Can I get a witness?
Catholic Reflector Chronicle/Vol. 3, Issue 1/July 7, 2025
Paradise, ca. 1378. Dome fresco, Padua Baptistery, Italy.
There are saints in heaven. These are the souls that have died in God’s grace and now live in His presence. They are more alive than any of us on earth. These blessed souls are just as much a part of the Body of Christ as believers on earth are, and in many ways, more so. We Catholics believe that these saints pray for us on earth and intercede on our behalf. I find this a comforting thought, and so should you.
Non-Catholic Christians denounce this belief, and accuse Catholics of all sorts terrible things. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. Amen! Catholics agree. “No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts spells, or who consults ghosts or spirits, or who seeks oracles from the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord; it is because of such abhorrent practices that the Lord your God is driving them out before you.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12. Amen! Catholics agree. “Now if people say to you, “Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living, 20 for teaching and for instruction?” surely, those who speak like this will have no dawn! Isaiah 8:19. Amen! Catholics agree.
D.M.! How can you say Catholics agree? You pray to the dead! You deny Christ is the one mediator! You’ve gone too far this time!
Nay, nay, my friend. Catholics believe and follow every passage above. Christ is the one mediator. We are not necromancers. Hear me out.
Catholics believe in the Communion of Saints. This is the spiritual union of all members of the Body of Christ, above and below. We divide this group into 3 parts:
The Church Militant: Christians on earth
The Church Suffering: The souls undergoing purgation (purgatory)
The Church Triumphant: The souls (saints) in heaven
The saints in heaven are not dead, they are very much alive. They are certainly not the dead (spirits) that we are prohibited from contacting (necromancy). In Scripture, necromancy refers to attempts to conjure or manipulate the dead for hidden information or power. This practice often involves magical (diabolical) rites or divination. It is an attempt to control or summon the dead, and as such, is an attempt to bypass God completely. This is evil. This is dancing with the devil. Whoa unto these necromancers. In contrast, praying to the saints is asking for their intercession. We are not conjuring them or commanding them, we are asking for their prayers.
Since the Body of Christ in a unified body, earthly death never severs this bond. Therefore, just as we ask fellow Christians on earth to pray for us, it only makes sense for us to ask the perfected souls in heaven to pray for us.
We don’t just pull this belief out of of thin air either. Scripture supports the intercession of the saints. It’s not direct, but when read in context, it very much supports it. James 5:16 says, “the righteous intercede for others.” Who is more righteous than the saints in heaven? Revelation discusses the “prayers of the saints rising before God.” Hebrews says “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” In the context of all of scripture (which is the only way we should read scripture, not just proof texts and incomplete parts), it is not unreasonable for Catholics to hold this belief. You see, the Bible must be read in context because it is not a collection of isolated verses, but a unified narrative of God’s revelation across history, genres and cultures. Citing individual verses out of their context to support a point can distort the intended meaning. We should always seek to to understand the broader message rather than weaponizing isolated verses (yes, Catholics and non-Catholics alike are both guilty of this). (As a side note, I looked up 5 different non-Catholic interpretations of Hebrews 12:1–2: 12, and that’s what they were: different. Not one in agreement with the next, and all appeared to be taken out of context.)
Intercession on earth is a charitable act. We pray for each other, we ask others to pray for us. For Catholics, asking the righteous souls in heaven to pray for us is no different. I’ve often hear non-Catholic Christians talk about a deceased love one in such a way. “Grandma is looking down on us” is a common one. Or, “heaven has a new angel.” (Never mind the metaphysical problem with that one). And Grandma (if she is in heaven) is looking down on you, and prays for you. As Luke 15:7,10 says, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” and “Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” These passages, and the previous ones cited, and the below one cited, in context, point to the reality that the souls (and angels) in heaven know what is happening here on earth. There is joy in heaven when sinners repent and unite with Christ. As there should be.
Asking a fellow Christian to pray for you is not idolatry, and Scripture commands us to pray for one another. So if asking a fellow Christian to pray for you isn’t wrong, then neither is asking a glorified believer in heaven to pray for you. This is not a refutation that Christ is the one mediator, because guess what? YOUR PRAYERS are done through Christ, not apart from Him. Likewise, all intercession of saints is rooted in Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and man. No saint, on earth or in heaven, has any power or authority apart from Christ. Our own prayers, and the prayers of the saints in heaven are a participation in Christ’s own intercession. In Revelation 8:3-4 it says, in part, “Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints.” Remember, a prayer is a request. What could the saints in heaven possibly be requesting? They are in the presence of God, they want for nothing! So what else could they possibly have to pray for? US! You. Me. Believers, and for the repentance of those who are not.
Thanks be to God, and God Bless.
Scripture to read and consider:
Hebrews 12:1–2: 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[a] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[b] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Psalm 141:2: 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Revelation 5:8: 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 8:3-4: 3 Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
Issue Quote(s):***
Clement of Alexandria Stromata book 7 ch 12 (150-215 ad)
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].
Origen on Prayer ch 20 (185-254 ad)
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.
Rylands Papyrus P470 Egypt (250 ad)
Under thy compassion we take refuge, O Mother of God (Theotokos). Do not despise our petitions in the time of trouble, but from dangers ransom us, singularly holy, singularly blessed.
Jerome against the Vigilantius par 6 (347-420 ad)
If Apostles and martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, when they ought still to be anxious for themselves, how much more must they do so when once they have won their crowns, overcome, and triumphed?
Augustine Exposition on Psalm 86 par 23 (354-430 ad)
For our Lord Jesus Christ still intercedeth for us: all the Martyrs who are with Him intercede for us.
***not all early Church fathers agreed on the intercession of the saints. The above certainly did, and they are in good company.
Upcoming Topics:
July 21: God doesn’t need you.
July 28: Can you lend a hand? Relics in the Catholic Faith.
July August 4: 1 out of 12 ain’t bad, or is it?
August 11: No one “falls” into sin.
Disclaimer from the Editor: I have done just about everything wrong that a Catholic can do. I was born a Catholic, and by the Grace of God, managed to remain one. I hope these writings educate and edify you. I will make mistakes, and I am likely to offend a few folks along the way. That is not my intention. If you wish to discuss anything written or expressed in this newsletter, please reach out to the email address below. Questions, comments and rude remarks are welcome, one and all. And remember, if you are a practicing Catholic, practice harder!
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