/lit/ - Literature

>>19413449

The four living creatures also heard every creature in the universe simultaneously, and it is implied that the elders did too.
Thus, it is clear from scripture that there is absolutely no logistical problem with the saints and angels in heaven hearing the prayers of the faithful. God is omnipotent, and He has clearly granted this grace to at least the angels, the elders, and John the Apostle.
Therefore, there is no reason why the saints could not hear our prayers in heaven. They are aware of what is going on on the Earth, and many (if not all) of them can simultaneously hear and understand every creature in the entire universe. It would even be a small thing for God to allow His saints to hear only those prayers directed to them across the world in their own language.

Finally, now that we know the saints in heaven are aware of what happens on Earth, and that many have supernatural graces that allow them to have the ability to hear prayers, the only question is whether it is worth it to ask the saints/angels to pray for us, rather than doing it ourselves.
This should already be obvious based on the previous verses, but here is a final verseL
"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Revelation 5:8)
So the prayers of the saints are offered like incense DIRECTLY to Jesus Christ, in His heavenly liturgy. Now, I don't know about you, but I am not a saint. But the saints in heaven are saints, and if they can hear my requests for prayers, and will pray to God for me, that means a prayer from a lowly sinner like me can be offered directly to the throne of Jesus Christ in heaven, in a way that is special and distinct from the prayers of non-saints.

Altogether, this was, to me, a solid cumulative case to show me that asking the saints to pray for us is, at best, extremely profitable and worth doing (which is probably why the early Christians did it) - and at worst, contradicts nothing within scripture, and is effectively a net neutral, because we also pray to God directly.

I hope at least somebody learned something new from this. Bless you all.

(4/4)

>>18757953
Do you have any argument as to why we should not consider the gospels of Matthew and John to be firsthand eyewitness testimonies, although they have universally been testified to be so from the very beginning of their authorship discussion? Extremely early figures like St. Irenaeus testify to the Johannine authorship of the Gospel of John - and seeing as Irenaeus was the disciple of St. Polycarp, who himself was the disciple of St. John the Evangelist, I don't see how you can get any more of a direct confirmation of the apostolic authorship of, at least, the Gospel of John.

>>18532626
Your lack of understanding is what happens when somebody only learns about the New Testament from people doing daw'ah, deliberately or ignorantly misrepresenting its message.

>"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

>"And [Jesus] said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

>"Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And [Jesus] told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, BEGINNING in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:44-48)

>"He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

>>18280833

My friend, you must be no longer lukewarm. The time has come to make your decision.

The Catholic Church has always applied the principle “outside the Church, no salvation” to those who are knowingly and wilfully separated from the Church and, therefore, have knowingly and willfully separated themselves from Christ—Who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life—and in whose name only can men be saved.”

The words “knowingly” and “wilfully” are most important because they clearly indicate the sinful dispositions of some who are “outside the Church” and for whom there is no hope of salvation unless they mend their ways.

He who knows that the Catholic Church is the One True Church … who knows it is his duty to become a member and freely decides against it … is thereby putting himself outside the way of salvation that Christ traced for us. No matter what his motives may be—fear of what others, friends and relatives, will think … a marriage situation which would not be acceptable to the Catholic Church … a proud reluctance to submit to authority—no such reasons can excuse him, for he is outside the Church through his own fault.

And there is no salvation for those who doubt. They know not which way to turn or which course to take. “Can I stay where I am,” they ask themselves, “or should I become a Catholic?” But they never make sufficient effort to settle their doubt and they drift through life without doing anything about it. Such negligence in the all-important matter of finding the necessary means whereby they can attain the very purpose of their lives is sinful and they are inexcusably rash.

Christ would not have asked the Father to forgive His executioners, if it was not possible that they be forgiven, because they “knew not what they did.” God can and will forgive those “who know not what they do” … those who have been unknowingly led into error, which they would willingly forsake for the truth—if they but knew the truth.

Do not let your inaction jeopardize your salvation, brother. Of one who knows much, much is expected.

The Lord Jesus Christ says: "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm— neither hot nor cold— I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!"