catholics are worshipping these saints or Mary, but that is entirely false. Catholics believe that there are certain people who are definitely already in heaven. That doesn't mean that some people who aren't labeled "saints" by the Church aren't in heaven. It simply means that certain people have met the strict criteria set by the Church to give them a very, very good chance of already being there. When a person asks a saint to pray for them, it is done in hopes that since the person is literally close to God, the prayer may be answered in a quicker time (so long as it is God's will).
Study your Catholic faith. It has a history and heritage unlike any other religion out there.
2007-05-22 11:04:02 · answer #1 · answered by kenrayf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Praying for saints, doesn't mean you CAN'T pray to God directly. In fact, you should. You're just asking a saint to pray with you. The idea comes from James 5:16, which states that when we are in need, we should ask a righteous person to pray for us because "the prayers of the righteous availeth much." Who is more righteous than a saint who is already in heaven?
2007-05-22 11:10:48 · answer #2 · answered by sparki777 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is not compulsory for a Catholic to pray to mary or the saints, but you are totally ignoring a very large section of the communion of saints if you do not ask those in Heaven to pray for you ocassionally.
In case you did not know, most Catholics pray to the saints AND directly to God. There are time when we cannot pray to God, but the saints are available to pray for us continuously.
2007-05-22 11:07:05 · answer #3 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am LDS but there are many doctrines (usually minor ones) that I just can't agree with. Although I am an active member and generally obey all the rules of church membership, certain teachings don't seem to be anything more to me than the opinion of church leaders.
For ex: We have been told (by LDS Church leaders) that men in the church have to wear white shirts to pass the sacrament (communion). It is supposed to be a symbol of purity. I think this is ridiculous. I happened to live in a place for two years where most of the men couldn't afford a white dress shirt. Also, wearing white does not reflect a persons actual purity at all. It just makes it so the poor, righteous guy can't participate while the unworthy rich kid can lie his way into participation.
Why would Jesus, who suffered for the sins of all, care what color my shirt is? wouldn't he love me more than that?
so basically, yes, I question my own faith and sometimes disagree with it's teachings, but am not necessarily going to flip out because of it. I hear you buddy.
2007-05-22 10:51:15 · answer #4 · answered by The Ponderer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. I'm quite happy to ask the saints to pray for me. No different to asking my friends or family to pray for me. The saints are already in heaven though so I guess that puts them closer to the ear of God.
Cheers :-)
2007-05-22 10:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by chekeir 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I took my time (about 5 years) and really found out what I believed and why I believed it before I decided to convert to Daemonolatry. So really, there's nothing in my religion that I don't agree with or don't understand. Plus, since my conversion I've been living and practicing my current religion for 18 years. Generally when I find something strange, it ends up making sense after much reflection.
2007-05-22 10:55:18 · answer #6 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are a Catholic and you do not know your own church`s catechism! I suggest you look it up and read about it, it is contained and explained under the believing body of Christ.
On second thoughts are you a Catholic or is this another set up dig at Catholics?
2007-05-22 10:51:07 · answer #7 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not Catholic, I could never understand there ways. Though what I don't understand about catholics is why, when other people from other Christian religions come to their church for like a funeral they can't take communion.
I take communion at my church and I believe in God and Jesus so what is the difference.
BTW, my church has a lot of ex-Catholics that have converted to a non-catholic Christain church, they couldn't understand a lot of it either.
2007-05-22 11:00:35 · answer #8 · answered by Tigger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was brought up catholic too. I believe we are to pray to God the father through Jesus Christ. Not to the Virgin Mary, or the saints.
2007-05-22 10:51:20 · answer #9 · answered by goodbye 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
very good point.
i was raised Catholic and after I was saved, I started to see a lot of things that did not line up with the Word.
I changed churches and consider myself strictly Christian, no longer Catholic.
2007-05-22 10:59:54 · answer #10 · answered by sep 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋