Many of you have probably seen those gospel tracts with a picture of a large chasm. God is on one side, and man is on the other. The open space between them represents sin. There's no way that man can possibly cross over to the other side to commune with God. The situation seems hopeless! That is, until Jesus comes into the picture. The cross bridges the space between God and man. Jesus makes it possible for man to be with God.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ; ~ 1 Timothy 2:5
Many people will use this verse to say that Catholics are wrong in praying to the saints. Why go to St. Francis or St. Cecilia rather than going straight to God? Jesus is the only mediator!!
Well, there is a big difference between the kind of mediator talked about in 1 Tim 2:5 and the role of the saints in the Church. None of the saints can fill the chasm between God and men. They would all fall short just as we would!! Jesus is the only one who can bridge the gap. He is the only mediator.
The saints don't act as mediators, but as intercessors. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. If I asked you to pray for me, would you quote 1 Tim 2:5 and say that you couldn't because you'd be going between me and God? Would you tell me to go straight to God rather than asking you? Of course not. You would make intercession for me, just as the saints do when I ask them to pray for me.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Pax Christi,
~the Catholic apologist
In celebration of All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1), I want to cover another very common misconception about the Catholic Church. Many people believe that Catholics worship the saints (most particularly Mary). This is not true.
CCC #2683 ~ The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were “put in charge of many things.” [Matt. 25:21] Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.
The Saints are great examples of people who gave their lives up to Jesus. They are disciples who have gone before us and reached the ultimate goal of heaven. But, think about this for a minute…what are they doing in heaven? We, as Catholics, believe that they are in heaven glorifying God and interceding for the Church on earth.
James 5:16 ~ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
If the prayer of a righteous man on earth availeth much, how much more should the prayer of a man (or woman) who is in heaven?
When we asked the saints for their intercession, it’s the same as asking a close friend or a family member to pray for us. They aren’t acting as messengers that separate us from praying directly to God, they’re brothers and sisters in Christ who are lifting us up in prayer. The only difference is that they are in heaven and we’re on earth.
What a blessing it is to have communion between all the saints, both those who are running the race, and those who have finished it!
Pax Christi,
~the Catholic apologist
