| Question |
I know that you do not pray "through" the Blessed Mother, or through any of the saints or holy people of the Bible. I understand your belief that
you pray only to the Heavenly Father.
As a Catholic, many non-Catholics have given me grief over what they call "idolatry" saying we idolize the Virgin Mary, and/or saints, by praying
to them. In actuality, we do not (I think you know that; at least, in your responses you've never given any indication otherwise!).
Here is my question, though. If you offer your prayers only to God the Father, do you never ask others to pray for you? Would you ever consider
asking other members of your Church, friends, relatives, to offer prayers to your Heavenly Father on your behalf? If you would ask others for
prayers, why would you not ask the Blessed Virgin, saints, or other holy people of the Bible to offer prayers for you, as well?
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| Response |
The answer is in two parts. First lets look at
Matthew
6:9, "After this manner therefore pray
ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name."
As you can see, that prayer, the Lord's prayer, goes
on to include how we need to give thanks, how we need
to be forgiving, how we need to ask for protection
against temptation, and how we must give all of the
glory for our blessings to God in our prayers.
Many
people have made the mistake in thinking that the
recitation of the Lord's prayer is all that is needed
in their prayers. As one examines that scripture, they
can see that what was said was the style or "manner"
in which we should pray.
The next scripture to look at would be John 14:6,
which says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto
the Father, but by me."
There are similar scriptures to these but I am
unable to find any scripture that directs us to
approach the Father through the Virgin Mary or any of
the saints. I don't feel critical of you for doing so,
but we pray in this straightforward way because we
have been directed to do so.
As far as whether I have or will ever ask others to
pray for me, the answer is that I have asked friends,
and family members to pray for me in times of concern
or trial and they have done so and I have felt the
strength of their faith.
As prayers have been answered
or as I have been called upon to be patient and "wait
upon the Lord" why then would I not ask the blessed
Virgin, or other holy people of the Bible to pray for
me? It is simply because I have no relationship to them,
although I appreciate the great things that they have
done. I do not suppose that in any way do they take
the place of Jesus Christ through whom we pray to the
Father. As you might have heard members of our church
pray, we always conclude each prayer "In the name Jesus Christ, Amen."
I hope that this is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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