C
Cardinal John H. Newman
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"[The Shepherd said:] But those who are weak and slothful in prayer, hesitate to ask anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask him. But you, [Hermas,] having been strengthened by the holy angel [you saw], and having obtained from him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from him?" (The Shepherd 3:5:4 [A.D. 80]).
Hermas was alive when some of the Apostles were still alive. Why didn't they condemn him? Another note: Hermas was around in A.D. 80 (when the Bible didn't even exist yet), we are around in 2009. Who was closer to the Apostles? Who was around during when some of the Apostles were still living (for example, the Apostle John who outlived Hermas and died in A.D. 90)?
Another from St. Clement of Alexandria in A.D. 208:
"In this way is he [the true Christian] always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him [in prayer]" (Miscellanies 7:12 [A.D. 208]).
Even though there are many more, I will end with this one:
Origen:
"But not the high priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep" (Prayer 11 [A.D. 233]).
These dont say he prayed to angels nor saints...it suggests that they pray along side him...to the Father no doubt.
Yep, to the Father of course. Still, read them more closely. My bedtime is coming up soon, so I have to get off soon and won't cover all of them.
But, look at what Origen said:
"But not the high priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep" (Prayer 11 [A.D. 233]).
I repeat: "but also the angels" (in heaven) and "as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep."
So, we pray to the saints who then pray to the Father with our requests. This is true Catholic intercession. Sometimes the wording gets confusing, for example, "pray to the saints." Well, obviously to have our requests granted, the saints then pray to the Father which is, therefore, the saints intercessing on our behalf.
Cardinal Newman
Thanks and enjoy!!!
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