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Saints 911: How to Ask a Saint for Help and Protection
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Customs to Invoke the Help and Protection of the Saints
The patron saint of my Hispanic culture, St. Anthony of Padua (San Antonio), is a well-known figure. He is the patron saint of a variety of causes, but he is most renowned for his work in locating misplaced objects and spouses. People phone his name practically every day to ask for assistance in locating misplaced goods (including vehicle keys) and assisting them in escaping from the bachelors and bachelorettes club, respectively. On the feast of St. Anthony, several churches in Latin America and Spain have adopted the tradition of blessing tiny loaves of bread, which was inspired by accounts of individuals who generously contributed grain and bread to the needy in thankfulness for blessings obtained through his intercession.
Anthony upside down and with bread, as part of the celebration.
- Anthony since there is a popular song in Spanish that basically says, “I have St.
- Anthony would be pleased with it.
- I could give you a slew of anecdotes regarding people’s misperception about religious figures.
- Simon rather than to St.
- His name means “false saint” in Spanish, and he is a Maya shaman who is not recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church; in other words, San Simon is not a real saint.
- As a result, we must be vigilant and constant in our practices, adhering to just those practices that are explicitly taught or approved by the Church.
Desperate Causes for Desperate People
St. Jude is a well-known example of a “genuine saint” (San Judas). I’ve even seen his name referenced in Spanish soap operas—not that I watch any of them—but I’ve heard of him (okay. maybe a few in the past). While experiencing anxiety, individuals want hope and belief in anything that will help them regain their faith and preserve a sense of calm in their life. However, a lack of understanding can occasionally lead some people to believe in superstitions. For example, I’ve seen incorrect ways to pray to a saint, for example, through St.
That is one of the reasons why I used to dislike the devotion to St. Jude, because it didn’t seem quite right to me at the time. Before I discovered that this type of superstition is incompatible with the Catholic religion, I believed it.
Saints to the Rescue
Although the saints were magnificent individuals with outstanding spirits, their lives were not always beautiful and easy, as I learned from reading about their lives in the Bible. If you see films based on their personal tales, you may find yourself crying as a result. Saints endured a great deal of hardship. In the case of St. Jude, he was clubbed to death and then his skull was crushed with an axe, making him a martyr in the traditional sense. St. Cecilia was decapitated after being choked.
Bartholomew’s martyrdom is one of the stories that has the most appeal to me because of his deep belief in Christ and the horrible manner in which he was killed, by being flayed alive and impaled on the cross.
This is incredibly harsh and unjust, yet it is no surprise that they are revered as saints.
Photograph of St.
The Right Way to Call on a Saint
Although the saints were magnificent individuals with remarkable souls, their lives were not always beautiful and easy, as I learned through reading about their lives in the New Testament and other Christian literature. They may make you weep if you see movies based on their real life tales. It was a terrible time for the Saints! As in the instance of St. Jude, he was clubbed to death and then his head was crushed with an axe, resulting in his martyrdom. Suffocated and then beheaded, St. Cecilia was a martyr.
- Bartholomew’s martyrdom is one of the stories that I find most compelling.
- What a waste of time!
- The saints, on the other hand, are the ones who can relate to our hardships and sorrows the most since they previously had bodies and lives that were similar to our own.
- Bartholomew at the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome courtesy of flickr.com
How to Call on a Saint
When it comes to praying to a saint, if you are like me and don’t know how, this strategy has enabled me to become more effective in my prayers. But first and foremost, you must be aware of the grounds for veneration of the saints and become acquainted with them. This contributes to the development of the spiritual relationship. Novenas are a method of praying to a Saint. It is advised that you pray a novena. It can serve as a template; study it before creating your petition. Create a prayer of your own.
- When it comes to praying to a saint, if you are like me and don’t know how, this strategy has enabled me to become more effective. But, first and foremost, you must be aware of the grounds for veneration of the saints and become acquainted with them, which takes time and consideration. Thus, the spiritual link might be strengthened. Novenas are prayers offered to a Saint. It is suggested to pray a novena. Apply the template to your petition and follow the instructions. Create a prayer that is uniquely yours. While performing the fundamentals, you may also say what I term a “casual prayer” by saying:
Be deserving. You must make a proper confession before making your request and take Holy Communion if you want to be more holy and deserving of getting what you ask for. Of course, your priest is the most qualified person to provide you with advice on this area; I am simply giving my own personal experience, which may have shortcomings, but the positive aspect is that I am learning as I go. Not only has it been eye-opening for me to discover more about the saints, but also to come to know them better via reading about their lives and even through venerating their relics, it has been a rewarding experience.
Consequently, reading about the lives of the saints is a positive thing: it is motivating, it offers us hope, and it is beneficial to our spiritual well-being.
It has aided me on my spiritual journey, and it can aid anyone else who is seeking the same thing. If you have a special devotion to a certain saint, please share with us below what traditions you include into your worship of that particular saint.
Praying to the Saints
Because they have a specific ‘boldness’ (parresia) in God’s presence, we should seek the intercessions and ardent prayers of the saints. Saint John Chrysostom (Saint John Chrysostom) THEY DO THIS THROUGH INTERCESSIONS. This community of loyal Christians is made up of members of the Church militant and the church triumphant, and it is a dynamic and active community of faithful Christians. All of us who are still a part of this world, actively attempting to conduct our lives in accordance with God’s teachings and commands are considered to be members of the Church Militant.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God has bestowed the gift of holiness or sainthood on people.
A well-known Orthodox theologian and bishop, Bishop Kallistos Ware, has declared that “In private, an Orthodox Christian has the right to call for the prayers of any member of the Church, whether or not that member has been canonized by the Church.
In its public liturgy, the church, on the other hand, normally exclusively prays to individuals who have been formally declared saints by the church.” In the Orthodox Church, there are six categories of Saints to be considered:
- A group of men known as apostles, who were responsible for bringing the news of God’s Incarnation as well as about redemption via Christ to the world. Because they foretold and prophesied the arrival of the Messiah, the Prophets are referred to as Those who have given their lives for the sake of proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the world
- The Fathers and Hierarchs of the Church, who were outstanding in their explanation and defense of the Christian Faith, both in speech and deed
- The Monastics, who lived in the desert and committed their lives to spiritual exercise (askesis), striving to achieve perfection in Christ to the greatest extent possible
- In the world, the Just were individuals who lived in the world, leadingexemplary lives as clergy or laity with their families, and therefore became models for others to follow in society.
Each and every one of these saints has a unique calling and set of traits; yet, they all have one thing in common: they all fought the “good battle of faith” (I Tim. 6.12 and II Tim. 4.7). Justice, piety, faithfulness, love, fortitude, and tenderness are among the biblical values that all of them practiced in their daily lives (I Tim. 6.11). Ultimately, humankind’s ultimate objective is to mimic God and live out the life of deification (theosis). Sanctified people, according to Saint Maximos the Confessor, are men and women who have avoided unnatural growth of the soul (sin), and have attempted to pursue a natural way of life, turning and gazing continually towards God, therefore attaining ultimate oneness with God by the Holy Spirit.
- The following is a list of Saints who have been invoked for certain purposes: * To become a parent St.
- St.
- St.
- Sabbas the Sanctified of Palestine) St.
- St.
- In order to provide care and protection for infants St.
- Stylianos the Great) For Children and Adolescents Demetrios the Wonderworker, the Great Martyr, is a saint and a wonderworker.
Barbara the Great Martyr Against Drinking, who died unexpectedly Boniface the Sacred Martyr For Travelers, There Is a Righteous Aglais The patron saint of sailors, in general, and specifically for maritime navigation St.
Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople, is invoked for maritime safety.
Eustathius the Cobbler of Georgia is a saint who lived in Georgia.
Panteleimon is a saint who is venerated in Greece.
Euphrosynos of Radonezh St.
Spyridon and Damian Nikodim of Kievo-Pechersk: Production of Prosphora for the Trading Industry Headaches can be relieved by praying to St.
Holy New Martyr, please pray for us.
Paraskeva’s eyes are in the hands of Demas of Smyrna.
Spyridon the Wonderworker for Ears St.
Antipas of Pergamum for Hernias Disorders of the Small Intestine Artemius the Great is a saint and a great martyr.
Artemius of Verkola is a saint who lived in the fourth century.
Blaise of Sebastia for Throat St.
Xenia of St.
Basil the Great, St.
Gregory the Theologian.
Sergius of Radonezh is a Russian saint.
John of Kronstadt is a saint from the city of Kronstadt in Germany.
Justin the Philosopher is a good choice.
Romanos the Melodist is a patron saint of iconographers.
Luke the Apostle and Evangelist is a saint who lived in the first century AD.
John of Damascus is a saint who lived in Syria.
St.
St.
The Martyrs of Amorion (Holy Forty-two Martyrs of Amorion) For the purpose of thievery prevention.
Gregory the Wonderworker of Kievo-Pechersk is a patron saint of stonemasons.
Archangel Michael the Archangel St.
George the Great) St.
Barbara the Great Martyr) For Spiritual Assistance and Consolation Compunction St.
St.
Alexis the Great) is a saint who lived in the fourth century.
Seraphim of Sarov (St.
St.
St.
Onouphrios the Great) St.
Peter of Athos) St.
Nicholas the Wonderworker is a saint who is known for his miracle-working abilities.
John the Almsgiver of Alexandria (also known as St.
St.
St.
Phanourios the Great Martyr) To invoke the intercession of St.
St.
Cosmas and Damian of Rome SS.
Julian the Martyr St.
Julian the Martyr St.
Nectarios of Aegina is a saint from the Greek island of Aegina.
Livestock Cattleherds are the patron saint of cattleherds.
Parthenius of Radovysdius Spevsippus and Elesippus are the names of two ancient Greek gods.
Geese are associated with St.
For the prevention of pest infestations on crops St.
For the prevention of pest infestations in gardens Saint George the Great Martyr Tryphon is also a patron of hunters and the Moscow Against Demons organization.
Cyprian and Methodius Justina St.
Mitrophan of Voronezh, St.
John the Forerunner (also known as St.
Demetrios the Great Martyr (St.
John the Much-Suffering Holy Martyr Theodore the Byzantine Holy Martyr Ignatios of Athos, we have created a page on our website.
Mary of Egypt is a saint who was born in Egypt.
Joseph the All-Coming (also known as St.
St.
St.
Naum of Ochrid) St.
Gerasimos of Cephalonia: Patron Saints of the afflicted and the afflicted.
Haralambos and St.
In order to combat short-temperedness, read on.
Tikhon of Zadonsk is a patron saint of hospital workers.
Cosmas and Damian St. Dositheus, a disciple of Abba Dorotheus, is venerated as a saint for his guilelessness. Simplicity Nathaniel, the Holy Apostle St. Paul the Simple* is a saint who is known for his simplicity. Originally published in Orthodox Family Life, Volume 3, Number 3, Spring 1998.
How to Defend the Intercession of the Saints
The intercession of the saints, in my opinion, appears to be blasphemous, given that the Bible states that contacting the dead is an abhorrent sin (Deut. 18:10–12). This argument against the intercession of saints is a legitimate and heartfelt one on the part of the speaker. It indicates a mindset that all Christians must possess: a refusal to engage in any activity that detracts from the devotion that is only due to the Almighty. When this argument is expressed, you should respond by asserting that if prayer to saints takes away from one’s love to God, then it is a practice that should be discontinued immediately.
- When the Bible speaks of necromancy, it is referring to the practice of conjuring up the dead, as Saul did through the witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28.
- When Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration, he was not attempting to perform a miracle.
- Similar to this, when a Catholic asks St.
- After all, those in heaven are “like the angels,” and they are more alive than we are, since the Lord is “not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Luke 20:36–38), but we are “the God of the dead, but of the living.” In other words, if it does not offend God when a Catholic says “St.
- 2.
- Whenever you are discussing a doctrine, it is usually beneficial to define the words first.
- When a Catholic addresses a petition to a saint, it is assumed that the petition is a plea for the saint to intercede on their behalf with the Almighty.
If you ask someone to pray for you, it demonstrates that you do not believe that person to be God.
When faced with a difficulty at work, why would I turn to the volunteers in the mailroom if I was acquainted with the CEO himself?
This objection has a fault in that it demonstrates much too much in the process.
One believer asking another for his prayers does not mean that God is too far away or uninterested in what he has to say.
“The prayer of a virtuous man has tremendous power in its results,” says James 5:16, and the angels and saints in heaven are unquestionably righteous, making this a wonderful gift.
After all, salvation is a family affair, as the saying goes.
In 1 Timothy 2:1–4, Paul asserts that Christ is the only Mediator, immediately after demanding that we pray for one another in 1 Timothy 2:1–4.
A mediator is a third party who is brought in between two parties with the goal of bringing them together.
This in no way diminishes the significance of Christ’s unique work.
While Christ is our sole high priest, all of us are invited to serve as priests in the service of the people (1 Pet.
Despite the fact that Christ is the only Son of God, we are all adopted as sons of God (Gal.
The Christian life consists in being conformed to Christ and, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:9, in participating in God’s purpose of redemption as “God’s fellow-workers.” 4.
When debating theories, it might be beneficial to take a step back and consider the problem from a fresh perspective every now and again.
In the moments following his death, he was seen walking through the clouds to the Pearly Gates.
Peter saw that his name was there and that he was ready to enter.
In the body of Christ, it is not an isolated entity without regard for the other members who are still striving to achieve salvation with dread and trepidation, as some would have you believe (Phil.
“A huge cloud of witnesses” (Heb.
These are some of the words used by John to depict the heavenly worship: “The twenty-four elders knelt down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and with golden bowls of incense, which were filled with the prayers of the saints” (Rev.
As well as carrying our petitions to God, angels also have a role in this process: “The smoke of the incense rose before God, filled with the prayers of the saints, from the hand of the angel” (Rev.
It is difficult to believe that intercession among members of the body of Christ on earth is “good and acceptable in the eyes of God our Savior” (1 Tim.
Throughout the narrative of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31), the wealthy man demonstrates compassion for his family on earth despite the fact that he is in eternal punishment in hell.
5.
As a result of this, the topic of whether or not the saints can hear us when we pray to them is one of the most frequently raised concerns among Protestants.
Because it mentions those in heaven who are aware of what is happening on earth (Rev.
They have this ability as a result of God’s creation, not as a result of their own might.
13:12).
Christ is the vine, and we are the branches that grow from him.
Consequently, the angels and saints stand before the throne of God, offering our petitions to him and encouraging us as we run the course that is set before us.
Assist the person with whom you are conversing in praying about this, asking the Father if this is truly his plan for the body of Christ.
There are one billion Catholics and 300 million Orthodox Christians in the world today.
Consequently, even if she were able to hear the petitions, she would require omniscience in order to grasp them all.
Mary is in heaven, and since she has eternity, it is actually true that she does not have enough time to respond to all of the pleas that come to her.
For example, if the number of requests were unlimited, then an omniscient intellect would be necessary to process them all.
While you’re talking about it, you may mention that 50 individuals in an Internet chat room can connect with one another at the same time from all over the world.
3:20).
Not only will this be beneficial to both of you in the realm of grace, but it will also serve as a reminder to your buddy that the body of Christ is a wonderful gift from God that draws us closer to him.
How to Pray to Saints: Here Are Some Tips
It has been said that “the core of the perfect relationship is that each friend opens himself completely to the other, flings away his inhibitions, and presents himself as he actually is.” The Friendship of Christ, Scepter, page 26 (Robert Benson, The Friendship of Christ, Scepter). The purpose of the Christian life is summed up in these words: to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, the teaching of the Catholic Church on the saints is sometimes misunderstood and viewed as a barrier to a personal relationship with Christ.
It is claimed that the saints act as a sort of buffer between Christ and the believer in some way.
It should be noted that this is an incorrect understanding of the Church’s doctrine on Saints.
In my opinion, it is only those who are doubtful, or at the very least doctrinally vague, about Christ’s absolute deity who can conceive of it even being possible for an intelligent Christian to confound Christ with his mother, or to imagine the creator and the created standing even in the most remotest competition to one another.” The Friendship of Christ, Scepter (Robert Benson, The Friendship of Christ, Scepter page 76).
- The underlying question is whether it is possible to get to a more complete knowledge of Christ through the saints or if it is possible to do so without them.
- But why is this so?
- As she wipes the sweat off Christ’s brow on the walk to Calvary, Veronica demonstrates how to love.
- Even our fundamental understanding of Christ as revealed in the Scriptures comes to us through the inspired writings of His apostles and prophets.
- Throughout history, the saints have served as guideposts pointing us toward Jesus Christ.
Thousands have come to know and love Jesus Christ as a result of his intimacy with his dear friends, their self-sacrifice for his sake, and the manner in which his image has been reproduced in their lives, translated from the terms of his sacred humanity into the terms of their fallen humanity, among other things.
80-81) You may say, “That’s perfectly OK.
So, what is the purpose of Catholics praying to the saints?” When asked this topic, many Catholics react by stating that “Catholics don’t so much pray to the saints as they do beg them to pray for us.” The last lines of the Hail Mary, “.Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death,” illustrate this.
- As well as teaching you how to pray to saints, we’ll cover that topic in this post.
- The definition of pray according to Webster’s dictionary is “to make a request in a modest manner” (Webster’s Online Dictionary, retrieved on October 2, 2015).
- That is the most important thing.
- When it comes down to it, it is a straightforward request that a friend pray for us.
- So, yes, Catholics pray to the saints, but we do not venerate or worship them as we do idols.
- That is the most important thing.
(See Matthew 22:32 for further information.) As a result, those who have gone before us are living members of what the church refers to as the “communion of the saints,” which means “community of the saints.” “As Catholics, we believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all of whom together form one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always available to us in our prayers,” the Church says.
- (CCC 962) (CCC 962) This allows us to pray for the dead just as we pray for one another, but with the awareness that the saints “are in glory, contemplating ‘God himself triune and one, just as he is’,” just as we pray for one another.
- To begin considering a devotion to the saints, it is important to acknowledge that a devotion to the saints, or to any specific saint, is not required in order to achieve salvation.
- I see it as something that may be OK for certain people, but not for me.
- A holy devotion, on the other hand, merely refers to sentiments of intense adoration that we have for a friend in the hereafter.
- 80-81) When it comes to forming a devotion to a saint, there is no right or wrong manner to do it, just as there is no right or wrong saint to pick.
- Perhaps they went through a similar ordeal and came out victorious.
- Then you should look into their lives.
Consider how they might respond to the events that you encounter on a daily basis. Then you may ask them to pray for you whenever you are in need of help. Using these three easy methods, you will be able to set the groundwork for a friendship that will lead you closer to Christ over time.
Do you practice any saintly devotions? What advice do you have to offer? What questions do you have?
For non-Catholic Christians, prayer to the saints is one of the few religious activities that look as bizarre as it does to Catholic Christians. “Shouldn’t we be focusing our prayers only on God?” “Can you imagine what a dead person might possibly achieve for us?” Even though Christians have been praying to the good men and women who have gone before us (i.e., asking them to intercede with God) since the beginning of the Church, it is still vital for us to analyze why this is beneficial and whether or not it is supported by the Bible.
- Let us examine God’s Word to determine whether or not the practice of praying to the saints is sanctioned by the Bible.
- In Christ, you are alive.
- Similarly, St.
- Yes, everyone’s time on this planet must come to an end, but if we die in grace and holiness, we will be reunited with God for eternity in the hereafter.
- Mt 22:32).
- 1 Sam 28:7-20), or Jeremiah appear to the Jews preparing for battle (cf.
- Mt 17:1-3), if the souls of the just do not live on after death?
Not only does their unity with Christ assure their everlasting life, but it also ensures that they continue to be a part of Christ’s Body.
Because of Christ, we have the privilege of becoming “fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household” (Eph 2:19).
Eph 2:20-21; 4:15-16; Col 2:18-19).
When we ask a friend to pray for us, we are essentially asking for the intercession of our friend.
This type of intercession is a typical occurrence in the Bible’s narrative.
Exo 32:11-14, 30-34; 34:9; Num 14:17-20; 21:7-9).
Rom 15:30; Eph 6:19; Col 4:3-4; 1 Thes 5:25; 2 Thes 3:1; Heb 13:18).
That we are compelled to seek the prayer of others and to pray for one another exemplifies what it is to be a part of the Body of Christ, and it is a link of love and unity that we must maintain.
Mt 5:44; Eph 6:18; Jas 5:16).
The Saints are dedicated to us and our requirements.
First and foremost, far from being disinterested in human matters now that they have reached full oneness with God, the saints demonstrate that they are actively involved in and aware of what is happening to the Body of Christ on this planet.
Seeing the “Beatific Vision” (God in all His splendor) causes the angels to become more conscious of how God’s children are being mistreated for whatever reason, and they decide to do something about it.
Lk 15:7, 10).
The virtuous men and women who have gone before us form a vast “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us as we run the course that has been set before us with endurance (Heb 12:1).
We are aware that the saints are aware of us and our needs, and the love that fills their hearts pushes them to act in our behalf!
33:23-26).
Jer 15:1).
Zech 1:12).
Rev 6:9-11).
Rev 5:8; 8:3-4).
The fact that we inform fellow Christians about a need that we have and urge them to bring that need before God is virtually identical to what Catholics do when they pray to the saints, imploring them to intercede on our behalf.
The prayers of the righteous are extremely effective.
Alternatively, “the Lord’s eyes are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their supplication,” as the Bible states (1 Pet 3:12).
It’s also important to remember that the saints come from virtually every walk of life conceivable.
They were really global citizens.
In order to offer faultless prayers on our behalf, the saints must first be absolutely virtuous themselves, and then they must comprehend the problems that every man faces in this world.
When all of the information is taken into consideration, how can we possibly refuse to benefit from this power and blessing?
Is there any evidence of someone doing this in the Bible, and if so, who?
I beg you all, O great ones who do God’s will, hearken to the voice of the Lord’s word!” He said to the angels.
We have the ability to do the same.
Many Christians are skeptical about these activities.
It may even be considered idolatry to do such a feat.
Praying to the saints is not idolatry for the simple reason that Catholics do not worship the saints and do not want our prayers to them to be an act of worship.
When we pray to God, we are engaging in an act of worship because to pray to God is to acknowledge that He is the Creator of all things, that we are His lowly creatures, and that we rely on Him for everything that we require.
Only God (and not any saint) has the ability to provide complete and total satisfaction in response to prayer.
No sincere Catholic would ever attempt to elevate the saints to the status of gods, or to obtain secret or hidden knowledge from them, or to engage in any form of false worship of the saints, for whatever reason.
Isn’t Jesus the only one who can mediate?
1 Tim 2:5-6).
A mediator is now defined as someone who works between two parties who are at odds in order to bring them to an agreement.
The saints do not compete with this one mediator since they do not (and are unable to) do the same acts as He.
It is Jesus Christ, not the saints, who has “torn down the dividing wall of enmity” (Eph 2:14), not the saints themselves.
As a result of this examination of what Jesus has done for us, we have reached a conclusion: praying to the saints is ultimately about Jesus.
He is the Head of the Body, and he is responsible for bringing all of the members of the Body together.
He is the only reason we have any hope of ever attaining the state of the saints, which is to say, being alive with God forever.
Nicholas Hardesty, M.A.
Dave Armstrong was in charge of the editing.
With the permission of the Episcopal Church, this publication was printed. Earl Boyea is the Most Reverend of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity. The 13th of August, 2013.
Intercessory Prayer to One’s Patron or any Saint
The Fra Angelico painting “The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs” is on display in the National Gallery in London. The general public’s domain
Prayer To One’s Patron or Any Saint. May be said as often as you wish.
Saint (Name of Saint), you were a humble and confident servant of God throughout your time on earth. In paradise, you are now able to enjoy His beatific view. You endured until death and were awarded the crown of everlasting life as a result of your efforts. Remember now the risks, perplexity, and sorrow that surround me, and intercede for me in my needs and concerns, especially during this time of year when I am most vulnerable (mention your situation). Amen.
Litaniae Sanctorum – The Litany of the Saints
Liturgically speaking, The Litany of the Saints is a prayer to the Triune God that includes invocations for intercession on his behalf from the Blessed Virgin Mary, from angelic hosts, and from all martyrs and saints who were present at the time of Christianity’s founding, as well as those who have been recognized as saints throughout the church’s history.
Patron Saints Pendants Available from the Virgo Sacrata
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Pius X, we have as our purpose to “Restore All Things to Christ!” We do this under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is also our patron.
When I initially started looking into Orthodoxy, prayer to Mary and the saints was the biggest stumbling obstacle I encountered on the road to conversion. My Protestant upbringing had taught me (or, more accurately, indoctrinated me, for it was heavy on insistence and light on reason) that praying to Mary and the saints was wrong. This constituted Idolatry (with a capital “I”), which caused God to become extremely enraged. By the way, the restriction against praying to angels extended to all forms of prayer as well.
- According to what I’d been taught, my guardian angel was literally there next to me, so why couldn’t I ask him to pray for me?
- In one instance, when I was alone and terrified and wished for my guardian angel to pray for me, I circumvented the rule by praying to God and pleading with Him to tell my angel to pray for me instead.
- My Protestant and Orthodox acquaintances were naturally interested in my thorough investigation of the propriety of prayer to Mary and the saints when I first began to really consider the matter.
- “It’s clear that this is not acceptable.
- “It’s obvious that everything is well.
- Both groups believed that the problem was self-evident and did not require any additional consideration.
- Please give me permission to share the findings of this examination with you.
Despite Harold “How-to-Live-Like-a-Kid” King’s Hill’s definition of the Bible as “the manufacturer’s manual,” it is not a set of Ikea instructions for putting up a church.
Aspects of the church’s future (such as whether or not to baptize children born to new converts or how to train candidates for ordination) were simply not discussed.
Because the subject of the heavenly existence and activity of Christians in heaven is not directly addressed in the New Testament, it might be a challenging one to address in a straightforward manner.
Saint Paul’s argument that those who have already died would not be lost, but that Christ will raise them up and bring them with Him when He returns is the closest the New Testament comes to addressing the topic (1 Thessalonians 4:13f).
As a result, we must carefully examine the biblical texts in order to determine the underlying presuppositions that the Christians received from Judaism.
In 2 Maccabees 15:12f, we learn that the slain high priest Onias “was praying with spread hands for the whole body of the Jews.” In other words, he was praying for the whole Jewish population.
In the Book of Enoch, a composite work dating from the first century, we witness the same idea that those in heaven prayed for those on earth.
They have said, ‘Bring our cause before the Most High,'” as recorded in Enoch 9:3.
Those who are virtuous on earth are instructed to “raise your prayers as a memorial, and set them as a testament before the angels, so that they may place the sinner’s guilt as a memorial before the Most High,” according to Enoch 99:3.
It appears from these passages that at least some Jews in the first century thought that angels in heaven were praying for humans on earth and bringing their pleas to God.
When our Lord says that those in heaven rejoice over the repentance of a single sinner on earth (Luke 15:7), he is clearly referring to the assumption that the sinner’s repentance is visible to those in heaven.
The same assumption also underpins the image found in Hebrews 12:1, which depicts the Christian battle as an athletic race, which is based on the same premise.
Then there’s the Book of Revelation to consider.
Unlike a journalist who is allowed to stroll about backstage behind a curtain, it does not provide a literal behind-the-scenes look at what is going on in paradise.
We learn from this that the prayers of those on earth were conveyed to God by the angels (Revelation 8:3–4), which is exactly what the Book of Enoch stated.
Furthermore, we find that they appear to be aware of what is taking on on earth: in Revelation 6:9-11, they clamor expectantly for punishment to be poured out on their oppressors, and in Revelation 16:4-7, they gloat when the judgment has been poured out on them.
We may conclude from this detailed examination of the texts of the period that the belief that those in heaven interceded for persons on earth was part of the Church’s beliefs in the first century.
Not only does this mean that death can no longer separate us from Christ, but it also implies that death can no longer separate Christians from one another as a result of this.
When all Christians are joined in a relationship of mutual prayer and intercession while on earth (Ephesians 6:18), imagine how much more our deceased brothers and sisters will pray for us when they are closer to Christ in eternity.
We not only share His sonship, but also His heavenly splendour, as we are progressively converted from one degree of glory to another as He grows in glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
(See also Hebrews 12:23.) Overall, the New Testament establishes the groundwork for the invocation of saints, serves as a testament to the connection of heaven and earth, and teaches Christians that they will participate in Christ’s heavenly glory in the future life.
It is only normal for the Church to request the prayers of a person who is known to be in heaven, as the martyrs, the apostles, and the Mother of God were unquestionably—and rightly—in heaven.
Among the oldest existing Christian records are references to the devotion of the saints and of Mary, as well as the Church’s dependence on the prayers of both saints and Mary.
According to the accounts of St.
When the narrative of Polycarp’s martyrdom was told and his prayers were asked during these regular commemorations, it was considered to be a significant event.
In many of the early Fathers, we witness a fruit of the Church’s unity manifested in their early dependence on prayer from the prayers of the saints in the celestial realm.
c.
Theologian Origen (d.
253) wrote in his workOn Prayer, “Not only does the High Priest pray with those who pray sincerely, but the angels also pray with them.
St.
258) held that the saints in heaven continued to pray for those on earth in the same unity of faith as they did on earth, according to his understanding.
“.
The earliest patristic allusions to Mary, which date back to the second century, are also noteworthy.
Eve and Mary are juxtaposed in this way, and it comes from a variety of different Fathers.
It was evident to the Church, thanks to its Jewish heritage, that all those in heaven prayed for people on earth, and it was also clear that Christ’s Mother was among those in heaven, serving as a strong intercessor.
The so-called sub tuum, a prayer that dates back to the third century, is an example of this type of prayer.
Do not disregard our cries for help while we are in difficulty, but rather save us from harm, O only pure and only blessed one.” The possibility of such a passionate prayer with such brave belief in Mary’s intervention could not have emerged in a vacuum where Mary was completely disregarded.
We should also point out that such Marian devotion could not have come about as a result of pagan influence, given that the Church was still suffering from pagan persecution in the third century, and the Christians would have been unlikely to be open to religious influences from the pagans determined to destroy them.
From the period of the Reformation onward, when Protestant antagonism to all things Catholic drove it out of the everyday devotional lives of Christians, this was the uniform practice of the Church in both the east and the west.
1 Timothy 2:5, which claims that Christ is the sole mediator between God and men, is completely irrelevant to this topic since Mary and the saints are not mediators, but intercessors, as is stated in 1 Timothy 2:5.
Anti-Catholic teaching (i.e.
Mary and the saints have always been revered and prayed to by the Catholic Church.
When we confess our faith in the Creed, we are saying that we believe in a single, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Does she teach in a dependable manner?
What percentage of us agree that the Church is the cornerstone and stronghold of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)?
Early on, I came to the conclusion that the wisdom of the Church, which has been spread throughout the world and for two millennia, was superior to my own limited store of wisdom.
Due to the fact that it is the Body of Christ, God had promised to guide the Church. In my case, he did not make any such commitment. As a result, I decided to put my faith in the Church.