INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS

"…we ask for their intercessions, just as you ask others to intercede for you."

The intercession of saints is one of the highly debated topics in Christianity, as some of our Protestant brothers and sisters believe that prayers should be directed to God alone, which is absolutely true! Because the saints were long dead, at least in terms of earthly life. If you're a Christian, you've probably heard about the concept of the spirit. And that’s why Catholics like myself believe in the Intercession of the Saints.

If we take a look at Matthew 27:52, it says, "The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life."

Wait! Was there anyone else considered holy apart from God? Yes! We are!

Well, not inherently holy, but we can be holy. St. Augustine of Hippo, a prominent theologian and philosopher, once said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." This reflects the idea that true holiness is found in union with God.

Got it! People were raised from the dead and have become holy.

In Hebrews 12:22-23, it mentions, "You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect."

We all know that there’s a spirit residing in us, right? And heaven is perfect, right? Therefore, Spirit + Perfect = Holy (Saint).

Also, in Luke 16:27-31, one of Jesus' parables, known as the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. It tells the story of a rich man and a poor man who both died. The rich man ended up in hell, while the poor man in heaven. The rich man begged Father Abraham to send the poor man to warn his family about the consequences of not living a life in accordance with God's will. However, Father Abraham responded, saying, "If they do not heed Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead." This parable emphasizes the idea that faith and repentance should be rooted in a response to God's revealed Word and not solely reliant on extraordinary signs and wonders.

So, the dead can communicate with the saints.

Finally, in Revelation 8:3-4, it states, "And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God."

Now, we're talking about the end of times. From this passage, it demonstrates the idea that the prayers of the saints are important and have a spiritual impact. Thus, the prayers of the saints can be expressed as an intercessory prayer for the needs of the world.

My dear Brothers and Sisters, if we ask others to pray for us, then why can’t we ask the Saints who are in Heaven to pray for us if we can actually communicate with them?

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of All Saints on November 1st, let’s not forget the sufferings and sacrifices they endured for the glory of God and His people. Let's thank them and never be ashamed to seek their intercession.

Pro Deo et Ecclesia!