Praying TO Saints

[Dorothea]

Who do you imitate? Christ or other Catholics that do what you are saying some Catholics do. Have you ever been born of the Holy Spirit. You must be born again to see the kingdom of God. There is a difference between having Christ in your mind but not truly in your heart. Do not be deceived for you will also deceive and those who will follow after you will imitate the imitatation you are. Be blessed.

Excuse me for interrupting your conversation, but please note people's faith icons. Most of those who have answered the OP are not Catholics but Eastern Orthodox.

 

[Dorothea]

Yes, I assumed the person mentioned is Catholic, because the doctrine of praying to saints and/ or saints praying for you is of Catholic, and she has what is familiar to me to be a Catholic prayer and mentions a holy Catholic church. Do many of you pray to statues? I do not just go by hearsay, but I like to get in and ask questions of people who are of what is gossiped about. Be blessed.

Yes, Catholics do have that doctrine, and EO's and Anglicans venerate Saints as well, and ask for their prayers to God for them.

I would appreciate, if you don't mind, to do some research on Christian history and the history of the Orthodox Church, and that you realize that the Eastern Orthodox Church was founded at Pentacost, along with the Catholic church, so yes, some of our doctrines are similar as we were once one church until Rome broke off around 1054 a.d. after the Great Schism. Thank you.

 

[rosenherman]

Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers

This isn't the same thing as "please ask God to. . . "

 

[Thekla]

This isn't the same thing as "please ask God to. . . "

As before:

(As before, the Saint is entirely referential to God

" it is not I who live, but Christ Who lives in me ... " St. Paul). To ask anything of someone who lives their life in complete obedience to God, whose only will is to do the will of God, is the same as asking for them to pray to God.

So, the language you use represents a "shorthand".

Post #30

The angels who serve God also are entirely "referential"; they serve God and do His will. Thus the request is expected to be fulfilled to the extent that it is the will of God.

Would you feel uncomfortable to ask another Christian for help ?
Or in every instance, when making a request of another Christian, do you use a different form of plea, such as:

"Please, ask God to help me get to the car as I have more bags than I can presently carry on my own."

 

[Dark_Lite]

until Rome broke off around 1054 a.d. after the Great Schism.

Or maybe it's the other way around? lololo

In regards to Saints--there is no praying to statues. People who say that don't know what they're talking about. Better to ignore them.

 

[Livindesert]

This isn't the same thing as "please ask God to. . . "

Yes, It is. I personally prefer to ask God for protection but if someone wants supernatural help from another being other than God..... then they know which denominations to go to.

 

[Thekla]

Yes, It is. I personally prefer to ask God for protection but if someone wants supernatural help from another being other than God..... then they know which denominations to go to.

So, does this mean that in your Church it is 'verboten' to ask Christians for help with anything ?
Imo, this is a curious teaching your Church holds !

 

[Christos Anesti]

Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers
​

This isn't the same thing as "please ask God to. . . "

Is that bad? St Michael leads the heavenly hosts in battle against the demons. Why wouldn't we ask him to fight the demons who are bothering us?
​

 

[Dorothea]

Or maybe it's the other way around? lololo

In regards to Saints--there is no praying to statues. People who say that don't know what they're talking about. Better to ignore them.

Love ya, DL.

 

[Livindesert]

So, does this mean that in your Church it is 'verboten' to ask Christians for help with anything ?
Imo, this is a curious teaching your Church holds !

As of so far I have yet to pray to my living grandmother. When prayer works instead of a phone line or e-mail for talking to living Christians then I might be inclined to try it out for the other ones

O.k. I just prayed a message to you Thekla what did I say ?

 

[Thekla]

As of so far I have yet to pray to my living grandmother. When prayer works instead of a phone line or e-mail for talking to living Christians then I might be inclined to try it out for the other ones

O.k. I just prayed a message to you Thekla what did I say ?

Either my spiritual ears are clogged, or it was not the will of God that it get through

OTOH, is it permitted to ask the Christian next to you to pass the salt ?

 

[Livindesert]

Well once you get the message and relay it on the forums then I will know it works

 

[kenblaster5000]

Yes, Catholics do have that doctrine, and EO's and Anglicans venerate Saints as well, and ask for their prayers to God for them.

I would appreciate, if you don't mind, to do some research on Christian history and the history of the Orthodox Church, and that you realize that the Eastern Orthodox Church was founded at Pentacost, along with the Catholic church, so yes, some of our doctrines are similar as we were once one church until Rome broke off around 1054 a.d. after the Great Schism. Thank you.

I do not necessarily have the time for you to explain everything about the succession from pentacost, but I strictly do not believe that these churches stem from Peter the apostle. If anything catholicism would be considered apostate especially with a lot of the popes who womanized, adulterers, nicolaitans, downright dirty scoundrels. Anyhow, they will be judged for their works. Back to Peter and pentecost. If these churches stem from that time of pentecost, why did they not keep the fire of the tongues burning and especially the spiritual gifts. And please do not tell me that all things have come to perfection and that we do not need it anymore. I speak in tongues, and it is a marvelous gift. I might be ignorant of alot of stuff but am not stupid. Thank whoever kept the scriptures intact over the years because I love the word of God. I know God and the Holy Spirit had a major part in that. For anyone really to get the glory for that would be thievery. Maybe we can keep this narrowed down a bit, because I am all over the place. But, just because history tells you something does not necessarily mean it is true. The word of God is true. All other stuff deserves to be scrutinized.

 

[Thekla]

Well once you get the message and relay it on the forums then I will know it works

On a more serious note, the original question does remain: in making requests of other Christians, is it needed to not ask, but to ask them to ask God ? Those who truly have Christ as their 'center' would not desire to do anything other than the will of God. So, a Christian in asking anything of another Christian would understand that the request would always be contingent on God's will that the request be fulfilled.

(Indeed, to ask for proof in order to have faith is - it seems - not advised, or sort of like 'doing tricks'.)

 

[kenblaster5000]

Either my spiritual ears are clogged, or it was not the will of God that it get through

OTOH, is it permitted to ask the Christian next to you to pass the salt ?

Alright, I must say that if someone adds to me, they are worth their salt. Paul is a father to many and the Holy Spirit has spoken to me through His writings. There is so much more to the word of God. It is infinite and there is always something to learn from them. As for praying to saints, I do not do it. I do not need to. I know Jesus and the Holy Spirit pray for and through me. Jesus raises up prayer for all those who believe, and the Holy Spirit speaks mysteries and prays through me whey I pray in the Holy Ghost. The Spirit raises up prayer for things in the world. Whether it be to pray a curse to a porn shop so that it dries up and withers like a fig tree or it may be to bind a kidnapper and loose the child. So, there is much more to prayer that just repetition and things that are not really biblical like praying to or having saints pray for you. I am considered a saint, and I pray for others and things. This is intercession. I may not be recognized as a venerated saint, but nonetheless I am a saint. Why pray into the air to a saint that may or may not be listening, when you can pray directly to the Father, or have someone interceed to the Father on your behalf because maybe the connection is cut by sin or unforgiveness. Or the devils are just kicking you in the pants. Thekla, I appreciate your patience and hospitality. Those are two things I struggle with. Be blessed.

 

[Thekla]

Alright, I must say that if someone adds to me, they are worth their salt. Paul is a father to many and the Holy Spirit has spoken to me through His writings. There is so much more to the word of God. It is infinite and there is always something to learn from them.

Indeed, the scriptures have a depth that we can continuously 'dive into'; they do not change, but what we can find there often reflects our disposition and depth of relationship to God.

As for praying to saints, I do not do it. I do not need to. I know Jesus and the Holy Spirit pray for and through me. Jesus raises up prayer for all those who believe, and the Holy Spirit speaks mysteries and prays through me whey I pray in the Holy Ghost. The Spirit raises up prayer for things in the world. Whether it be to pray a curse to a porn shop so that it dries up and withers like a fig tree or it may be to bind a kidnapper and loose the child. So, there is much more to prayer that just repetition and things that are not really biblical like praying to or having saints pray for you.

I think I understand, and I do agree based on what I understand. But I don't divide between the body of Christ I can and cannot "see" - as the body of Christ is not divided. We are to pray for one another, and this instruction is given, so I understand that Christ prays for us, and I understand that we are - as His body - to pray for one another. Indeed, if we are to become as He is, we will do as He does; if He intercedes for us, we are also to intercede.

I am not sure what you mean by repetitions ...
Christ did state as a command to, "when you pray, pray this" and then gives the Lord's prayer. As this is given as a command, then we do say it more than once in our lives.

I am considered a saint, and I pray for others and things. This is intercession. I may not be recognized as a venerated saint, but nonetheless I am a saint.

We are to see that all are created in the image of God, and as Paul says, "... be esteeming the other above yourself ...". I agree, we are to show this respect to saints (and Saints) and all brothers and sisters - both those in Christ, and also our brothers and sisters "in Adam". All are created in the image of God, and it is this image of God that we are to "see" and respect.

I often ask others to pray for me, or to pray for someone whose difficulty I know of -- we are body

Why pray into the air to a saint that may or may not be listening, when you can pray directly to the Father, or have someone interceed to the Father on your behalf because maybe the connection is cut by sin or unforgiveness. Or the devils are just kicking you in the pants. Thekla, I appreciate your patience and hospitality. Those are two things I struggle with. Be blessed.

We ask for the prayers of others because this - per Paul, and James/Iakovos, etc. - is what we are instructed to do. We pray for others also. This is what Christ does, this is what we are instructed to do. If Christ is truly our center, this is what we will desire. We join our prayers as we are joined in Christ. And, if the "connection is cut", then we can benefit from the prayers of those whose connection is not cut -- whether we can see or not see the members of the body of Christ who pray for us. Christ has conquered death, and in Him we are one

God with you and thank-you !

glory be to Jesus Christ +

 

[Livindesert]

I will ask for the prayers of living Christians that I can contact by phone, face to face , or with e-mail. But as far as supernatural contact to other Christians or beings other than God I will not participate.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Very well. I just prayed to Michael the Archangel and asked him to pass me the salt. Oddly enough, the salt did not get passed to me. That leaves several possibilities, as follow:

1. He did not hear my prayer.
2. He disdains the prayer as beneath his glorious power.
3. He is incapable of passing the salt.
4. He is not in the business of hearing and answering prayers.

It seems to me to be a much easier task to pass someone the salt than to fend off legions of demons.

 

[Christos Anesti]

Change the word "Michael" to "God" and you have the same argument an atheist would make regarding prayer in general.

 

[rosenherman]

As before:

(As before, the Saint is entirely referential to God Post #30

The angels who serve God also are entirely "referential"; they serve God and do His will. Thus the request is expected to be fulfilled to the extent that it is the will of God.

Would you feel uncomfortable to ask another Christian for help ?
Or in every instance, when making a request of another Christian, do you use a different form of plea, such as:

"Please, ask God to help me get to the car as I have more bags than I can presently carry on my own."

I can certainly ask anyone living to help me. My Bible says not to ask the dead for anything.