Gumdrop: “When a person prays to Mary, it is in request for her prayers for sinners....Her spirit is alive just as all the spirits of the dead who are in Christ are alive. We Catholics call this the Communion of Saints.”
I see no problem with Mary as a highly regarded historical character. I just don’t see why she is singled out as one of the primary intercessors to Christ. It seems that the “Saints” to which the Roman Catholics pray are focused on new testament (or later) persons. Why don’t the Roman Catholics pray to Abraham, Sarah, Moses, or Noah? Even Paul claimed the faith of these were among the greatest.
What is the benchmark for being prayed to? Is there some sort of qualification these “saints” have earned that seperate them from other great biblical characters???
Wow, what a great question!
We think Mary had and has the closest relationship to Jesus that any person could possibly have. That's what lies behind the predominance of her "cult". I do know of monks and friars who have taken OT persons as their patrons. So some RCs DO pray for the intercession of OT figures.
Yes, we revere the old testament saints as well:
Catholic Prayers
Litany to Old Testament Saints
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
God of Abraham,
Have mercy on us.
God of Bethel, (El Bethel)
Have mercy on us.
Mighty One of Jacob,
Have mercy on us.
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Have mercy on us.
God Almighty, (El Shaddai)
Have mercy on us.
God the Most High, (El-Elyon)
Have mercy on us.
Yahweh,
Have mercy on us.
Archangel Michael,
Pray for us.
Archangel Gabriel,
Pray for us.
Archangel Raphael,
Pray for us.
All you holy angels and archangels,
Pray for us.
Noah,
Pray for us.
All you holy people before the flood,
Pray for us.
Abraham,
Pray for us.
Isaac,
Pray for us.
Jacob,
Pray for us.
Joseph,
Pray for us.
All you holy patriarchs,
Pray for us.
Aaron,
Pray for us.
All you holy priests,
Pray for us.
Moses,
Pray for us.
Joshua,
Pray for us.
All you holy leaders,
Pray for us.
David,
Pray for us.
All you holy kings,
Pray for us.
Job,
Pray for us.
Tobit,
Pray for us.
All you holy men,
Pray for us.
Sarah,
Pray for us.
Rebecca,
Pray for us.
Rachel,
Pray for us.
Miriam,
Pray for us.
Deborah,
Pray for us.
Ruth,
Pray for us.
Hannah,
Pray for us.
Judith,
Pray for us.
Esther,
Pray for us.
All you holy women,
Pray for us.
Samuel,
Pray for us.
Jeremiah,
Pray for us.
Ezekiel,
Pray for us.
Daniel,
Pray for us.
Malachias,
Pray for us.
Elijah,
Pray for us.
Elisha,
Pray for us.
Isaias,
Pray for us.
All you holy prophets,
Pray for us.
Abel,
Pray for us.
Eleazar,
Pray for us.
Ananias,
Pray for us.
Azarias,
Pray for us.
Misael,
Pray for us.
All you holy martyrs and heroic witnesses,
Pray for us.
All you holy men and women, Old Testament saints of God,
Make intercession for us.
Be merciful,
Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil,
O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin,
O Lord, deliver us.
From breaking Your Commandments,
O Lord, deliver us.
From falling away from the Faith,
From doubting Your Word,
O Lord, deliver us.
From denying Your Name,
O Lord, deliver us.
From fear of proclaiming Your Name,
O Lord, deliver us.
From lack of sincere repentance,
O Lord, deliver us.
From losing hope,
O Lord, deliver us.
From fear of fraternal correction,
O Lord, deliver us.
From doubt of Your Power,
O Lord, deliver us.
From all false desires,
O Lord, deliver us.
From lack of zeal in Your service,
O Lord, deliver us.
We sinners,
We implore You, hear us.
That we continue to walk by faith,
We implore You, hear us.
That we witness to You regardless of human respect,
We implore You, hear us.
That we grow in love for Your Holy Word,
We implore You, hear us.
That we appreciate the blessing of having children,
We implore You, hear us.
That we overcome evil by the power of good,
We implore You, hear us.
That we who have more respond more,
We implore You, hear us.
That the Jewish nation will recognize You,
We implore You, hear us.
That all non-Christians will come to the Light,
We implore You, hear us.
That You would give eternal rest to the faithful departed,
We implore You, hear us.
That You would grant my special intention,
We implore You, hear us.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us. Amen.
Yeah, actually. Results. Study Fatima and the apparitions of Mary, study the miraculous intercession of the saints. Folks tend to pray for results, we humans are amazingly results-oriented. So we pray for the intercession of saints who accomplish things. Try it some time when you’re losing on all sides. It works.
Never heard of a prayer to Noah working. But I have heard of lots of miracles around believers who have asked for Mary’s intercession.