” On the other hand petitioning a saint, who is a member of the Church triumphant, requesting his prayers for your behalf, does not seem like the same thing.”
Well, we are not supposed to, or the Bible would so tell us - if we are in need of prayer, it seems God has provided fellow saints alongside us who can join us in prayer. Certainly I do this regularly, perhaps you do also. Calling up the dead in some fashion or another is not appropriate. Why not call a friend?
-— Calling up the dead in some fashion or another is not appropriate.——
The saints in heaven are not dead. They are fully alive,.
Secondly, they are as much a part of the unified, mystical Body of Christ as we are. We are one with them.
Thirdly, we ate not conjuring spirits, like the witch of Endor. We are asking our brothers and sisters in glory to pray for us.
—— Why not call a friend? ——
The prayer of a righteous man availeth much, and our glorified brethren are certainly righteous.
You know, that brings up a point as someone mentioned before.
If Catholics are so big on doing good works to get into heaven, why NOT ask fellow living saints to pray for them?
Really, by going to those who are already in heaven and not asking living-here-on-earth-believers, they are cheating those other believers living here on earth of the opportunity to do good works.