[TRY ONE]

"Jesus referring to Moses, Abraham and Issac: "He is the God of the living, not of the dead." The saints in heaven are far more alive than you or I, brother."

We have the "Red Phone" --- We can contact God (Jesus) directly. Why pray to another spiritual being? Show me one example in Scripture where an Apostle or Prophet did so!

[nickcarraway]

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.(Revelations 5:8)

[nickcarraway]

In Matthew 17, do Elijah and Moses not appear to Jesus, Peter, James, and John?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Why pray to another spiritual being? Show me one example in Scripture where an Apostle or Prophet did so!

The Apostle John's vision of the Apocalypse:

5:8 And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

8:3 And another angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden censer: and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints, upon the golden altar which is before the throne of God. 4 And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.

[nickcarraway]

Why does Paul say in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 that is he is praying for people? Was that wrong of him?

More importantly why did Paul ask others to pray for him? (Rom. 15:30–32, Eph. 6:18–20, Col. 4:3, 1 Thess. 5:25, 2 Thess. 3:1) Why would Paul ask others to pray for him? Paul clearly believes it is not a sin to pray for others, or to ask for other to pray for you. Why would it be wrong to ask anyone connected to you in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12: esp.27;Ephesians 4:esp.12) to pray for you?

Paul had better not thing praying for other is a sin. Jesus Himself commanded it: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;(Matthew 5:44)

[tekriter]

We have the "Red Phone" --- We can contact God (Jesus) directly. Why pray to another spiritual being? Show me one example in Scripture where an Apostle or Prophet did so!

One example: the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-30). The departed rich man is able to pray to Abraham and intercede for his brothers.

The Catholic doctrine of communion of saints has been discussed a lot on various "Passion" forums. Many non-Catholics do not accept the doctrine. However, just to make sure that there is no misunderstanding about what Catholics believe, here is a condensation of the doctrine:

1. All Christians are members of Christ's body and one another. (Rom 12:5 and many others listed below)

2. Jesus has only one body. (Eph 4:4; Col 3:15)

3. Death cannot separate Christians from Christ or from one another. (Rom 8:35-39)

4. Christians are bound in mutual love. (Rom 12:10; I Thess 5:11; Gal 6:2)

In Christ we are made part of God's family, children of God (1 John 3:1), Joint heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), and partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4). This family communion of saints is known to Catholics as the Mystical Body of Christ. We are joined in a supernatural union as members of Christ's own body, and thus as members of one another. Each of us participates in the divine life of Christ.

This is what Christians have believed from the beginning of the Church as recorded through out the New Testament (1 Cor 10:16; Gal 3:28; Eph 1:22-23, 4:4, 4:15-16, 5:21-32, Col 1:18, 3:15). Additional evidence is in the writings of the early Church fathers, i. e., Hermas (A.D. 80), Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 208), Cyprian of Carthage (A.D. 253), Methodius (A.D. 305), Cyril of Jerusalem (A.D. 350), and others.