Intercessory Prayer

[JSojourner]

I have traditionally believed only person can mediate the eternal dispute between imperfect humanity and perfect Deity.  And his name is Jesus Christ.

Do I believe the departed can and do pray for and with us?  I do.  I believe they are as alive as we are.  More so, only in another realm.  I do not believe they are sitting on clouds, plucking harps.

But do we pray TO anyone but God?  There is no scriptural precedent for this whatsoever.  I might, in my prayers, ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for me. Just as I might ask a Christian brother or sister to pray for me.  I would not ask her to mediate for me.  And if I did, I suspect she would point me to her Son.

As to whether another persons prayers, or my own, can change things...I find it is usually the case that prayer changes me, far more often than it changes my circumstances. 

[JSojourner]

Soulty,

That was tremendously helpful.  Thanks so much. 

I understand why lots of my fellow Protestants chafe at the idea that the saints (meaning all the departed who died in Christ) pray for and with us.  The First Timothy passage is exactly what causes so much consternation.  But you, and informed Catholics, are not saying that these prayers can redeem us or win favor with God for us.  Christ has already done that.

But too often, I think we pretend the dead are...well...dead.  And in truth, they are more alive than we.  And I have serious doubts about them sitting on clouds, plucking harps and so forth.

At present, I am studying the concept of "paradise" as a place of refreshment when the dead in Christ are in preparation for the completion and perfectio of the Kingdom. N.T. Wright has written a wonderful book about it called Surprised By Hope.

He also has a chapter on the significance and importance of the Ascension...and explains why we err when we disregard its vitality and centrality to the Christian story.