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| Nowitzki Tramonto- Philippines |
One of the problems in our Church today, is that many who
receive weekly RCIA learn the tenets of
our faith, but since there is so little time to cram in 2000 years of rich
history, there is little emphasis on the saints, who should be our intercessors
and examples of how to live a holy life, no matter our station in life.
Sometimes we read their lives and say, well that was all fine and good then,
but what about here and now?
The Magnificat
(which I highly recommend to all Catholics and Christians) does a wonderful job
of introducing us to old and new heavenly friends, who can pray for us, offer
us comfort and basically intercede for us in our daily life.
Now
therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners: but you are fellow citizens
with the saints and the domestics of God. (2:19)
Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us.
In the book of Revelation, we read: "[An] angel came and stood at the
altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle
with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and
the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of
the angel before God" (Rev. 8:3-4).
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| N. Tramonto |
People can ask why we pray to the saints when we can ask the Lord
directly for what we need? The intercession the saints in heaven does not
interfere with Christ’s unique mediatorship .
Of course, we should pray directly to Christ with every pressing
need we have. The prayers of the Mass, the central act of Catholic worship, are
directed to God and Jesus, not the saints. But this does not mean that we
should not also ask our fellow Christians, including those in heaven, to pray
with us.
Since the practice of asking others to pray for us is so
highly recommended in Scripture, it cannot be regarded as superfluous on the
grounds that one can go directly to Jesus. The New Testament would not
recommend it if there were not benefits coming from it. One such benefit is
that the faith and devotion of the saints can support our own weaknesses and
supply what is lacking in our own faith and devotion.
Personally, I could use all the help I can get in this life, so
if I have friends in heaven who can intercede for me, all the better. And as to
His Mother (mine also) I trust her intercession more than any. As a spouse of Christ, why should I not ask my “mother-in-law” to help me out in
my relationship with her Son?
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| Wassily Kandinsky- Russia |
In addition to our prayers directly to God and Jesus (which are
absolutely essential to the Christian life), there are abundant reasons to ask
our fellow Christians in heaven to pray for us. The Bible indicates that they
are aware of our prayers, that they intercede for us, and that their prayers
are effective (else they would not be offered). It is only narrow-mindedness
that suggests we should refrain from asking our fellow Christians in heaven to
do what we already know them to be anxious and capable of doing.
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| Communion of Saints- Elise Ritter- USA |
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia!
from
“For All the Saints,” William W. How, 1864
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