(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
Roman Catholicism has been a decisive spiritual force in the history of Western
civilization. There are more Roman Catholics in the world than there are
believers of any other religious tradition—not merely more Roman Catholics
than all other Christians combined, but more Roman Catholics than all Muslims
or Buddhists or Hindus. They venerate saints and the mother of Jesus. The
“host” during their communion service is said to become the actual body
of Christ, the wine his actual blood, when blessed by the priest. The papacy
is the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in the world. To millions, the
pope is the infallible interpreter of divine revelation and the vicar of
Christ.
The Roman Catholic does not pray to saints to ask them to predict the future
or use any preternatural means. The Catholic prays for their help in praying
to God for us. One must ask for assistance, the Roman Catholic believes.
The act of necromancy, or communicating with the dead, forbids Catholics
from communicating with spirits in order to find out the future. The Catholic
uses no magic at all. Rather the Roman Catholic prays for the Saints’ intercession
in the individual’s life.
Scriptures depict God’s people in heaven not only interceding for those on
earth, but accepting prayers from those people on earth who are in Unity
with the body of Christ. Roman Catholicism established a belief that the
body of Christ is now here in the earth and is intimately linked with brothers
and sisters who are in heaven. It is the Catholic opinion that to pray to
them is effective because they are the just men made perfect who are witnesses
for us, and lend us aid (Hebrews. 12:1-2, 23). Jesus called the people in
heaven alive and they express joy when the believers become followers of
Christ (Mk. 12:24, 27, Lk. 15:7). Those in heaven are constantly making prayers,
and are concerned for those on earth (Rev. 5:8-10, 6:9-10, 11:13-14, 19:18)
and we also see specific examples of prayer of named individuals in heaven
who intercede for those on earth (Jer. 15:1, 2 Macc. 15:12-16).
The effect of prayer is virtually guaranteed from a Roman Catholic’s point
of view. Hebrews 12:23 says that we come to the spirits of those just men
made perfect, and we know that in the epistle of James that the prayers of
the righteous are of great power (Jm. 5:16-18). Roman Catholic Christians
have an active ongoing dialogue with the saints in heaven. They believe and
know from first hand experience that prayers do much good.