(December 6, 2016 at 12:21 pm)Rhythm Wrote:(December 6, 2016 at 12:09 pm)Whateverist Wrote: My theory, for the 708th time, is that they recognize that the superdupernatural can only penetrate the natural world if we hold the door open from our side. So, unless you make yourself open to divine intervention, He can't do anything for you. Throw in something about free will, yada yada.
I don't know whether believers think their own prayers on another's behalf can open the door for another person or if it is really intended as a reminder to their fellow believer to open their own damn door.
Obviously, a person crying out to god for help feeding their children is about as open to the divine as anyone can get. Some end up believing that god answers their prayers...and why not, scripture says he does, the pulpit says he does...even if the pulpit knows better than to write checks their gods ass can't cash explicitly. They all vaguely felate intercessionary prayer and the power of prayer, and as to the question you asked.....it;s non- negotiable for a catholic...they have to believe in the communion and intercession of saints. That someone else can plead with god on your behalf to"open the door". Catechism and all that, lol.
You're asking the wrong person for "catholic beliefs" when you ask Cath. She has her beliefs, which are frequently at odds with the catechism and of the cannonization of saints (whose miracles are all "confirmed" by the church and very often presented themselves as real goods in response to pious prayer)....as are the beliefs of many, probably even most "catholics". Even the church understands this. They constantly bemoan their adherents general lack of knowledge in the faith and dabbling in personal and foreign ideologies.
Of course I'm always going to root for those rebels who insist on it making sense to them and not blindly toeing the line.
