LOL. "Sets my gums on edge" doesn't have the same ring, does it? I hope all is well there, or as well as can be.
We could maybe go for a verb instead of an adjective. E.G. "But, [Dominic | saint of choice] has died."
It IS good for us feelthy papists (and the Orthodox] to be challenged to say what is the difference between OT necromancy and praying to/with the saints who have died. What, in our account, changed on Easter Weekend with respect to the status of the dead. On the other hand,I think "your side" needs to give some coherent account of what happened with Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration.
I THINK it's right to say, from our side's POV,FIRST that God and the saints are out of time, or not bound by time. Praying to the saints, like most things we do, is eschatological, in the sense that it not only looks ahead to the consummation but, as I like to say it, 'kites checks' on the basis of that consummation, enjoying "now" the benefits offered to all of us "on that day."
THEN I would stress, repeat, underline, capitalize, and even occasionally use colored letters
(!)
to state that all the communication takes place by the gift and work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of Christ which makes us one body.
Thx.
Waiting for more healing mostly. Next adjustment visit on next Monday.
I certainly agree that Holy Spirit makes us one in Christ's Body--through His Blood.
I believe that THE FATHER'S VOICE on the Mount of Transfiguration SIGNALED LOUDLY AND CLEARLY
HIS perspective on Peter's "Let's make 3 tabernacles/shelters--(for Moses, Elijah and Christ).
What did THE FATHER SAY?
THIS IS MY ---->BELOVED !!!!SON!!!!<----
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.
It is quite reasonable to construe that intervention by THE FATHER as a slap at Peter's suggestion for giving equal honor, billing to Moses and Elijah with Christ.
I do believe that there is a Scriptural STANDARD over the whole of Scripture that indicates that IN GENERAL, Believers are not to focus on graduated believers in any sense nor are they to attempt communication with them. The focus is to be exclusively on God--particularly CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED. If there are any exceptions to such--such as Mt of Transfiguration--such exceptions are to be GOD INITIATED, GENERATED--START TO FINISH.
It is also instructive, to ME, that of all the many accounts I've read of folks of any Christian label having a Heavenly visitation and returning to tell about it--there has not been one single description or narrative about the Believers in Heaven praying for, interceding for, mediating for Believers on earth.
That includes Mary. The very few mentions of Mary from such visits at all describe her helping, amongst many others, including angels, to teach children--such as babies who were victims of infanticide/abortion--the ways of God. She has absolutely no special role in Heaven as a result of being Christ's mother in any of such reports. That, to me, is also consistent with Scripture.
Thanks for your kind reply. Much appreciate your caring and thoughtfulness.
The "difference" is that Christ appeared and what was alluded to in the Old Testament has come into time and the world in the flesh and performed the only sacrifice God will now accept for the sins of His children - His Son on the cross, now risen to prove it all true.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." -- Acts 17:29-31 "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
So the instruction is to pray to the Godhead alone. Not silver, not gold, and no one else, because God alone is our judge, according to the righteousness of Christ alone.
Further, Jesus Christ was specifically asked "how do we pray?
His response was not "you kneel to a woman or friends of mine and offer them your prayers."
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth...""And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
I assume you know the rest.
And finally, the Roman Catholic apologist is under the burden of disproving the above by showing us anywhere in the New Testament that Christ or any of His apostles tells us to pray to anyone but the Triune God alone.