Praying to Saints and Angels
Teaching of the Bible
Objection made to praying to saints is that this is a form of idolatry. Prayer is defined as talking to God. So if we Catholics are praying to saints and angels, then this must mean that we place saints and angels on the same level as God.
But this is defines the terms and then based on the assumption that his definition is correct, we are accused of the worst possible sin. But as I mentioned before, nowhere in the Bible is there an inspired glossary of Bible terms. So nowhere in the Bible does it define what prayer actually is. The Bible tells us that we should pray. The Lord even tells us how we should pray. But nowhere does the Bible define prayer.
The
word in Greek merely means “to ask”. There is nothing in the word that
limits this to God. In fact, there are times that this word is used to
someone other than God.
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee
Genesis 12:13
How can this be? Abraham prayed to his wife? This not hard to understand, once we realize that to pray means here merely that Abraham asked his wife for a favor.
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we are brethren
Genesis 13:8
Again, Abraham pray (asks) Lot that there be no strife.
We also have Sarai praying to Abraham (Gen 16:2), Lot praying to the people in his village (Gen 19: 8 – 10), Abraham prayed to his servant (Gen 24:2), Essau prayed to Jacob (Gen 25:30), and Gideon prayed to the men of Succoth (Judges 8:4, 5).
Do
not misunderstand me here. I am not saying that all these people were
treated as God. I am saying that to pray simply means "to ask". When we
say we pray to saints and angels in heaven, we are not saying we are
treating them like God. We are simply asking them for something - to
pray to God for us.
Another
objection made is that there is only one mediator between God and man,
and is the man Christ Jesus, so we should only ask Christ to pray for
us. The Catholic whole-heartedy agrees that Christ is the only mediator
between God and man, but this does not mean that we are not to pray for
each other (see Eph 6:18,
It is also argued that we can pray but the dead cannot pray. Dead people cannot hear us, so how can we ask them to pray for us? But the Catholic does not see he who dies in the grace of God as being dead as the world sees him. In fact, those who die in Christ are more alive than those who are living now on earth.
It is the argued that a Christian in heaven could not possibly hear all those prayers directed to him. Only an infinite being can hear all prayers at one time. Take, for example, Mary. How is it possible that Mary could hear all the prayers addressed to her at the same time? Only God could do that, so they argue.
But this seems to me to sell God short. With God, all things are possible! If God chooses to give the saints all knowledge of the universe, what is there to stop him? True, only God has infinite knowledge. But universe is not infinite. It is very huge, but it does not take only an infinite being to have complete knowledge of it. The only thing that is infinite is God Himself. And since only He is infinite, we will never know Him fully as He know Himself. But any other knowledge is logically possible. So it is logically possible for Mary to hear thousands of prayers given to her one time throughout our planet. This may boggle the mind, but she could only do this by the power of God, and this is not even a mere fraction of what God knows.
And not only that, but scripture seem to say that we can have communion with the angels and saints in heaven.
Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will
Psalm 103:20, 21
David
is actually talking to the angels! He is asking the angels to join with
him in praising God. How can then it be a form of idolatry to talk to
angels?
Praise
the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host! Psalm 148:1
Again, David is calling on the angels in heaven to praise God.
Hebrews 12:1
The saints are looking down on us from heaven. They are completely aware of what is happening to each one of us. The previous chapter in Hebrews was about all the Old Testamant saints who died and have gone to heaven. This verse says that these saints are in heaven witnessing what is happening to us on earth. The imagery is the coliseum, where the spectators in the stands are witnessing a race. In the same way, we are surrounded by heavenly spectators who are cheering us on to persevere in the race.
I
say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who
need no repentance
Luke 15:7
Jesus says that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. Now, since those saints who die in Christ are in heaven, does that not mean that the saints will be aware of one sinner repenting? So if the saints in heaven rejoice over the repentance of one sinner, no matter where in the world that sinner resides, would not these saints be able to hear the prayers of anyone throughout the world?
For
now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I
know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully
known.
1 Cor 13:12
This
is only a hint of what I am talking about. Paul is saying that in the
hereafter, when he sees Christ, he will know fully. If Paul will have
full knowledge in heaven, would he be not aware of what is happening to
those still on earth?
And
when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and
golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints
Revelation 5:8
John
had a vision of the heavenly inhabitants of heaven offering up to God
the prayers of the saints. As a Protestant, I could never understands
this. But as a Catholic, I do. The prayers of the saints are the
prayers given from saints who are still on earth. These prayers are
directed to the heavenly citizens, who in turn pass them on to God.
Revelation 8:4
This is similar to the previous verse. Only in this verse, the saints prayed to the angels, and they offer those prayers to God.
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 12:22 - 24
This
to me is the strongest verse that shows that we can have a relationship
with not only with God, but the angels and saints who are now in
heaven. First, that it says “you have come” not “you will come”. This
is an experience we can have NOW, not in the future when we die and or
when Christ returns.
And is what we have now come to:
- to innumerable angels in festal gathering
- to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven
- to God the judge of all
- to the spirits of the righteous made perfect
- to Jesus
As
a Protestant, I would say Amen! To #3 and #4. But we also approach the angels, the firstborn enrolled in heaven (the Old
Testament believers), and the spirits of the righteous made perfect
(saints in heaven). It is not just Jesus and me. God has called me
not just to have a relationship with Him, but a relationship with my
brother and sister in Christ. And not even death shall separate us from
the love of God we have in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:39).
The Teaching of the Early Church Fathers
Hermas
"But you, [Hermas,] having been strengthened by the holy angel [you saw], and having obtained from him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from him?’" (The Shepherd 3:5:4 [A.D. 80]).
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]).
Cyril of Jerusalem
"Then
[during the Eucharistic prayer] we make mention also of those who have
already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and
martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition . . . " (Catechetical Lectures 23:9 [A.D. 350]).
John Chrysostom
"When you perceive that God is chastening you, fly not to his enemies . . . but to his friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to him, and who have great power [in God]" (Orations 8:6 [A.D. 396]).
Ambrose of Milan
"May Peter, who wept so efficaciously for himself, weep for us and turn towards us Christ’s benign countenance" (The Six Days Work 5:25:90 [A.D. 393]).
Jerome
"You
say in your book that while we live we are able to pray for each other,
but afterwards when we have died, the prayer of no person for another
can be heard. . . . But if the apostles and martyrs while
still in the body can pray for others, at a time when they ought still
be solicitous about themselves, how much more will they do so after
their crowns, victories, and triumphs?" (Against Vigilantius 6 [A.D. 406]).
Augustine
"At
the Lord’s table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we
do others who rest in peace so as to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us that we may follow in their footsteps" (Homilies on John 84 [A.D. 416]).
See http://www.catholic.com/library/Intercession_of_the_Saints.asp
When I started to ask my friends in heaven to pray for me to God, I realized that my fear of death started to decrease. I realized that those in heaven are actually more alive than I am. They can even hear my thoughts when I silently pray to them. This does not diminish God's glory, but enhances. If mere creatures can hear my prayers then how much more can the infinite God hear me. It also keeps me humble. I am not strong enough to live the Christian life on my life. It cannot be just Jesus and me. I need the help of other Christians. I need their fellowship and their prayers - not only those who are still alive but those who are made perfect in heaven. This does not decrease my relationship with God, but enhances it. We are one, big, happy family. Our Father is pleased when we have a loving relation with each other, that spans even the barrier of death. We are having a great time of fellowship. I hope you can join us.
