CHristianity has a lot of theat "works based principle". But to the question of scripture, sure: "For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much" (James 5:16)
When I see the words "Holy Mary, save me!", the last thing in the world I think of is a prayer request.
Yes, but you are not familiar with the Orthodox frame of reference. I put this plea in the context of the Incarnation and have no such confusion.
When you spend time with your children and in-laws it certainly takes away time with your wife
Time it takes, from something. Usually from some daily pursuits. But it does not take my love away: I am loving my wife by spending time with the people she loves. Martha had nothing to do with it, -- she was cooking in the kitchen, not praying to anyone.
Other than this has been advertised to me
Really? The first thing one would say about the saints is that we give them honor. Intercession is secondary. They are the martyrs who gave you your religion, and paid with their lives. Literally. Think about it.
"For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much" (James 5:16)
Yup. And where does this state come from? Faith.
FK:"Other than this has been advertised to me
A:"Really? The first thing one would say about the saints is that we give them honor. Intercession is secondary. They are the martyrs who gave you your religion, and paid with their lives. Literally. Think about it."
Maybe this from +Gregory Palamas concerning icons of saints will explain what we are up to, FK:
"In like manner you should also make icons of the saints and venerate them, not as gods --for this is forbidden-- but because of the attachment, inner affection and sense of surpassing honour that you feel for the saints when by means of their icons the intellect is raised up to them."
Gave with their lives . . .
Uhhhhhhhhhh. . . Christ at one point declared that John was the greatest born of women. But that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven was greater than he.
Then when John sent from prison not long before his death . . . to know whether Christ was really the Messiah, Christ was somewhat compassionate enough to provide a type of an answer--see the miracles--essentially--but in a sense, He was also somewhat detached. He did not belabor John's contribution nor his impending martyrdom.
Of course, all kinds of groups do all kinds of things contrary to Christ's model and exampole. We wouldn't want to claim the RC edifice was out of THAT group! LOL.
... But to the question of scripture, sure: "For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much" (James 5:16)
That doesn't distinguish at all among believers. The OVERWHELMING message in the Bible is that God hears the prayers of believers and does not hear them from unbelievers. If one prays in the will of God, he will receive, if he does not he will not.
Isa 59:2 : 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Prov 15:29 : 29 The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous. [This goes hand in hand with your verse.]
1 John 5:14-15 : 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.
There is nothing that says to turn over our prayer requests to Saints or to Mary because they have greater stature. My prayer stands or falls based on whether I am a believer and whether I am praying in God's will. Are you really saying that there are prayers that you have, but since you think God won't grant YOU a favorable answer you turn the prayer over to a Saint and then you will get a favorable answer? Does God really fall for this? :)
FK: "When I see the words "Holy Mary, save me!", the last thing in the world I think of is a prayer request. "
Yes, but you are not familiar with the Orthodox frame of reference. I put this plea in the context of the Incarnation and have no such confusion.
Well, a few days ago Kolo showed me one Orthodox frame of reference. It was a prayer that looked just like an intercession. "Pray for me". I don't know what you mean by putting the plea into the context of the Incarnation in terms of changing the appearance of the plain meaning.
FK: "Other than this has been advertised to me."
Really? The first thing one would say about the saints is that we give them honor. Intercession is secondary. They are the martyrs who gave you your religion, and paid with their lives. Literally. Think about it.
You said: "Also keep in mind that we do ask the saints for things other than prayer." (7889) It has been advertised to me that Catholics only look for intercession from saints, that people are not worshiping and looking for divine action on their parts. If anyone believes a saint can individually grant a supernatural request, such as salvation, then that is worship and not a request for prayer.
If we get right down to the nuts and bolts of it, let me just ask: when you pray to Mary: "Mary save us!", what exactly do you expect Mary to do for you? What actions are you asking Mary to take?