English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. So why not just pray directly to him? Are they placing a mediator between them and Jesus?

"Because it is Biblical to ask the living to pray for you", you may say? Well that does not answer the question. Again: why not just pray directly to Jesus?
Oh, that's okay. Actually, it IS Biblical. And that's what Catholics do when we pray to the saints: We ask THEM to pray for us. And PLEASE do not say they are "dead". Anyone in heaven is ALIVE - more alive than you or I, I might add.

I invite people who REALLY want to get to the bottom of this to read these tracts:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Praying_to_the_Saints.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/Intercession_of_the_Saints.asp

Does anybody understand what I'm saying? Comments?
God bless everyone. ; )

2007-10-15 04:57:32 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Oooh, CJ, you're a little more hateful than usual today. Are you feeling okay?

2007-10-15 05:08:22 · update #1

13 answers

Because humans are social creatures... trained to disbelieve in individual power when compared to the ability of the united group.
And since christianity depends primarily on indoctrination, assimilation and suchlike grouping, is it really surprising that some will call on the aid of others for even such a supposedly personal thing as prayer?


Not only that... but when they have been taught that they are supposed to do things for others and not for themselves.... that can be easily twisted to believe that if one cannot do something for one's self, that one should try and coerce others into doing it instead.... making it a "selfless" act for the others and thus more likely to be heard.

2007-10-15 05:02:20 · answer #1 · answered by Lucid Interrogator 5 · 1 5

I'd say Christans ask to their friends to pray for them or anyone cause many voice move their faith and I assume it makes things happen. If you do some research pagans also do this. But and for the comment that says catholics are not Christians or some crap. lets see catholics came before Christians, and before the catholics were the Jewish people. So yes christains are last in this line of faith. Sad but true, and I suppose you can pray straight to Jesus because you should. But as I said earlier I suppose it moves the faith more if you have more people praying for the same thing. Look at all the revival's and such.

2007-10-15 12:07:43 · answer #2 · answered by crapp420 2 · 2 0

I'm slightly confused by your question I will however try to answer, but first I must say you are going against your answer by saying you pray to saints but turning around and saying (your words) "So why not just pray directly to him?" Then you stated that it is biblical I think your just confusing people so I'm just gonna say what I know: no one goes to the father except through Jesus (b/c He and only He died for our sins) and this to me is obvious ( i will use a story to make my point) If one person is knocking on your door you could easily ignore it and go about your buisness but if you have a bunch of people beating on your door you will eventually open it to see what they want won't you? It also states in the bible that when people come together in prayer for something it is bound in heaven. I hope this answered your question

2007-10-15 12:50:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

CJ says, "Of course, our friends can actually hear us. Mary can't hear you "praying" to her, you idolater. Necromancy is a sin."

Our friends hear us as well, as the Bible teaches, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. It also states that the saints present our prayers before the altar of God. For them to be able to do this they must be able to hear us and why do they surround us if they are unaware of what we do and our prayers? St. Mary is a saint and she hears our prayers. Catholics worship no idols, only God.

Please learn what necromancy is before accusing others of this practice. Even if the saints were not alive, asking them to pray for us would not be necromancy. However, the Bible teaches that they are very much alive.

Just to help, what one says is more believable if one knows what they are talking about instead of just spreading lies and half truths.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

2007-10-15 12:30:14 · answer #4 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 3 0

We pray for one another and for ourselves because it was commanded. Don't mix up the terms praying For and praying To. Is there an example of praying to the dead? I hope there is more than one example if there is. Now how many times in scripture do you see a person pray to God for another person? Who is our Mediator? Do you think praying to these saints is putting them on the same level as Christ? It seems that way to me. There are many examples of praying for others...living others.

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

2007-10-15 12:32:08 · answer #5 · answered by JohnFromNC 7 · 0 2

I understand what you are saying...I just don't happen to agree with you.
When I ask friends to pray with me, it is not the same as asking old dead people. God says that "as for the dead, they know nothing"...and if you were to read the bios of some of your "saints" you would find that some of them are not all that "saintly". Some of them were instrumental in devising the tortures of the Inquisition. These guys might be your friends, but they are certainly not mine. Nor do I imagine that they might have some special "in" with God that my living.friend does not have.
When we pray together, we are keeping in mind Christ's instructions that "where three or more are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them." There is certainly nothing wrong with living friends praying with one another, I hope?
Please note...when we ask our friends to pray with us, or for us, that certainly does not preclude our praying to Jesus our own selves...does praying to a saint take the place of praying to Jesus, Himself, do you think? There is a HUGE difference, here.
You will not put me on the rack, or burn out my eyes for disagreeing with you, surely??
When you can admit that the RCC is responsible for some of the most horrendous crimes against Christianity in history, including the hideous deaths of many of God's Own Saints, then we will have something to talk about.

2007-10-15 12:53:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 3

FWIW we Eastern Orthodox also ask the prayers of the "great cloud of witnesses", the communion of saints. It's also related to icons. Blessings upon all!

2007-10-15 12:07:35 · answer #7 · answered by wilsonch0 3 · 4 0

You can ask yourself why people say they're going to keep someone in their prayers during times of trouble.

I think people do what makes them feel better.....and it's that what's really important.

2007-10-15 12:04:35 · answer #8 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 0 0

Because it's like asking for some mental encouragement.

2007-10-15 12:04:03 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0 5

In my mind, praying is just a way of meditating. IT is sad that some think it works.

2007-10-15 12:02:04 · answer #10 · answered by Bgirl9488 3 · 0 8

fedest.com, questions and answers