Communication with the saints

[StTherese]

How exactly do the saints hear our prayers? If I am praying to one particular saint, do all the other saints know my prayer as well? Is it like some form of telepathy or something?

 

[SeraphimSarov]

It's a mystery. We'll find out when we get there.

If any of the Fathers have written about it, somebody feel free to contradict me, though I'm nearly positive they'd say the same thing.

 

[lionroar0]

They hear us because we are all united in the Body of Christ.

We don't Know exactly how they hear.
It's a mystery.

Peace

 

[Catherineanne]

How exactly do the saints hear our prayers? If I am praying to one particular saint, do all the other saints know my prayer as well? Is it like some form of telepathy or something?

If you imagine you are in a room, with the light on, and there is a window, and it is dark outside, then you can see what is in the room with you, but you can see nothing beyond the window. But anyone outside can see in to where you are perfectly well, because of the light.

This is how it is between this world and the next.

Then imagine that not only is it light outside and inside, but the window is wide open. Now you can see those outside, and they can see you, and you can talk freely to one another. This is the quality of prayer achieved by Our Lord, and by some of the saints, and for us all to aspire to.

We are not divided from the next world by distance of time or space. We are only divided by our ability to see and hear. Any saint who is addressed can hear you perfectly well, just as Our Lord can, and any angel can. We are each, at every moment, surrounded by the heavenly host.

The more you look for them, the easier it is to see.

 

[Yeznik]

How exactly do the saints hear our prayers? If I am praying to one particular saint, do all the other saints know my prayer as well? Is it like some form of telepathy or something?

First we need to “move out” of the physical realm, and “move into” the spiritual realm.

Let me give you an example, you get sick, you post in this forum that you are sick and ask for prayers. Now I read your post and pray for you. Do you need to know who is praying for you? Do you know that I am specifically praying for you? Do you know who has read your request? Do you know who is praying for you?

Secondly, Christianity removes the wall between the physical world and the spiritual world. If we really believe in Christianity that it is impossible to see the Saints of the Church dead. Have you ever read writings by a Saint and it touched you personally? And if it touches you personally are you not spiritually communing what the Saint has written?

 

[StTherese]

If you imagine you are in a room, with the light on, and there is a window, and it is dark outside, then you can see what is in the room with you, but you can see nothing beyond the window. But anyone outside can see in to where you are perfectly well, because of the light.

This is how it is between this world and the next.

Then imagine that not only is it light outside and inside, but the window is wide open. Now you can see those outside, and they can see you, and you can talk freely to one another. This is the quality of prayer achieved by Our Lord, and by some of the saints, and for us all to aspire to.

We are not divided from the next world by distance of time or space. We are only divided by our ability to see and hear. Any saint who is addressed can hear you perfectly well, just as Our Lord can, and any angel can. We are each, at every moment, surrounded by the heavenly host.

The more you look for them, the easier it is to see.

Very good analogy. Thanks!

What about all the people all over the world praying to Mary at the same time? I often wonder how it is that she hears each and every one...I don't really expect any definitive answers it is just something I ponder...

 

[StTherese]

First we need to “move out” of the physical realm, and “move into” the spiritual realm.

Let me give you an example, you get sick, you post in this forum that you are sick and ask for prayers. Now I read your post and pray for you. Do you need to know who is praying for you? Do you know that I am specifically praying for you? Do you know who has read your request? Do you know who is praying for you?

Secondly, Christianity removes the wall between the physical world and the spiritual world. If we really believe in Christianity that it is impossible to see the Saints of the Church dead. Have you ever read writings by a Saint and it touched you personally? And if it touches you personally are you not spiritually communing what the Saint has written?

Is it possible to completely move out of the physical realm, in prayer??? ...How can we pray without using our mind?

 

[Yeznik]

Is it possible to completely move out of the physical realm, in prayer??? ...How can we pray without using our mind?

Matthew 6:6

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Being removed from the physical world does NOT me having an out of body experience.

The intellect connects the physical world to the metaphysical world. We cannot be removed from the physical (only in death).

When the angels pray do they have a physical mind?

 

[Kristos]

Is it possible to completely move out of the physical realm, in prayer??? ...How can we pray without using our mind?

Absolutely! Some would say this is the true prayer - when you stop using your mind and let God come to you.

 

[simonthezealot]

They hear us because we are all united in the Body of Christ.

Peace

Hey LR,
When have you ever seen someone growing an ear out of the side of their body?? Other than a star trek show.

 

[StTherese]

Absolutely! Some would say this is the true prayer - when you stop using your mind and let God come to you.

I guess you are right. I just haven't figured out how to do this yet.

 

[Kristos]

I guess you are right. I just haven't figured out how to do this yet.

Me neither But I'm trying...

 

[StTherese]

Matthew 6:6

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Being removed from the physical world does NOT me having an out of body experience.

The intellect connects the physical world to the metaphysical world. We cannot be removed from the physical (only in death).

When the angels pray do they have a physical mind?

Well, I would think the angels do have a mind, just not a brain...

 

[StTherese]

Me neither But I'm trying...

 

[Yeznik]

I have read Evagrius of Pontus - 153 Chapters On Prayer - .

I would really recommend reading it.

http://www.ldysinger.com/Evagrius/03_Prayer/00a_start.htm

 

[Thekla]

I have read Evagrius of Pontus - 153 Chapters On Prayer - .

I would really recommend reading it.

http://www.ldysinger.com/Evagrius/03_Prayer/00a_start.htm

thank-you, Yeznik, for this link

 

[StTherese]

I have read Evagrius of Pontus - 153 Chapters On Prayer - .

I would really recommend reading it.

http://www.ldysinger.com/Evagrius/03_Prayer/00a_start.htm

I have read through a lot of it. Thanks for the link.

 

[Catherineanne]

Very good analogy. Thanks!

What about all the people all over the world praying to Mary at the same time? I often wonder how it is that she hears each and every one...I don't really expect any definitive answers it is just something I ponder...

Again, it is a matter of perspective.

Imagine you are two dimensional, say a word written on a page, and there is another word right the other side of the page. You will look towards it, and say, that line is a long way away, and you will think it impossible to look at both at once.

But for we, who are three dimensional, looking down at a piece of paper, we can see all that it contains without any effort. We can focus on one bit or the other, but we can see both.

There is another dimension, which is the spiritual dimension, by which all that is part of our world can be seen and heard at once, without confusion of time or of message.

Or another way, we imagine time as a long line with a start, a length and an end. But what if this line is written in a spring around the inside of a cylinder, like a tin can? Then, if you look down from the top, you can see the whole of eternity, all at once.

I am not saying time is a tin can , just that it is a matter of perspective and vision, and that ours is not the same as God's. He is outside time, and therefore the question, how can he (or Our Lady) hear us all at the same time, just does not apply. Time does not have dominion over God, or over eternity.

 

[Catherineanne]

Is it possible to completely move out of the physical realm, in prayer??? ...How can we pray without using our mind?

Think back to your last holiday, and remember being in a place that was particularly beautiful. If you think about it long enough, you can conjure up the memory to the extent that you are practically there.

But what part of you is there? Not your body, because you are still at home. But the wonder of memory is that we are able to use it to revisit places and people who are no longer present with us.

Similarly, we are able to use our minds to contemplate the mysteries of heaven, and to visit Christ and the saints. It is certainly possible to move out of the physical realm, in the same way as we can revisit a memory.

Those who do so, see the heavenly realm in the same way as they see memories. And the visions then become memories, as real as any other.

 

[Catherineanne]

I guess you are right. I just haven't figured out how to do this yet.

What exactly is it you want to do?