"In particular, we should be very suspicious of the medieval idea that the saints can function as friends at court so that while we might be shy of approaching the King ourselves, we know someone who is, as it were, one of us, to whom we can talk freely and who will maybe put in a good word for us...If you have a royal welcome awaiting you in the throne room itself, for whatever may be on your heart and mind, whether great or small, why would you bother hanging around the outer lobby trying to persuade someone there, however distinguished to go in and ask for you?" --N.T. Wright Surprised by Hope p. 173.
He is absolutely right, but I would also like to add that he captures well a distinction between Orthodox and much Catholic prayers to the saints. (I would still object to Orthodox prayers to the saints, but not on quite the same grounds, nor so vehemently.) The Orthodox do not pray to the saints because they are the courtiers who have the king's ear, but because the king has lots of friends in his presence, and he would like to share them with us. And that difference is liturgical.
Again, I'm not endorsing the Orthodox view, just taking notes.
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Friends in his presence, introducing them to us. Thanks! That's great.
ReplyDeleteI don't know of anyone who prays to the saints that does not also pray to God. In fact, the thought that you are too shy to ask God Himself for what you pray to the saints for is ludicrous - does God not know what you are doing as you are praying? The concept of omniscience eliminates this line of reasoning.
ReplyDeleteWho knows how the whole thing works? What's wrong with praying to the saints? It's hardly like the people who are doing it are trying to line up votes like it was some kind of congressional vote.
Objections to praying to the saints seem like much ado about nothing.