Wypadek said:
one more thing, probably
Okay, I understand the praying to mary thing, even thought its like talking to her or whatever, but I don't seen how it would work. She isn't God so how does she hear everyone's prayers at once?
I see some more posts have been added since I began composing this but I'd still like to add my two cents worth to all the fine answers already given by Michelle, Phillip and Tim, et al.
I think the basic question, that being how" Mary can hear multiple simultaneous prayers since she is not God, still hasnt been answered. Nor do I think it can be answered, because I dont think any of us knows how this happens, only that God wills it, as Phillip mentioned. So my answer to how she does this would be: I dunno.
But I also think that the very question itself assumes at least two things that arent necessarily true:
1. That (it would seem anyway) only God can hear everyones prayers at once.
2. That hearing simultaneous prayers is somehow analogous to trying to hear with only natural human ears thousands of people simultaneously speaking.
As to number one, this is an assumption for which there is no evidence. Although it would, intuitively at least,
seem to require either : (a) a
supernatural ability that
originates from God or (b) existing in a state of existence outside of our normal 3-dimensional plain of existence, where the normal laws of physics dont apply or, and more likely (c) a combination of both (a) and (b).
As to (a), as Phillip points out, and I think most everyone would agree, God absolutely can
. . . will for them to hear them. How God does that really isnt relevant, is it? "How God does
anything is usually not only not relevant but probably way beyond the intellectual ability of most of us to grasp and understand anyway (especially me!).
If God wills it, He wills it. How did he will creation into existence out of nothingness? I dunno, He just did. Who cares how? I dont understand the physics of creating something out of nothing. Nor do I understand how God accomplishes, through His will, that the Saints in heaven can be aware of or hear our prayers. But it is the teaching of the Communion of Saints that He so wills it, and that they can and do, in fact, hear our prayers. There is also scriptural support for this, in addition to whats already been mentioned, which Ill get to.
So, in reference to (1) above, it is not of their own doing or by their own power that Mary and the other Saints are able to hear all the simultaneous prayers, but by the power and will of God. It is a supernatural gift
from God. So the power to hear these prayers is not inherent in the created beings themselves, it is not within Mary and the Saints themselves and of themselves, but rather in the creator; it is in and from God.
As to (2) above, I think the answer lays in (b) and (c) as explained above and which both Michelle, Tim and others have already pointed out and which I think most folks would also agree with:
God, the Saints and heavenly existence are all outside of time and space as we know and understand these things. And, therefore, not bound by the rules of physics that bind us and which we are automatically, even subconsciously, accustomed to applying to concepts like hearing. Mary and the Saints are simply not bound by the same physical laws that we are. Plus, they are merely instruments of Gods grace, not themselves possessing any inherent divine attributes of their own, of course.
Finally, I would mention an often overlooked passage in the Gospel of Luke that I think is
extremely relevant here. At least I think its relevant in helping see that those in heaven
can and actually do hear (for lack of a better word) the prayers of those on earth, even if it doesnt answer the how question. I think this passage is also, though frequently read, its implications escape most casual readers because the overall context is that of repentance and forgiveness. Nevertheless it is still very relevant here and actually has some profound implications concerning the topic of Mary and the Saints hearing prayers of those still on earth:
I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. (Luke 15: 7, NAB).
The first thing to consider is this: exactly
who is it that is in heaven? Answer: God, angels and the spirits of the just made perfect (Hebrews 12:43, NAB) . . . IOW, it is
Mary and the Saints that is among those in heaven.
The next thing to consider is this: how can those in heaven, other than God Himself, (i.e. angels and Mary and the Saints) know which folks on earth are in need of repentance and when they repent? I mean, after all, repentance is an
internal event; it takes place in
the mind and in the heart. And, no doubt there is quite a bit of simultaneous repentance going on all over the world, at any given moment. Yet the Bible tells us that heaven
rejoices over each sinner who repents. How? How if not aware of it?
The implication is profound. And it is strong scriptural evidence to support the fact that Mary and the Saints can indeed hear all of our prayers. Because consider this . . .
if there is joy in heaven when a sinner repents,
as the Bible says is true, then those in heaven
must be able to know when these sinners repent. That's an inescapable fact. Keep in mind, also, that its not very likely that any of these repenting sinners are actuall making any conscious effort whatsoever to notify those in heaven of their repentance (i.e. they are not "praying" to them). Yet those in heaven
are, nevertheless, aware of it. At least that's what the Bible says.
So . . . if those in heaven are aware of
repentance on the part of sinners on earth (and, consequently, also aware of those on earth who dont repent), even when the sinner is making
no effort whatsoever to convey this news to them . . . then it is extremely difficult to credibly argue that those in heaven somehow are unable or cant hear prayers when those on earth actually
DO make an effort to make them aware or hear, through conscious prayers to Mary or other Saints.
You simply cant say that on the one hand that, according to Scripture, those in heaven can hear repentance but on the other hand, somehow cant hear
conscious prayers. That would make no sense at all.
So to answer the main part of Wypadeks question, the how part?
How do Mary and the other Saints accomplish this (through Gods will)??? . . . I dunno.
But the constant teaching of the Church says they do. And the biblical evidence supports it.