Replies

While I would choose to pray to St. Joseph (for example) at times, the reason would depend on the kind of prayer.

I'm sorry but this "humility" in prayer thing has completely lost me. I can think of no greater "humility" than understanding that we have fallen from God's grace, God have had to restore us, and that we are solely dependent upon His provincial hand to substain us. Going before Mary, Joseph, or "Saint" Sir Thomas More, seems silly when one can go directly to the throne of God.

I'm told by many here (Catholics included) (and wrongly I might add) that Jesus stands at "the door and knocks" and all we need to open that door. Well, if that's the case, why then don't you take ALL your prayers to Him since He wants to have fellowship with you?

There is NOTHING St. Joseph is going to teach you. There is only ONE teacher and it's not any of the "saints".

And if you don't think kids take away time from your wife, then, as an experiment, send them off to camp. You'll find out how wrong this analogy is.

this "humility" in prayer thing has completely lost me

Ever read "do not use the name of God in vain"? It enriches one's life to have petitions that are, perhaps, trivial in the grand scheme of things. For these daily tasks we ask the assistance of saints. Usually, humility (and the scripture) forbids asking Jesus for it.

And if you don't think kids take away time from your wife, then, as an experiment, send them off to camp

Is it your suggestion that one should lay off praying to saints every once in a while and concentrate on Jesus in isolation from His Church, in the same sense in which it is helpful to send the kids off to camp once in a while, and devote all the available time to one's wife? Perhaps, and some couples do that, although quite often one finds that they miss the kids the first-second day. But this is not an argument against praying to saints in principle. Or are you saying that I should give my children up for adoption in order to better love my wife? That would be analogous to the what Protestantism suggests we should do; but to give up my children would be a betrayal of my wife, and giving up the Communion of Saints would likewise be a betrayal of Christ.