In this article I an answering those who, THINK, Catholics worship Saints. Also included, Do Catholics ask dead people to pray for them?
I used the ESV a popular Protestant translation that is easy to read, but feel free to look these verses up in your preferred Bible. Capitals, underlining and or bold added for emphasis.
First, anyone who thinks Catholics worship Saints, or anyone other than God, has no idea what The Church actually teaches, or what Catholics believe.
First, anyone who thinks Catholics worship Saints, or anyone other than God, has no idea what The Church actually teaches, or what Catholics believe.
Please prayerfully consider this information. Thank you!
I'll try to keep it short and sweet.
1.) Catholics direct ALL WORSHIP to GOD ALONE! PERIOD! So, for a short answer to the above question, the answer is a huge NO! Catholics don't worship Saint's or anyone but God.
But, please keep reading I would like to appeal to you using Scripture and reasoning!
2.) Catholic prayer is ALWAYS directed to God alone, even if those prayers are going to God THROUGH someone else! INTERCESSORY PRAYER! What Christian doesn't believe in asking for prayers, and praying for each other?
3.) If I ask a fellow Christian "to pray for me" I know that those prayers are going to God, for me. If I ask you to "pray for me" I'm not worshiping you! I ask you to pray to God on my behalf. As a Christian you would be glad to go to God in prayer for me if I asked you.
4.) In Catholicism and in ALL Christian traditions we can ask other Christians to pray to God for us. Especially because we worship the same God.
5.) We ask those in heaven to pray for us because we believe they are ALIVE with Christ in heaven, Glorifying God as a constant prayer! "The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;" (2 Tim 2:11)
So, NO we don't ask dead people to pray for us, they're not dead!
INTERCESSORY PRAYER!
Prayer that goes to God, through another Christian.
Scripture; "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16)
SO, PRAYERS OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON, OR SAINT ARE POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE. A great reason to ask Saints in heaven, those who we know are alive with Christ to pray to God for us.
Saint Paul tells us that we should always pray for each other. Ask yourself, why would it be any different once we have made it to heaven? As members of The Body of Christ shouldn't we pray for those who are suffering here on earth? If it is good to pray for each other and for sinners why would that mission change once we reach heaven?
"I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,"
(Rom 15:30)
Also see, Col 4:2-4, 1 These 5:25, 2 Thess 3:1, Eph 6:18-19, (Saint Paul asking for prayers, to "pray for us" "pray for me")
1.) Catholics direct ALL WORSHIP to GOD ALONE! PERIOD! So, for a short answer to the above question, the answer is a huge NO! Catholics don't worship Saint's or anyone but God.
But, please keep reading I would like to appeal to you using Scripture and reasoning!
2.) Catholic prayer is ALWAYS directed to God alone, even if those prayers are going to God THROUGH someone else! INTERCESSORY PRAYER! What Christian doesn't believe in asking for prayers, and praying for each other?
3.) If I ask a fellow Christian "to pray for me" I know that those prayers are going to God, for me. If I ask you to "pray for me" I'm not worshiping you! I ask you to pray to God on my behalf. As a Christian you would be glad to go to God in prayer for me if I asked you.
4.) In Catholicism and in ALL Christian traditions we can ask other Christians to pray to God for us. Especially because we worship the same God.
5.) We ask those in heaven to pray for us because we believe they are ALIVE with Christ in heaven, Glorifying God as a constant prayer! "The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;" (2 Tim 2:11)
So, NO we don't ask dead people to pray for us, they're not dead!
INTERCESSORY PRAYER!
Prayer that goes to God, through another Christian.
Scripture; "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16)
SO, PRAYERS OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON, OR SAINT ARE POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE. A great reason to ask Saints in heaven, those who we know are alive with Christ to pray to God for us.
Saint Paul tells us that we should always pray for each other. Ask yourself, why would it be any different once we have made it to heaven? As members of The Body of Christ shouldn't we pray for those who are suffering here on earth? If it is good to pray for each other and for sinners why would that mission change once we reach heaven?
"I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,"
(Rom 15:30)
Also see, Col 4:2-4, 1 These 5:25, 2 Thess 3:1, Eph 6:18-19, (Saint Paul asking for prayers, to "pray for us" "pray for me")
Have you ever noticed that Paul refers to those who live in Christ as Saints? Here is an example of that below. THINK about it! If we here on earth who strive to live a holy life in Christ are Saints, then how much more are those in heaven who are alive with Christ?
"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," (Ephesians 6:18)
And what does Paul ask prayers for? See the next verse 19. "and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel," (Eph 6:19) Why wouldn't God want those in heaven to pray for these very same intentions for us here on earth?
"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power," (2 Thessalonians 1:11) My friends in Christ, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY SAINTS IN HEAVEN PRAY FOR US!
"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." (Revelation 5:8) OUR PRAYERS ARE TAKEN TO GOD IN HEAVEN!
Also see Tobit 12:12 (the angel Raphael presents Tobit and Sarah's prayers to God )
We believe that those in Heaven are alive with Christ! And that death cannot separate us from the body of Christ! Again, "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;" (2 Timothy 2:11)
Therefore they can pray for us in heaven as they could in earthly life. For "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Mark 12:27)
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39)
"so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
(Romans 12:5) If the scriptures are true why would it matter if we are in heaven or on earth? Wouldn't we all be apart of that one body in Christ and with Christ? And if this is true doesn't it make sense that just as we pray for each other here on earth, that we would most likely be praying for others while we are in heaven?
"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," (Hebrews 12:1)
by Joanne Utke
I am in the process of moving some of my apologetics articles to this blog from my other but if you like this one please see the other two below. Also I included two informational videos for your further understanding of this topic.
Does God forbid the making of images, like statues?
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
As always feel free to go to the Welcome and ask any specific questions you like.
Please pay attention to the links on this page for further research.
