"As Jerome says (Cont. Vigilant. 6), the error of
Vigilantius consisted in saying that 'while we live, we can pray one for another; but that
after we are dead, none of our prayers for others can be heard, seeing that not even the
martyrs' prayers are granted when they pray for their blood to be avenged.' But this is
absolutely false, because, since prayers offered for others proceed from charity, the
greater the charity of the saints in heaven, the more they pray for wayfarers, since the
latter can be helped by prayers: and the more closely they are united to God, the more are
their prayers efficacious: for the Divine order is such that lower beings receive an
overflow of the excellence of the higher, even as the air receives the brightness of the
sun. Wherefore it is said of Christ (Heb. 7:25): 'Going to God by His own power . .
. to make intercession for us' ['He is able to save for ever them that come to God by Him,
always living to make intercession for us.']. Hence Jerome says (Cont. Vigilant. 6):
'If the apostles and martyrs while yet in the body and having to be solicitous for
themselves, can pray for others, how much more now that they have the crown of victory and
triumph.'" - St. Thomas Aquinas ("Summa Theologica" 13th century A.D.)
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of
the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of]
God." - Romans 8:26-27
"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and]
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials
full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." - Revelations 5:8
"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto
you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their]
conversation." - Hebrews 13:7
"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
[this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith
with power...." - 2 Thessalonians 1:11
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free]
course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you...." - 2 Thessalonians 3:1
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you,
brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them
to you." - 1 Corinthians 11:1-2
What the Catechism of the Catholic Church says on
the "Saints:"
956. "The intercession of the saints. 'Being
more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly
in holiness.... They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the
merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ
Jesus.... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped.' [LG 49; cf. 1 Tim
2:5 .]
"Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to
you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life."
[St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers.]
"I want to spend my heaven in doing good on
earth." [St. Therese of Lisieux, The Final Conversations, tr. John Clarke
(Washington: ICS, 1977), 102.]"
2683. "The witnesses who have preceded us into
the kingdom, [Cf. Heb 12:1 .] especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share
in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their
writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for
those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they
were 'put in charge of many things.' [Cf. Mt 25:21.] Their intercession is their most
exalted service to God's plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the
whole world."
COMMENTS
People ask people to "pray for me" all the time. Why not ask the Virgin Mary
or any other saint to "pray for you?" Just because they are no longer "of
this world" does not mean they don't "talk" to God. The saints in heaven
are not "separated" by death from the community of the Church (Romans 8:38-39)
as we are all one Body in Christ (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12) and
Christ "abolished death" (2 Timothy 1:10 ). Therefore,
the saints in Heaven can pray for us just as anyone here on Earth can. In fact, better,
as they are presently in His Presence. The Virgin Mary asking God to help
you should "carry more weight" so to speak than having your best friend on this earth
praying for you. In fact, Christ's first public miracle was performed upon the
"intercession" of His own mother (John 2:2-11).
In regards to the use of the relics of the saints, this is deeply rooted in Scripture (Acts 19:11-12).
Below is a prayer to St. Joseph that dates back to 50
A.D. - long before the last Apostle had died and less than 20 years after the
death of Christ. If the early Christians asked the "dead" foster father of
Christ to intercede for them and it was "wrong," why is there no "documentation"
from the Twelve Apostles "reprimanding" them for this? Surely, the Apostles would have corrected the early Church had It
been in err?
---
Chris
PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH (50 A.D.)
O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt
before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.
O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and
obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord;
so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and
Homage to the most Loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in
your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and
kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.
The Saints
