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.