What Does the Bible Say about Praying to the Saints?
All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
Ascension
5 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 29 October 2019
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What does the Bible say about praying to saints? Are there biblical foundations for the Catholic tradition of asking saints to intercede for us?
Oftentimes we’re challenged by our protestant brothers and sisters with the question, “Why pray to saints when you can just pray to Jesus?” You’re not alone if you believe there’s a good answer to that question but struggle to explain it yourself.
As All Saints Day approaches, Dr. Edward Sri walks us through scripture passages wherein holy men and women from the Bible intercede before God for their communities.
This episode not only will leave you with a good apologetic answer to these questions, but—more importantly—will leave you with a renewed sense of appreciation for the cloud of witnesses who inspire us, intercede for us, and draw us deeper into communion with the blessed Trinity.
*Intercessory Prayer Is Scriptural *
The Bible shows us that the saints aren’t disconnected from and uninterested in those who are living.
*Old Testament: *
Jeremiah 15:1–Long after their deaths, Moses and Samuel are depicted pleading for the Israelite people on earth
*New Testament *
Revelation 8:3–The prayers of the saints rise up before God, and then God acts on earth.
John 15 – “I am the vine, and you are the branches.”
St. Paul – We are the “body of Christ.” It doesn’t make sense that death would rupture this bond.
Hebrews 12:1 The saints are a “cloud of witnesses”
*Intercession Is Not Optional for Christians *
Love of God and love of neighbor go hand in hand. The saints are our neighbors. They are our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. When we grow in fellowship with our fellow Christians, we grow in fellowship with Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:11–St. Paul commands the Christians in Corinth to pray for him.
1 Timothy 2:1–Timothy commands the Christians to pray for each other
*How to Grow in Fellowship with the Saints *
- Pick a few saints that you want to get to know.
- Read their writings and learn about their lives. Fill your mind with their stories and their example.
- Talk to the saints, every day. Share your weaknesses with them and ask them to walk with you in your difficult times. Don’t just ask them to pray for you...invite them to be with you in every part of your life.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, I'm Edward Sree, and welcome to all things Catholic where real faith meets real life. If someone later this week came up to you and said, why do you Catholics pray to the Saints? |
| 0:20.1 | How confident would you be in giving a compelling answer to that question? |
| 0:24.1 | Why do you Catholics pray to the Saints? I mean, doesn't this distract from your |
| 0:28.1 | friendship with Jesus? I mean, you Catholics have all these statues and |
| 0:31.4 | stained-glass windows in your churches with the Saints and you have all these statues and stained glass windows in your churches with the Saints and |
| 0:34.3 | you have all these prayers and devotions and holy cards and novenas I mean doesn't |
| 0:40.6 | this just get in the way of a friendship with Christ? |
| 0:43.0 | You should just focus on Jesus and don't pray to Saints. |
| 0:46.6 | They don't have divine powers. |
| 0:48.6 | They're not God. |
| 0:49.5 | They can't help you anyway. |
| 0:50.7 | Just focus on a friendship with Jesus and where where's all this |
| 0:55.2 | saint stuff in the Bible you know I hear those questions a lot especially from my |
| 1:00.4 | Protestant brothers and sisters and and they're fair questions. |
| 1:03.9 | I think they're really good sincere questions, |
| 1:05.7 | but there's some great biblical answers |
| 1:07.4 | I want to get into in this week's show |
| 1:10.0 | is we're getting ready this week |
| 1:11.6 | as the church celebrates the great solemnity of all Saints Day. |
| 1:15.4 | So welcome to the All Things Catholic Podcast. |
| 1:18.1 | I'm your host Edward Sree. |
| 1:19.2 | I want to welcome any new listeners, especially any new listeners from the Dakotas. |
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