My question is, why would I NEED to pray to a Saint? It’s not like God is too busy to hear my prayer. He is infinite, all-seeing and all-knowing.
So, even if I do to pray to a Saint, He knows about my prayer well before the Saint has a chance to pass it on to Him.
You don't. OTOH, just as you have probably asked a friend to pray for you, there is nothing wrong with asking a saint to do the same thing. The saints are closer to God since they stand in His presence, unlike your friend on earth. In both instances, their prayers are offered up to God.
This is a good question, WayneS. Do you pray for others? Do you ask others to pray for you? If so, why? --- because your question about praying to saints in heaven would have the same answer as the question, "Why do we ask anyone for intercessory prayer?"
I'd be interested in your answer.
But God has so composed the Body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.If one member of suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Those who have gone before us into heaven are still members of the One Body.
Especially in light of all the passages where Jesus promises that our FATHER will hear and answer those prayers to Him.
It's like they don't even believe God will come through like He promised.
I think it's kinda like a spiritual spam filter.
My ISP gets rid of most all the junk that is flying my way; trying to clutter my in basket; so that I can deal with the important stuff; so these undead saints can toss the chaff out that wouldn't get answered anyway.
Ya gotta remember these saints just work in the mailroom; the Executive Secretary works REALLY close to the throne...
Let's try some easy math:
There are approximately 1.2 billion Catholics world wide;
If merely 1% of them 'ask' Mary for help just once each day;
that means that 12 million separate prayers are headed Mary's direction every day.
Given that there are 86,400 seconds per day... (24 hours times 60 minutes times 60 seconds)
...that means that Mary has to handle approximately 139 'requests' per second!
Purty good fer someone NOT 'divine'!
“He is infinite, all-seeing and all-knowing.”
Agreed, but does that mean you don’t praise Him? He knows you’re impressed with Him as “infinite, all-seeing and all-knowing” but you still tell Him so right?
Because it's just so much more interesting and powerful than praying only to God.