Praying to Saints

Q Do the saints really hear our prayers?

A Mary and the saints do hear our prayers.  This is supported by Scripture.

Even though they have left this earth, Mary and the saints are not dead, at least the way we think of death.  Jesus said “And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Mt 22:31-32).  Jesus is telling us that the saints in heaven, like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are alive, not physically alive like we are here on earth but their souls are alive.  They are not spiritually dead.  And, being in heaven they are probably more alive than we are.  If we can hear, they can also hear.

In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author states, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (in other words, those who have died before us and are in heaven), let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us” (Heb 12:1).  In other words, those in heaven are concerned about us, just like spectators at a race; therefore, they must be able to see us, and hear us, as we deal with our earthly struggles. 

The Book of Revelation probably gives us the best scriptural evidence that our prayers to the saints in heaven are heard.  Revelation states that “the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.  Each of the elders held a harp, and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones” (Rv 5:8).  The prayers of the holy ones are the prayers of God’s people, us still on earth.  

The early church also believed in praying to the saints so that they could intercede for us.  St. Cyprian of Carthage:  “Let us remember one another. Let us on both sides (of death) always pray for one another.”  St. Cyril of Jerusalem: “Then (during the eucharistic prayer) we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and martyrs that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition. St. Jerome:  “But if the apostles and martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, how much more will they do so after their crowns, victories, and triumphs (after they are in heaven?”) 

But how can a saint understand all of the prayers offered to him?  There may be thousands or even millions of prayers offered at the same time in many different languages.  

The saints in heaven do not have ears like we have, or minds like we have, because they have suffered an earthly death and their bodies have not yet risen to heaven (with the exception of Jesus and Mary).  Even though we do not know all of the earthly powers that God gives to those in heaven, they would not be restricted to our earthly limitations.  Any powers given to them by an all-powerful God could certainly include hearing many prayers at the same time in different languages.  This is illustrated by the fact that miracles are granted to those who pray to saints.

While on earth, the saints performed many good deeds to those around them.  Would God want these acts to stop, just because they are no longer on earth?  I doubt it.  They are now closer to God then they ever were before, so they can intercede for us.  St. Thomas Aquinas in his “Summa Theologica” states that the souls of the saints retain the love of their neighbor, and “it is to be believed that they help their neighbor very much by interceding for him to God.”

If God can create a world out of nothing, certainly he can give those in heaven powers that we can only imagine, including the ability to listen to and understand many prayers in different languages at the same time.
Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at ghooper@diobr.org.