Prayers of the Saints
One of the largest hurdles for me
to overcome has been the concept of unrefomred Churches venerating/honoring the
saints and Mary and asking them to pray for us. This was done for the first 1500 years of the Church until the Protestant Reformation. I knew Catholics and Orthodox Christians didn't worship Mary and the saints, but how was I going
to justify the fact that worshipping them is not what they do, nor is this
something that the Catholic or Orthodox Churches teach.
The Catholic Church teaches that members can ask for the saints to pray
for us as we would ask our own family to pray for us, that this is no
different. The Catholic and the Orthodox Churches also teaches
that the saints are alive in Heaven with Christ, so therefore, asking them to
pray for us is not praying to the dead; this is asking those alive in Heaven closest to our Lord to pray for us.
Here are two videos from Catholic Answers about intercession of the Saints
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Let's see what the Early
Church Fathers said and then compare the Scripture below that.
Hermas Shepherd of Hermas book 3 similitude 5.4 (60-120 ad)
[The Shepherd said:] "But those who are
weak and slothful in prayer hesitate to ask anything from the Lord, but the
Lord is full of compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask him. 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?" Hyppolytus Against Plato, On the Cause of the Universe par
3 (170-236 ad)
No sleep will give them rest; no night will soothe them; no death will deliver them from punishment; no voice of interceding friends will profit them. For neither are the righteous seen by them any longer, nor are they worthy of remembrance.
Clement of Alexandria Stromata book 7 ch 12 (150-215
ad)
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].
Origen on Prayer ch 20 (185-254 ad)
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.
Rylands Papyrus P470 Egypt (250 ad)
Under thy compassion we take refuge, O
Mother of God (Theotokos). Do not despise our petitions in the time of trouble,
but from dangers ransom us, singularly holy, singularly blessed.
Methodius of Olympus Oration on Simeon and Anna 14 (305
ad)
Hail to you for ever, Virgin Mother of God, our
unceasing joy, for to you do I turn again. You are the beginning of our feast;
you are its middle and end; the pearl of great price that belongs to the
kingdom; the fat of every victim, the living altar of the bread of life
[Jesus]. Hail, you treasure of the love of God. Hail, you fount of the Son’s
love for man. . . . You gleamed,
sweet gift-bestowing Mother, with the light of the sun; you gleamed with the
insupportable fires of a most fervent charity, bringing forth in the end that
which was conceived of you . . . making manifest the mystery hidden and
unspeakable, the invisible Son of the Father—the Prince of Peace, who in a
marvelous manner showed himself as less than all littleness
Therefore, we pray [ask] you, the most excellent among women, who glories in
the confidence of your maternal honors, that you would unceasingly keep us in
remembrance. O holy Mother of God, remember us, I say, who make our boast in
you, and who in august hymns celebrate the memory, which will ever live, and
never fade away .
And you also, O honored and venerable Simeon, you earliest host of our holy
religion, and teacher of the resurrection of the faithful, do be our patron and
advocate with that Savior God, whom you were deemed worthy to receive into your
arms. We, together with you, sing our praises to Christ, who has the power of
life and death, saying, "You are the true Light, proceeding from the true
light; the true God, begotten of the true God" (ibid.).
Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lecture 23 par 9 (315-386
ad)
Then we commemorate also those who have fallen
asleep before us, first Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, that at their
prayers and intercessions God would receive our petition. Then on behalf also of the Holy Fathers and Bishops who
have fallen asleep before us, and in a word of all who in past years have
fallen asleep among us, believing that it will be a very great benefit to the
souls, for whom the supplication is put up, while that holy and most awful
sacrifice is set forth.
Gregory Nazianzen Oration 18.4 (325- 389 ad)
Aye, I am well assured that his intercession is of more avail now than was his instruction in former days, since he is closer to God, now that he has shaken off his bodily fetters
Basil Letter 360 (329-379 ad)
I acknowledge also the holy apostles, prophets,
and martyrs; and I invoke them to supplication to God, that through them, that
is, through their mediation, the merciful God may be propitious to me, and that
a ransom may be made and given me for my sins. Wherefore also I honour and kiss the features of their images,
inasmuch as they have been handed down from the holy apostles, and are not
forbidden, but are in all our churches.
Ambrose of Milan Concerning Widows par 55 (340-397 ad)
So Peter and Andrew
prayed for the widow. Would that there were some one who could so quickly pray
for us, or better still, they who prayed for the mother-in-law, Peter and
Andrew his brother. Then they could pray for one related to them, now they are
able to pray for us and for all.
Ambrose of Milan Concerning Widows par 54 (340-397 ad)
"She was
taken," it is said, "with a great fever, and they besought him for
her." You too have those near you to entreat for you. You have the
Apostles near, you have the Martyrs near; if associated with the Martyrs in
devotion, you draw near them also by works of mercy. Do you show mercy and you
will be close to Peter. It is not relationship by blood but affinity of virtue
which makes near, for we walk not in the flesh but in the Spirit. Cherish,
then, the nearness of Peter and the affinity of Andrew, that they may pray for
you and your lusts give way.
John Chrysostom Homily 26 on Second Corinthians (347-407
ad)
He who wears the purple [i.e., a royal man] . .
. stands begging of the saints to be his patrons with God, and he that wears a diadem begs the tentmaker [Paul] and the
fisherman [Peter] as patrons, even though they be dead.
John Chrysostom Homily 3 on
Second Timothy (347-407 ad)
And what wonder, if he who communicates to
the living is thought worthy of the same rewards with those who contend, since
it is possible to communicate after death even with the departed, with those
who are asleep, who are already crowned, who want for nothing. For hear
Paul saying, "Partaking in the memories of the Saints." And how may
this be done? When thou admirest a man, when thou doest any of those acts for
which he was crowned, thou art evidently a sharer in his labors, and in his
crowns.
Jerome against the Vigilantius par 6 (347-420 ad)
If Apostles and
martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, when they ought still to
be anxious for themselves, how much more must they do so when once they have
won their crowns, overcome, and triumphed?
Augustine Reply to Faustus the Manichean Book 20 par 21
(354-430 ad)
It is true that
Christians pay religious honor to the memory of the martyrs, both to excite us
to imitate them and to obtain a share in their merits, and the assistance of
their prayers.
Pray for All People
2 First of all,
then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be
made for all people, 2 for kings and
all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life,
godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good,
and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who
desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
the truth.
Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be
strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
schemes of the devil. 12 For we do
not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take
up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand
therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on
the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as
shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all
circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish
all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God, 18 praying at
all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that
end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all
the saints, 19 and also
for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to
proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which
I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I
ought to speak.
Revelation 5:7-11 (ESV)
7 And he went and
took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had
taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four
elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp,
and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the
saints. 9 And they
sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
Mark 9:1-10 (ESV)
9 And he said to
them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will
not taste death until they see the kingdom of God
The Transfiguration
2 And after six
days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high
mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his
clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[a] on
earth could bleach them. 4 And there
appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said
to Jesus, “Rabbi,[b] it
is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for
Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he
did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a
cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is
my beloved Son;[c] listen
to him.”8 And suddenly, looking around, they no
longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
Here,
Jesus is speaking with Moses and Elijah who died in bodily form centuries prior
to the time Jesus spoke with them.
Hebrews 12:1-5
Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith
12 Therefore,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to
Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was
set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated
at the right hand of the throne of God.
--The
Great Cloud of Witnesses are souls in Heaven
Revelation 20:3-6
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the
authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and
those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received
its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life
and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Joshua 5:13-15 (ESV)
The Commander of the Lord's Army
13 When Joshua
was by Jericho
--Joshua
was honoring a commander of the Lord's army by falling on his face.
Hebrews 13:5-8 (ESV)
5 Keep your
life free from
love of money,
and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never
leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can
confidently say.
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
7 Remember your
leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their
way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday and today and forever.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p5.htm
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