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THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS

in the Bible

To intercede means to intervene in favor of someone. We believe in the intercession (or mediation) of the saints like a truth wanted by God and revealed by the Gospel.

Some deny this intercession while basing their arguments on Paul's words: "God is unique, and unique is the Mediator between God and men, the Christ Jesus, man himself who delivered himself in ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2,5-6). So, intercession to God would be reserved to the Christ alone.

Those who deny the intercession of the saints do not fail to intercede themselves for the others. To be logical with themselves, they should stop praying for others.

However, Paul urges us to intercede for all; indeed he wrote to Timothy: "I recommend therefore above all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving should be offered to everyone, for the kings and for all that are in authority... For this is what is good and what is pleasing to God our Savior" (1 Timothy 2,1-3). Paul prays for Timothy and the believers themselves and he demands them to pray for the others and for himself:

- "... constantly, night and day, I think about you in my prayers" (2 Timothy 1,3).

- "I have never failed to thank God for you and to remember you in my prayers. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed to bring you to full knowledge of Him! May He enlighten the eyes of your mind" (Ephesians 1,16-17).

- "Live in the prayer... Intercede with supplication for all saints. Also pray for me so that I am given to open my mouth to speak and to announce the Mystery of the Gospel boldly (Ephesians 6,18-19).

- "Be persevering in your prayers... Pray for us especially... " (Colossians.4,2-3).

- "... their prayer for you will express the affection they feel for you..." (2 Corinthians 9,14).

- "It is our prayer to God that you may do nothing wrong... What we ask in our prayers is that you should be made perfect" (2 Corinthians13,7-9).

- "I thank my God... and every time I pray for you all, I always pray with joy" (Philippians 1,3-4)... "It is my prayer that your love for one another may grow more and more" (Philippians 1,9).

The Apostles James and John also recommend the intercession:

- "Confess your sins therefore to one another and pray for one another to be cured. The fervent heartfelt prayer of a righteous person is very powerful" (James 5,16).

- "If someone sees his brother committing a sin that doesn't lead to death, he has only to pray and God will give life to his brother" (1 John 5,16).

The intercession is made either to Jesus Christ, or directly to the Father Himself because of our faith in Jesus. Thus, the fact that Jesus is the unique Mediator does not prevent our intercession to Him for the others, and He will intercede to the Father for us. Better still; the Christ obtains to his followers the power to intercede directly themselves to the Father, because of their love for Him. This is clear in Jesus' words: "The Father will grant you anything you ask Him in my Name" (John 15,16). Our possible direct intercession to the Father is evident.

Jesus not only obtains to his followers the power to intercede directly to the Father, but reveals to them that, because they believe in Him, He will no more even have to intercede for them. He said indeed: "That day, you will ask in my name and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you, because the Father Himself loves you because you love Me" (John 16,26-27).

The saints who preceded us to Heaven, as well as the angels are alive and active; they can intercede for us and they do so (See our text: The survival after the death). One must be without humility and without love to refuse or to underestimate their intercession while admitting the intercession of oneself. As for us, we grant more importance to the intervention of Mary and Joseph of Nazareth, of Peter of Capernaum, of Paul of Tarsus and of Muhammad than to any other intervention on earth.

The intercession is the expression of love and an indefectible solidarity. We are united by the common prayer and the reciprocal intercession to the true believers, those who still live on earth and those - known or unknown of us - who preceded us to Heaven. It is the "Communion of the Saints". It is the union of the Heavenly and terrestrial societies gathered around the Christ in only one family, since God is OUR Father. To ask, to implore the Father, to intercede for one another means to love each other and to be one in the Christ: "One for all, all for one". Jesus prayed ardently for this union (John 17,21). Love, solidarity, understanding, compassion leads inevitably to the supplication in the intercession as says James 5,16. And Paul specifies: "… This is what is good and what is pleasing to God our Savior" (1 Timothy 2,1-4). So many mothers, fathers, holy deceased persons have saved their children and their dear ones by their tears offered to the Father...

In Cana, the Virgin Mary intervened so that Jesus changed water into wine. She had sympathized with the guests who, in this happy bridal ambiance, had no more wine "to toast" in honor of the new spouses. She was granted, generously, Jesus having accepted to change the divine plan by preceding his hour (John 2,1-11). Mary intercedes, with greater reason, when the circumstances are laborious for those who trust in Her. She sympathizes with them, feels their pain, justifies their situation and always obtains what is convenient for them... in appropriate time. She is the "Compassionate Intercession"; the Father and the Messiah never refuse Her anything, since what She asks for is always according to the will of the Holy Spirit.

One can say and write much more in favor of the intercession of the saints. What has been explained here is sufficient to illuminate a pure heart who searches with detachment, without contention nor fanaticism, for the one and unique truth revealed by Jesus Himself and his apostles after Him..

Finally, we recall what Jesus kindly said to all those who never asked anything from the Father, nor interceded for anyone: "Whatever you will ask the Father in my Name He will give it to you. Up to now you didn't ask for anything in my Name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be perfect" (John 16,23-24).