Catholic question .. because I don't understand?

Question

From what I gather from my wife and other Catholics is when they pray they pray to saints.. Kinda like calling a servicedesk and pushing the correct number associated with what you need.. so number 3 may be helping a sick family member while 7 would be , help with a job.
so my question is--- is there any other Christian or other religion that prays to a saint that takes the message to god? And.. why not pray to the man himself?

Thank you Dominicanus for answering

for all the Catholic trash comments I'm not looking for that..

I don't buy all the Christian stuff but I still seek to learn why people choose to believe what they hold dearly.

Answer 1

When we pray to Saints is to ask for their intercesion only. Some saints lived a remarkable life in some areas and had particular challenges in their own lives out of which we can learn and benefit, for instance: St Thomas aquinas had a remarkable intellect and was a genial philosopher, when I am triying to understand a difficult text, I remember St Thomas Aquinas and what he had to do and the virtues God gave him and I ask God for those same virtues, and ask st thomas to please pray for me before God to concede to me those same virtues if it is his will and for the good of my brother man, etc.

The church believes in the "communion of saints" this means that those who have passed away to heaven are not dead, they are alive in god and still active members of the one church. They are called the "church triumphant" we are the "church militant" and just as i can ask any friend on earth to pray for me, i can ask any friend on heaven to pray for me.

We recognize in the saints models of outstanding christian lives as worthy of being imitated. We catholics do pray directly to God ( and believe me the church has given outstainding mystics and contemplatives who have excelled at this, achieving extasies unrecahble for many living in the material world), this direct prayer to God in contemplation of His divinity is essencial and can't be done without.
I must admit that many Catholics don't know the difference and instead of going to God first many develope a quasi- superstition attitude towards saints and what they represent, but this does not mean that the religion itself is that way. Catholicism is all about salvation brought about by Christ and His church. From that you get all the rest.
The devotion to any particular saint should never be a substitute for heartfelt dialogue with our creator, which should always be a first. We must burn in love for God and trust i n His will always, walking in his sight always and developing the awareness of His presence in our acts, words and thoughts, and of course...Speaking to Him all the time!
God bless

Answer 2

No answer given ever seems to satisfy people who already made up their minds on catholics .

But if you haven't made up your mind, then this might help.

Catholics dont pray to the saints. We pray to God. But it is believed that you can also get help in form of intercessions from the saints since, from christian teaching, they are alive and with God. Just like you will ask your pastor to pray for you or remember you in his prayers.


Do you understand?


I need to also ask some questions here for all to ponder.
Why is it that non-catholics get so hot when it comes to discussing issues like this?

If you know the bible well, why would you call Mary (Mother of Jesus Christ ) dead?

We should try not to be judgmental. If you think you know the bible so well then you won't do that. Let God be the Judge.

Answer 3

I believe that God is a POWER - not a man. My prayer consists of changing my mind - pretty much. (Spiritual Mind Treatment) - so I don't really pray TO God - I just know that It works through me.

As for the Catholics - well - praying to saints works for them. Isn't it okay to do what works for you - as long as it's helping you to be a good person?

My Mom is forever praying to St. Anthony, or St. Christopher or whoever. She also works with Habitats for Humanity (organizing and providing food for the workers every week), in a soup kitchen (once a week), and serves on the board of "Helping Hand." If praying to the saints is helping her to help others - I think it's a beautiful thing.

Religion is just a tool to help us be the best we can be. Once people stop thinking there is a "RIGHT WAY" or only "ONE WAY" to do that - I believe we'll have more peace.

Namaste!

Answer 4

Just like I can ask a friend here to pray for someone I can also ask a saint to do the same thing. Being human they have gone through a lot of stuff we go through; they are our friends too.
I know God will listen to my needs but its nice to know my friends(the saints) are also in Heaven to love and support me.
We are a family called Church.

Answer 5

The Bible, not the church, should be basis for all doctrine. Praying to saints is not biblical. We are to pray only to God. When John was in vision in Revelation 22:8,9 he fell at the feet of the angel to worship him. The angel told him that he was his fellow-servant and not to worship him but to worship God. Now, the saints that the Catholic church pray to were mere men, and they are not alive. If an angel that is alive and sees God face to face said not to worship him but to worship God.....I would say that saints would not be quite as high up....and that the angel would know what he is talking about.
So, you are correct.....take it to God Himself.

Answer 6

HI well I used to be catholic and they do teach you to pray to different saints for different reasons. You have the right idea though, why not pray to the man hinself? well you can, the bible says that he is our provider, our protector, our healer and our deliverer there is no need to pray to other idols that have mouths and can't talk, have ears and cant hear you. Bottom line is their prayers are being wasted on statues that's what they are. If you have a bible, I suggest you read the book of Deutoronomy chapter 20 it talks all about praying to idols or statues and how god feels about that.

One lasty thought, I've had an actual realtionship with God since I was 14, a relationship in which I find his guidance and hear his voice, in which he provides and protects. Its awesome, God wants us to talk to him, he DESIRES a relationship with us.
Hope this helps

blessigns to you and your family

Answer 7

We DO pray directly to the Lord...but we ask the saints to add their prayers to ours.

Asking prayers of specific saintts is like going to a 'specialist.' The patron of 'whatever' had some experience in life with that subject.

Example- Dymphna was the daughter of a mentally ill man....she is the patron of the mentally ill.

St Stephen Martyr is patron of headache sufferers ( he was stoned to death)

Joseph of Cupertino is patron of Airline pilots- when he prayed he would rise off the floor (the Catholic Church DOES have a sense of humor!)

here is a list.... http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/patron00.htm

Answer 8

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, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

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.

Asking others to pray for you whether your loved ones on Earth or your loved ones in heaven is always optional.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

AMEN.

Because they have been taught falsely.

The scriptures are VERY CLEAR on this subject:
"For there is one God, and there is ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5).

They even call Mary their "mediatrix"--how foul!

"How, then, can they listen to and answer thousands upon thousands of petitions made simultaneously in many different lands and in many different languages? Many such petitions are expressed, not orally, but only mentally, silently. How can Mary and the saints, without being like God, be present everywhere and know the secrets of all hearts?" (Roman Catholicism, 142-143

The catholic church actually TEACHES that Mary and the "saints" are omniscent LIKE GOD.

Any Christian can tell you that this was the FIRST LIE satan used to tempt mankind--Eve was told she would be LIKE GOD. Are they really this blind? Sadly, yes.

God WARNS that we must not try to "contact" the dead.

For more information on the scriptures about this go here:
http://www.bible-knowledge.com/Praying-to-Dead-Saints.html

or here:
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/Catholicism/isitcult.htm

or here:
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Roman%20Catholicism/catholic_religion_exposed.htm

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Roman%20Catholicism/rcc2-pray.htm

Your wife is deceived. She has been taught and absorbed a false belief system. It is NOT christian. It is ANTI-biblical.

Share this with your wife and ask her why she thinks she's a christian if she isn't following and believing the Bible--GOD'S WORD instead of her religion?
http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0082/0082_01.asp

I suggest you read this book:
http://www.chick.com/catalog/books/0187.asp?wpc=0187.asp&wpp=b

It is so interesting that you call the Bible--"for all the Catholic trash comments I'm not looking for that.. "
Does quoting the BIBLE scare you that your wife is involved in the LARGEST WORLD WIDE CULT?

You ought to educate yourself about the truth. You are accountable to God whether you believe or not you'll have to stand before God on judgement day now that you know what the Bible says and you haven't told all those catholics you know. Do you really hate the truth that much?

Would you rather a doctor tell you your wife has cancer or that she's just fine?

She has a spiritual cancer. You are willfully choosing against God and His Word.

Jesus is the great physician.

Get real.

WHY DID JESUS SAY THIS?
Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

Answer 10

Catholics pray to saints and God. Praying to people is sin however.