The Intercession of the Saints

The Catholic doctrine on the intercession of Saints in Heaven is rooted in the belief that these holy individuals can pray for and intercede on behalf of the living. This practice is based on several passages from the Bible that illustrate the concept of intercession, the dogma of the Communion of Saints, support from the early Church Fathers, as well as Magisterial teaching.

Sacred Scripture demonstrates the intercession of Saints through the concept of intercessory prayer. In the Epistle of St. James, it is written, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). Saints, who are believed to be righteous due to their lives of faith and holiness, are thus seen as powerful intercessors before God. This idea finds further support in the Old Testament, where Abraham intercedes for the city of Sodom, and in the New Testament, where St. Paul expresses his desire for prayerful support from fellow Christians. This first principle is important since it teaches that not all prayers have equal efficacy. The righteous have powerful and effective prayers, and so we can establish that the Saints in Heaven would have more powerful and effective prayers on our behalf considering they are now perfected in grace from Heaven.

This Catholic doctrine draws upon the understanding of the Communion of Saints. This concept, mentioned in the Apostles' Creed, underscores the unity between the Church living on Earth (the Church Militant) and the Church living in Heaven (the Church Triumphant). Together with the Holy Souls of Purgatory (the Church Suffering) this unity comprises the Body of Christ. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of a "great cloud of witnesses," showing a spiritual connection between believers on Earth and those in Heaven. The remainder of Hebrews 12 goes on to list a litany of Saints from the Old Covenant that now reign in eternal glory. This connection forms the basis for Catholics to seek the intercession of Saints, since they are part of the larger spiritual family that transcends earthly life.

Furthermore, passages like Apocalypse 5:8 and Apocalypse 8:3-4 depict heavenly visions of Saints offering the prayers of the faithful to God. This imagery reinforces the truth that the Saints are actively engaged in interceding for those on Earth. "And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints" (Apoc 5:8). This vision depicts the ancients presenting the prayers of the saints before God.

We also encounter the doctrine of the intercession of the Saints in 2 Maccabees 15:12-16. This further gives credence to the reason Martin Luther removed this book from the Canon. This passage describes a vision of the high priest Onias and the prophet Jeremiah praying for the Jewish people even after their deaths. "Now the vision was in this manner: Onias who had been high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his manners, and graceful in his speech, and who from a child was exercised in virtues, holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews: After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age, and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty: Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, and for all the holy city, Jeremias the prophet of God. Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying: Take this holy sword a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel."

We also see passages teaching the intercession of the Angels, which provides another aspect from the biblical data showing the intercession of Heavenly beings, including their involvement in our lives.

Tobit 12:12: "So now when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought and read the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and likewise whenever you buried the dead." In the book of Tobit, the archangel St. Raphael reveals his role in presenting Tobit and Sarah's prayers before God. This was yet another book removed from the Canon by the archheretic Luther.

Psalm 91:11-12: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone." This passage highlights the protective role of angels over Christians.

Matthew 18:10: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." Jesus indicates that each person has an angel in heaven who has a special connection with God. Indeed, our personal angel was assigned by God for us, and they always behold the face of the Father.

Acts 12:15: When Peter is miraculously released from prison by an angel, the Christians gathered to pray for his release are amazed that their prayers have been answered and attribute it to his angel.

The Transfiguration, as described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, is an event in which Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain, and there he is transfigured before them. His appearance changes, and he is seen speaking with Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament. This event carries significance beyond its immediate narrative, including strong implications for the intercession of saints, as it showcases Moses and Elijah conversing with Our Lord, demonstrating a connection between the living and those who have departed.

The Transfiguration can be seen as providing evidence for the intercession of saints for a couple of reasons:

1. Moses and Elijah's Presence: The fact that Moses and Elijah appear alongside Jesus during the Transfiguration suggests a continuity and connection between the earthly and heavenly realms. Moses and Elijah are figures from the Old Testament, yet they are present and recognizable. This event indicates that individuals who have departed from their earthly life still have a role to play and can interact with the living. If Moses and Elijah can be present and converse with our Lord Jesus, it clearly opens the door to show that other departed saints can also have a role in the lives of the living.

2. Dialogue and Concern for Earthly Events: The conversation that takes place between our Lord, Moses, and Elijah teaches a continuity of awareness and concern for earthly events. In Luke 9:30-31, it is mentioned that they spoke about Jesus' "departure" which he was to fulfill in Jerusalem. This suggests that these saints are not cut off from the events on Earth and remain engaged in matters related to God's plan. This is reminiscent of the intercessory role that Catholic doctrine ascribes to saints, where they pray and intercede on behalf of the living.

As well, in Luke 20:37-38, our Savior says: "But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."

This statement by the Lord Jesus reveals that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who had long since passed away, are still considered to be alive in the eyes of God. In other words, their souls continue to exist after death and are in a state of being "alive" in God's presence.

This shows that the departed faithful are still alive in the presence of God in Heaven. The saints, who have died in a state of grace, are united with God in an eternal relationship. Therefore, when Jesus says that God is the God of the living, he is teaching that that those who have departed from this earthly life are not truly gone but continue to exist in a different, spiritual sense. They are more alive now than they were on Earth.

These passages collectively provide biblical evidence for the intercession of saints and angels, and contribute to the broader understanding of the spiritual connections and roles of saints and angels in the lives of the Church Militant. We see that the doctrine on the intercession of Saints in Heaven finds support throughout the Scriptures. Intercessory prayer, the communion of saints, heavenly visions, and examples of biblical figures interceding all contribute to this belief. Through these scriptural references, Christians teach that Saints, due to their righteousness and spiritual connection, can intercede on behalf of the living before God.

The Early Church Fathers, providing a witness of the dogmas contained in Sacred Tradition, back this up as well. These quotes reflect the belief of the early Church on the intercession of Saints, emphasizing that the departed faithful can continue to pray for and support the living members of the Church.

Origen (185–254 AD): "But not the high priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels... as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep."

St. Cyprian of Carthage (200–258 AD): "Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides of death always pray for one another."

St. John Chrysostom (347–407 AD): "When you perceive that God is chastening you, fly not to His enemies... but to His friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to Him, and who have great power."

St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD): "Neither are the souls of the pious dead separated from the Church which even now is the kingdom of Christ... for the dead hear and the living do not hear."

Of course, the Popes and Councils have taught this sacred doctrine as well. The holy Council of Trent taught, "The saints, who reign together with Christ, offer up their prayers to God for men. It is good and useful suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid, and help for obtaining benefits from God." –Session 25, Decree on the Invocation of Saints

Pope Pius IX: "For those who live united with the holy spirits of heaven and with Jesus Christ, there is more facility in obtaining blessings, because they obtain them through the merits of Christ." –Encyclical "Nostis et Nobiscum," Section 22

Pope Leo XIII: "The saints have great power with God; their way of life is pleasing to Him. Their intercession for us is of great avail." –Encyclical "Divinum Illud Munus," Section 15

Pope Leo XIII: "There is a perfect communion of all the saints, by which the merits of each benefit others; and by which from all the blessings from God come to us." –Encyclical "Octobri Mense," Section 23

Pope St. Pius X: "We are convinced without doubt that the merits of the saints are a treasure for us, so that we may be able to obtain with the help of them the remission of sins." –Encyclical "Editae saepe," Section 9

We see that Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and Magisterial teaching all back up the Christian dogma of the Intercession of the Saints. Protestants not only are in grave error by denying this doctrine revealed by Our Lord and the Apostles, but also they are missing out on so many spiritual support through prayerful intercession from their family of faith in Heaven.