Praying to Saints

[WHITE LIFE]

Hi Everyone!
I spoke with someone the other day that thought we shouldn't pray to the saints.
For instance, I often times pray to St. Mary, the mother of Jesus. Does anyone else pray to Mary? Does anyone not pray to Mary? Any comments would make for an interesting discussion in my opinion.

[Ali Blue]

I don't believe in praying to saints because God is God, saints are not. Why pray to a saint when God is all powerful, and can do so much more than they could do? I don't think we should be praying to saints for intervention when God specifically tells us to go to Him for help.
I'll post more later. Mother seems to be griping in my ears..

[Darth Sparkly]

I don't believe in praying to saints, either. Like Alistair said: God is God, saints are not. Technically, as Christians, we are all saints. No one has to have been a follower of Christ for a certain amount of years or has to have fasted every week to be considered a saint; we are all sinners by nature, though saved by His blood, and who are we to place fellow humans above others?

With that out of the way, I believe there is no purpose in praying to saints, to put it bluntly. For example, Mary was a common woman before she gave birth to Jesus -she was just like every one of us, but God gave her a special task. And I believe God gives each and every one of His followers a special task, an important part of His divine plan. Some parts may be more significant then others, but they are all important.

So Mary was just a common woman who listened to God and fulfilled His Will, just as all Christians should strive to do. This does not make her a deity though, and thus praying to her is pointless.

Thou shalt put no other gods before Me.

I believe that commandment covers the aspect of prayer. God is God, the only God, and the only One who hears our every prayer and every heart.

Going back to what I said earlier about every follower of Christ being a saint -I don't pray to my brothers and sisters in Christ, because they are only human, just like the saints of old times. Humans are sinners by nature, and prone to making mistakes -why risk praying to them?

Um, yeah. I believe that sums up my opinion. =)

[Ali Blue]

And mine.
Even if the Bible said it was okay to pray to saints, why do it if they can't even compare to God?

[SilverSergyon13]

I believe the title of saint is all political. Most of the church (higher up churches and officials) are all involved in political systems and whatnot. Now to become a saint all these thing have to be passed and they almost have to be voted in as a saint. I know that was the way it went with mother teresa. I figure it this way. I don't pray to the presidents of the united states, so I don't feel I should pray to saints either. I don't really get any comfort in that, but for me a prayer is more of a mental meditation than a pleading. I pray to put my life in order, not to ask for things. Sometimes I ask for help or aid, or protection for other people, but usually never for material things. Half the time just thinking about what needs to be done is a comfort to me.

[Mundane Soul of a Thousand]

I don't pray to saints either. Really, I find it pointless, and as other people said before, God is God. He wants you to rely on HIM, along with other things, like having a personal relationship with Him.

[Ali Blue]

I don't know about any of you guys.. but I absolutely hate it hate it hate when people make church political! "Let's vote to see who's a saint" or "let's make new rules" .. hate it. >_< Saints were originally just Christians. But people made them all holy and perfect.. like something to praise or something. Gah.
Merry Christmas everyone.

[Mundane Soul of a Thousand]

I often wonder why people would make church political; but what does that have to do with the whole point of this discussion.

Get on with it! I say . . .

Yet sadly, things like who's a saint have become political over the past few years, and I'll just leave it at that.

[Dûncariel is Dead.]

When Christ died, the veil in the temple was torn. That veil represented the wall that was between God and humanity because of God's purity and humanity's sins. When Christ died, his blood covered us, making us pure. We can now approach God without sacrifice, because Jesus is our mediator.

I think that praying to saints is your choice. Do I believe it's going to get you anywhere? No, because men don't become gods when they die. They're still men, albeit dead ones. I personally believe that it's blasphemous to pray to saints (even Mary) before God. Mary should never, never be placed about Jesus. Jesus is God, through the Trinity. So, yeah.

[WHITE LIFE]

Wow! I had a feeling that there might be some feedback on this topic. It seems as though there have been several topics added to this that perhaps would be better discussed in another thread (like Mary and other Saints - and the process of declaring someone a Saint) so I'll stick to the original topic which is "Praying to Saints".

With that in mind, it is a very recent development that people have become misinformed about what "Praying to Saints" actually means. It has not always been the case. From the earliest times of Christianity, there is evidence of seeking the prayers of the saints in heaven. The ancient catacombs have inscriptions right in stone asking for this or that saint to pray for them - and these were the christains that walked and talked with Jesus and the apostles.

It is important that we, as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, pray for each other. The bible is clear about that. And who of you would refuse to pray for someone that asks you to pray for them? Of course we would. Well, why wouldn't we just say to that person - "no I will not pray for you because all you need is God and he hears your prayers so I don't need to." That would be very unchristian-like. The truth of the matter is that we can and should pray (intercede) for one another. God honors that.

Confusion comes in with how people understand "prayer". Some people think that praying is only worship. That is not always the case. The word "pray" has various meanings. When Christians "pray" to saints, it is understood that God is the one that ultimately hears the prayer, but that the "intercession" is joined by and through a brother or sister in Christ Jesus. That is not to say that they are a God or Goddess - because they are not - nor should they be worshiped. It is no different than it would be if I were to ask you to pray (intercede) for me. If we, who are still in our earthly bodies can intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus from here on earth, how much more can those who see him face to face interced for us? They most certainly are not dead - but are more alive than any of us.

Therefore, I offer this prayer..."Mother Mary, please pray for each and every person that reads this post. Help their hearts to be open to the fullness of truth and to the power of intercession that is available with the "great cloud of witnesses" in the Communion of Saints- I ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord - Amen."

Happy New Year Everyone! God's Blessings Upon You All!

[Tiana, eh?]

Aye, I know, but for what I define prayer, God's the only one who can help me. I see your point about the whole "when two are more are gathered together", correct? In which case, though, you're still praying to God. With the faith that the saints would be praying with you.

In which case, I should think I'd rather find a living saint (since we're all saints, when not getting into legalism) and pray with them. I have every respect for people who pray to saints. Mary was an honorable woman, but still human. And if I want earthly help, I want someone who'll talk back to me, and pray with me so that my physical ears can hear it. So, you know, I'll go get mom. XD

You know.

I have every faith in the belief that when Christians gather together in prayer, things happen. I also prefer to leave the term "pray to" for God, and pray for is a different thing. Does that help? Ah, how often things come down to interpetations of definitions.

Why can't we all just love each other?

Happy new years!

[WHITE LIFE]

Thanks Tiana.
Many people simply cannot comprehend the notion of asking someone to pray for them who they are not able to have an earthly discussion with. However, it is as simple as me calling you and getting your answering machine. I may not hear back from you right away, but I can leave you a message to pray for me. I can trust that even though you may not be talking to me in my ear that you will pray for me as soon as you get the message.

The wonderful thing about prayer is that it is much more powerful than any answering machine. It goes far beyond our technological limits. Praying to Mary (asking for Mary's intercession) is easier for me than it is for me to leave you a message on your answering machine. First of all, it is instantaneous. Second of all, I know her number - I do not know yours. We all know Mary's number. It is as simple as heart felt prayer.

I notice that many people here are commenting on how Mary is simply ordinary. I will start another thread that will discuss how this simply is not the case.