Comments on: The Eucharistic Prayer: Intercessions

By: Fr. Christian Mathis

Fr. Christian Mathis — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Adoro,

I did not write this particular icon, but rather found a picture of it on the world wide web. It is an icon of All Saints and I can’t tell you lots of specifics. Some basic elements there are Christ on his heavenly throne surrounded by various forms of angels. There are two figures who appear to be the Theotokos and John the Baptist on either side. The four symbols of the Gospels found in the book of Revelation are also on the corners of the group of seraphim that surround Christ and there are groupings of saints below….some of whom appear to be martyrs and some monastics. That’s all I got on this one!

By: Adoro

Adoro — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:05:52 +0000

Ok, I actually originally came to this post for a very particular question: Father, can you write or direct us to information directly related to the icon you are using? This is the first time I’ve seen it, I love it and want to learn more. If I had time and money I’d love to learn to write icons, should God so call me to it. There is SO MUCH in this one, and the child at the right corner really stands out. There are groupings, there are numbers of those in those groupings that differ, and there are differing colors. It all means something.

Did YOU write this one? Is this one of your gifts?

By: Adoro

Adoro — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:00:21 +0000

As far as the Saints hearing our prayers goes…they are alive in Christ. They aren’t dead. Jesus can hear us, can’t He? Didn’t He die? Didn’t He open Heaven to us? Don’t Protestants believe that their loved ones are with God?

So…why is it a stretch for them to believe that the Saints, those who are with God in eternal beatitude, can hear OUR prayers? Isn’t it FAR greater for them to hear God, but in union with Him, can’t He simply allow them to hear those conversations directed towards them that bring us all into greater communion with God, even from our lowly state here on earth?

Isn’t everything of God ordered towards Him and designed as a way to help us grow closer to Him?

If we call someone on a telephone to ask them to pray for us, given we can’t SEE how that is transmitted exactly, yet know it happens, why is it so difficult to believe that those who are in God’s direct presence can’t hear us at all? What? Do we need to find Heaven and establish telephone poles and skype?

By: Fr. Christian Mathis

Fr. Christian Mathis — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:01:07 +0000

Hey there Cajun Queen!

I don’t really know how they can hear our prayers, except that we know that we will have bodies in the next life. Perhaps God gives them big ears to hear us with!

By: Meredith

Meredith — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:55:35 +0000

I’ve spent most of my life here in the South avoiding this question. Thanks for sharing such a succinct answer.

I have just joined the Legion of Mary and it is my goal to become completely comfortable not only in asking for Our Lady’s intercession, but in encouraging others to do the same.

By: Mark G.

Mark G. — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:57:01 +0000

Father, I can give this post an unqualified, “Amen!”

Kathleen – that’s an interesting take. I do, indeed, pray “to” Mary & other saints by name, but I know that it is God who will answer these petitions according to his will, not the saint. Many Protestants are sadly hamstrung by a very pragmatic & rationalistic mode of thinking. It comes from centuries of denying the miracles of the Church, especilly the Eucharist. They can’t even conceive of a mystical communion. I sometimes wonder just how small a heaven many people expect.

Regina Cajunum – “For man it is impossible; but for God all things are possible.” Maybe a prayerful reading of John 14-17 would be helpful.

By: Cajun Queen

Cajun Queen — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:40:40 +0000

Can you help with response to protestant friends (and my little ones as well) as to how those Christians who are no longer present with us on earth can “hear our prayers”