Intercession: Difference between revisions
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<blockquote>At the conclusion of this document presenting the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'', I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church on every level, at this time when she is called to a new effort of evangelization. May the light of the true faith free humanity from the ignorance and slavery of sin in order to lead it to the only freedom worthy of the name (cf. ''Jn'' 8:32): that of life in Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, here below and in the Kingdom of heaven, in the fullness of the blessed vision of God face to face (cf. 1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 5:6-8)</blockquote> | <blockquote>At the conclusion of this document presenting the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'', I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church on every level, at this time when she is called to a new effort of evangelization. May the light of the true faith free humanity from the ignorance and slavery of sin in order to lead it to the only freedom worthy of the name (cf. ''Jn'' 8:32): that of life in Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, here below and in the Kingdom of heaven, in the fullness of the blessed vision of God face to face (cf. 1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 5:6-8)</blockquote> | ||
== Intercession through Christ in | == Intercession through Christ in the New Testament == | ||
[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?1 John 2:1]:<blockquote>My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?38 Luke 4:38]:<blockquote>After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?30 Mark 1:30]:<blockquote>Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/8?34 Rom 8:34]:<blockquote>Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/2:5 1 Tim 2:5-6]:<blockquote>For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/7:25 Heb 7:25]:<blockquote>Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.</blockquote> | [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?1 John 2:1]:<blockquote>My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?38 Luke 4:38]:<blockquote>After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?30 Mark 1:30]:<blockquote>Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/8?34 Rom 8:34]:<blockquote>Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/2:5 1 Tim 2:5-6]:<blockquote>For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all.</blockquote>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/7:25 Heb 7:25]:<blockquote>Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.</blockquote> | ||
* see [https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/intercession Intercession | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia] | * see [https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/intercession Intercession | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia] | ||
== Intercession | == Intercession by the Son to the Father in the Gospels == | ||
=== Who can forgive sins? === | === Who can forgive sins? === | ||
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John 17 is entitled, "The Prayer of Jesus." Here Jesus prays to the Father for himself, for the Apostles, and for all is disciples.<blockquote>I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?9 Jn 17:9])</blockquote><blockquote>I do not ask that you take them out of the worldj but that you keep them from the evil one. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?15 Jn 17:15])</blockquote><blockquote>“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?20 Jn 17:20])</blockquote> | John 17 is entitled, "The Prayer of Jesus." Here Jesus prays to the Father for himself, for the Apostles, and for all is disciples.<blockquote>I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?9 Jn 17:9])</blockquote><blockquote>I do not ask that you take them out of the worldj but that you keep them from the evil one. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?15 Jn 17:15])</blockquote><blockquote>“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?20 Jn 17:20])</blockquote> | ||
== Intercession of | == Intercession of Mary according to the New Testament == | ||
That the Mother of God is an intercessor to Christ is axiomatic: she gave birth to him. In his ''Hymns on the Nativity'', Saint Ephraim the Syrian, wrote, <blockquote>Glory to that Voice Which became Body, and to the Word of the High One Which became Flesh! Hear Him also, O ears, and see Him, O eyes, and feel Him, O hands, and eat Him, O mouth! You members and senses give praise unto Him, that came and quickened the whole body! Mary bare the silent Babe, while in Him were hidden all tongues! Joseph bare Him, and in Him was hidden a nature more ancient than anything that is old! The High One became as a little child, and in Him was hidden a treasure of wisdom sufficing for all! Though Most High, yet He sucked the milk of Mary, and of His goodness all creatures suck! He is the Breast of Life, and the Breath of Life; the dead suck from His life and revive. Without the breath of the air no man lives, without the Might of the Son no man subsists. On His living breath that quickens all, depend the spirits that are above and that are beneath. When He sucked the milk of Mary, He was suckling all with Life. </blockquote> | |||
=== The Wedding at Cana === | === The Wedding at Cana === | ||
Saint Mary, the Mother of God, intercedes to Jesus on behalf of the wedding party, which has run out of wine:<blockquote>On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2:1 John 2:1-3])</blockquote>Jesus replies,<blockquote>Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2?4 Jn 2:4])</blockquote>One can contemplate forever this passage (what an eternal reward that would be!), but for our purposes<ref>For example, Augustine mentions that the heretical Manichæans claimed that Jesus' "mine hour is not yet come" justified astrology [https://catholiclibrary.org/library/view?docId=/Synchronized-EN/Augustine.OnGospJohn.en.html;chunk.id=00000301 (Augustine of Hippo, Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel according to St. John Tractate VII, no. 8)].</ref> regarding intercession, we'll focus on the aspect that Jesus demonstrates to Mary that in this instance, he will only act here on her request -- she must ask for the intercession. She understands him completely, then turns to the servants, saying probably one of the most concise instructions in the Gospel ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2?5 Jn 2:5]): <blockquote>“Do whatever he tells you."</blockquote>A couple more things to note here: | Saint Mary, the Mother of God, intercedes to Jesus on behalf of the wedding party, which has run out of wine:<blockquote>On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2:1 John 2:1-3])</blockquote>Jesus replies,<blockquote>Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2?4 Jn 2:4])</blockquote>One can contemplate forever this passage (what an eternal reward that would be!), but for our purposes<ref>For example, Augustine mentions that the heretical Manichæans claimed that Jesus' "mine hour is not yet come" justified astrology [https://catholiclibrary.org/library/view?docId=/Synchronized-EN/Augustine.OnGospJohn.en.html;chunk.id=00000301 (Augustine of Hippo, Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel according to St. John Tractate VII, no. 8)].</ref> regarding intercession, we'll focus on the aspect that Jesus demonstrates to Mary that in this instance, he will only act here on her request -- she must ask for the intercession. She understands him completely, then turns to the servants, saying probably one of the most concise instructions in the Gospel ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2?5 Jn 2:5]): <blockquote>“Do whatever he tells you."</blockquote>A couple more things to note here: | ||
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''Some think Mary was only reporting the situation, or (as Calvin thought) asking Jesus to give some godly exhortations to the guests and thus relieve the bridegroom’s embarrassment. But the words, and the reply of Jesus in v. 4, seem to imply more.'' ([https://netbible.org/bible/John+2 John 2 | Lumina (netbible.org])</ref> and the Church's terminology for her as "Advocate" and "Mediatrix."<ref>See Lumen Gentium nos. 58, 62</ref> Mary, Aquinas explains, "First, she intercedes, with her Son. In the second place, she instructs the servants."<ref>citation to do</ref> | ''Some think Mary was only reporting the situation, or (as Calvin thought) asking Jesus to give some godly exhortations to the guests and thus relieve the bridegroom’s embarrassment. But the words, and the reply of Jesus in v. 4, seem to imply more.'' ([https://netbible.org/bible/John+2 John 2 | Lumina (netbible.org])</ref> and the Church's terminology for her as "Advocate" and "Mediatrix."<ref>See Lumen Gentium nos. 58, 62</ref> Mary, Aquinas explains, "First, she intercedes, with her Son. In the second place, she instructs the servants."<ref>citation to do</ref> | ||
=== At the foot of the Cross === | |||
> to do | |||
=== At Pentecost === | |||
> to do | |||
== Mary the Mediatrix in Catholic doctrine == | |||
Catholic tradition holds that Mary is the "Mediatrix," or intercessor, or salvation. The definite article "the" is necessary here, as there is no other "Mediatrix." She is, however, not "the Mediator", who is Jesus Christ. As | |||
=== Mediatrix of Divine Grace === | |||
> to do from Leo XIII | |||
[https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_08091894_iucunda-semper-expectatione.html Iucunda Semper Expectatione (September 8, 1894) | LEO XIII] | |||
== Intercession of the Saints according to the Gospels == | |||
=== The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus === | === The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus === | ||
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Note that Jesus has Abraham tell us to "listen to Moses and the prophets", which means to listen also to Jesus and his Evangelists, the writers of the New Testament | Note that Jesus has Abraham tell us to "listen to Moses and the prophets", which means to listen also to Jesus and his Evangelists, the writers of the New Testament | ||
=== | === Jesus raises the Saints === | ||
Upon Jesus' death, as he "gave up his spirit" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/27?50 Mt 27:50]), | Upon Jesus' death, as he "gave up his spirit" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/27?50 Mt 27:50]), | ||
tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/27?52 Mt 27:52]) | tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/27?52 Mt 27:52]) | ||
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However, if we put James 5:16 together with Luke 29:31 and Matthew 27:50, which affirm the interactions of the dead with the mortal world, then James' advise that "the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful" means that if through our prayers a Saint pray for us, then that prayer of the Saint, who is by definition righteous, is "very powerful." | However, if we put James 5:16 together with Luke 29:31 and Matthew 27:50, which affirm the interactions of the dead with the mortal world, then James' advise that "the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful" means that if through our prayers a Saint pray for us, then that prayer of the Saint, who is by definition righteous, is "very powerful." | ||
== Intercession for the Dead according to the Old Testament == | == Intercession by the Living for the Dead according to the Old Testament == | ||
The book of Maccabees tells us about the hero Judas Maccabeus who liberated the Jews from Greek occupation. After a battle, Judas went to bury his dead and found that each body had "amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2maccabees/12:40 2 Mac 12:40]), which was why they had been killed | The book of Maccabees tells us about the hero Judas Maccabeus who liberated the Jews from Greek occupation. After a battle, Judas went to bury his dead and found that each body had "amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2maccabees/12:40 2 Mac 12:40]), which was why they had been killed | ||