It clearly speaks of situations that arise between the living. But it does not exclude the dead, and if they have eternal life as Christ promised them, then they are with us by default. By what logic shouldn't their eternal life be free from prayer? They are with God, are they not?
What does having eternal life have to do with being with us? That doesn't follow. Are the departed omnipresent? Physical death is meant to be a separation. I agree with you that the departed saved are WITH God. But that MEANS they are NOT with us, right? Their concerns now are Heavenly concerns, not earthly concerns. Imagine it. If you were actually in the presence of God would you be worrying about what is going on down here? I won't be, but I'm just mean. :) Besides, how could a Saint like Mary or Peter possibly handle all the traffic? Presumably, they would be passing along tens of millions of specific prayers per week, or day. How could they do it? :)
In any event, I think your original reference was specifically to James 5:16, i.e. "righteous man". I can't imagine the intent of that term was to include bodiless souls.
By what logic shouldn't their eternal life be free from prayer?
That's an interesting question. I can imagine us praising God and giving glory to Him, worshiping Him and all. But if I was already in His presence, I'm not sure what I would ask for. At that point what could I be lacking? I think I'd be pleased enough just to be there. :)
FK: Why is a canonized saint certain to be in Heaven?
The Church examines his life and finds evidence of heroic virtue. That is what gets one to heaven.
Heroic virtue gets one into Heaven, but you don't believe that salvation is earned?
You do not judge others for things you yourself are liable; you can judge others positively all you want.
Well, you can say that so and so did these great things, but how can you judge his heart, his faith? Lots of reprobate do great things.
Note that canonization does nothing to the saint, who is in heaven in a state of supernatural happiness already. It serves the living by giving them a friend they otherwise would not know about.
OK, thanks. I wondered how that worked. But if I was supernaturally happy being in the presence of God, I wouldn't be for long if I started looking down here to see what was going on. :) I would definitely have tears.
What do I have to do to get you to stop pinging me to your posts?
Unless you’re replying to one of my posts, just don’t do it.
Sorry for the double post
Two thoughts. I’ll let annalex do the heavy lifting.
I know the crucifix is one of the things that others don’t like about us. But one reason I like it is that it presents the mystery:
Christ is the perfect image of God. An aspect of the atonement which is often overlooked is the “exemplary” side. That is, He shows us what God is, what Love is, etc.
God is powerful. The prefect the supreme representation in creation of His power is a baby in a manger, a man who can’t scratch his nose.
God is in eternal bliss. The perfect representation of that bliss is Weeping over Jerusalem or at the death of a friend or saying “I thirst,” on a cross.
So, if the happiness of the blessed in heaven is God’s happiness shared with them, certainly it will have its compassionate side.
the 2nd: Lewis in the Great Divorce says the blessed have th ACTION of pity, but not the PASSION. They don’t SUFFER Pity, they TAKE pity.
I think these are useful ideas.
If I took example from Christ, I would. He did.
But if I was supernaturally happy being in the presence of God, I wouldn't be for long if I started looking down here to see what was going on. :) I would definitely have tears.
Yup. So you answered your own question.