Yes, of course, but they flunked the test. in Luke 9:1, "Jesus...gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and cure diseases, and...to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." Having this new authority, what did they do w/it when it came time to feeding the masses? When commanded to take up that same authority and give them something to eat, they took no further initiative.
But they did physically intercede. The miracle wouldn't mean much if they didn't actually distribute the loaves and fishes. And He certainly need the Apostles to intercede. So why didn't He just have it fall from the sky like manna instead of involving them? You know - to demonstrate that only direct interaction with Him is acceptable.[Rutles4Ever]
Okay, we keep getting away from my objection at the get-go of this thread. Folks keep wanting to claim that asking an earthly saint to pray & intercede is no different than asking a heavenly saint to pray & intercede.
If you sum up the argument made over & over by folks, that is the main one, right?
Well, if that's the case, why don't we have newspaper ads regularly identifying (and thanking) earthly saints for answering their prayers?
I mean thousands of effectual, righteous intercesssors exist around the globe. Why no appeal to them to pray for specialized areas? Why no thanksgiving lifted up to them?
Now, let's go the next step: Imagine the message the world would receive from us if we began to identify and thank all of these earthly intercessors with thousands of ads (and Web sites & who knows what)?
Why, some might begin to think like the Islanders who saw Paul shake off a snake w/no ill effect: "they changed their minds & said he was a god." (Acts 28:6)
When healing power is sourced in a less-than-divine person, the worldly tendency is to see that person as a "god." When that happens, the intercessor cuts into the glory of God. I mean, look at how our schools treat Thanksgiving as a holiday w/out meaning (exactly WHO are we thanking?). Likewise, when saints become the object of thanksgiving, we need to ask: Exactly WHO are we thanking?
Well, Campion probably got tired of all of us. And rightly so.
I, simpleton, will try to fill in. All catholics know that the prayer is answered by God. We're simply thanking the saint who interceded for us.
Simple as that. "It's a catholic thing, you wouldn't understand." Help yourself, read what the church teaches. Read the history, read the catechism.
If you read it, and don't agree with it, fine.