The Catholic tradition of addressing prayers to “saints” in order to persuade them to intercede needs to be justified somehow. The (sandy) foundation for this pagan tradition is the erroneous doctrine of an immortal soul. In addition, there are twists on biblical statements.
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Justification prayers to “saints”
The practice of directing prayers “to” the “saints” in heaven has a tradition in the Roman Catholic Church. In prayer, the faithful Catholic directs his request to one of the “saints”, especially Mary, who was declared “Queen of Heaven”, so that they can put in a good word with Jesus. This is not worship, as is often the argument after critical inquiries as to whether this practice goes far beyond the permitted limits.
The Catholic magazine “catholic.com” addresses the question often asked by Protestants, why seek the help of saints when you can go directly to Jesus (Source). A topic that is also addressed by Catholics.
It is not true that the Roman Church claims that one cannot address one’s prayers directly to Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms this in paragraph 2665:
“The prayer of the Church, nourished by the word of God and the celebration of the liturgy, teaches us to pray to the Lord Jesus. Even though its prayer is addressed above all to the Father, it includes in all the liturgical traditions forms of prayer addressed to Christ.“
There is no obligation
The church also does not say that “saints” have to be called upon so that they can pray for us.
Another assumption is that people should not seek the help of the “saints,” the magazine said. The intercession of Jesus is enough. This is primarily true, but this should not be a reason to refuse to ask the prayers of the “saints”. Rejecting this raises the question of why one should seek the help of Christians on earth when one can go directly to Jesus. No Christian wants to say that we shouldn’t pray for one another.
Good reasons for making requests to “saints”
God determined that if several people prayed, he would answer some requests, the magazine said. This implied that God could not respond if fewer people prayed.
It was God’s will that the “saints” prayed for us. May this glorify our intercession. The request for the intercession of the “saints” glorifies God because this is his will.
Basic lie is the immortal soul
This attempted justification for addressing supplications to “saints” is only possible based on the erroneous idea that humans have an immortal soul, as taught in particular by the Roman Catholic Church (Catechism 366). This is also in the knowledge that nowhere in the Bible, neither in the Old nor in the New Testament, has there been any reference to an immortal soul. The opposite is the case (Info).
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 is clear at this point:
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.“
Deceased people are simply dead. Jesus called the state after earthly death sleep (e.g. with Lazarus, John 11:11), but they know absolutely nothing and have no consciousness.
Abomination instead of will
The Catholic magazine calls it the “will of God” to ask for help from the quasi-souls of the deceased, known as “saints.” The blatant untruth, because God himself declared the exact opposite. Leviticus 20:6:
“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.”
Deuteronomy 18:11-12:
“Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.“
The Catholic magazine claims that it is God’s will to reach out to the dead, but God Himself makes it clear that this is an abomination to Him.
At this point, no matter how eloquently clergy can justify their practice of turning to the dead, it doesn’t help. It is and remains an abomination before the Lord, because these “saints” that the Roman Catholic Church speaks of do not exist.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
Jeremiah 29:8
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
