Who can Pray with Us

Question: Catholics when challenged about praying to Mary often say that they do not pray to Mary but only ask her to pray for them just like other Christians ask others to join them in prayer. Is this the official teaching of the Catholic Church. Is it right?

Answer: The official teaching of the Catholic Church is for them to ask departed saints to intercede for them. Many Catholics, however, are not aware of this. Still it is a thin line between praying to and asking for intercession even for those who have been catechized well.

The question ‘Should Christians seek the prayers of those who no longer live on earth’ remains yet unanswered. Catholics would argue "yes." The passage they cite to support this view is Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Using this scripture they will assert that we are all part of God's family, whether living here on earth or living with the Lord, so it is proper and good to ask those recognized by the Church as saints to pray for us since they are closer to God than we are.

The scripture portion quoted above does not tell us to ask the cloud of witness to pray for us. The term "cloud of witnesses" is an analogy the Hebrew writer took from the Olympic Games. Some translate this term as "those in the grandstand." The picture the writer gives is of those who have finished running their race and are now in the grandstand. We know that those in the grandstand cannot run the race for us. Those that are alive are the ones running the race. Those who have died in the Lord have "ceased from their labor." They have already "finished the race." (see Rev 14:13 and 2 Tim 4:7)

Besides, the Word of God is clear about consulting the dead. Deut 18.9-13 says, “…. do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations. Let no one be found among you who … interprets omens, ……, or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, ……… You must be blameless before the LORD your God.”

What’s more, Jesus has told us clearly who can pray with us. In Matthew 18:19, He said, "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." Notice the important clause "on earth." The people who pray together must be "on earth." This definitely rules out those who have left this earth.

When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He never encouraged the disciples to ask Abraham or Moses or Elijah to pray for them. Asking the deceased to pray for us is unheard of in the Bible, and contradicts the teaching of the Bible.