[D-fendr]

Below is the beginning of the Litany of the Saints. This is the ultimate "prayer to the saints" so it can well serve as an example. I think you will see in its form the point in my previous post to you.


Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, pray for us.
St. Raphael, pray for us.
All you Holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Andrew, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. John, pray for us.
St. Thomas, pray for us.…

[Dr. Eckleburg]

To whom are you asking all those dead people to pray?

To God?

If it is God, then Scripture tells us there is only one mediator between ourselves and God -- Jesus Christ.

To pray to anyone other than the Savior who is solely responsible for your salvation is superfluous, and hedges dangerously toward giving to dead creatures the glory that is due the Creator alone.

"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye `forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." -- Deuteronomy 4:23-24

When Christ instructed his followers to pray, He was specific. He didn't say "Our saints, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy many names..."

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." -- Matthew 6:7-8

[Full Court]

Matthew 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.