It is worth noting, and it makes this issue more difficult to decide. Prayers for the faithful departed go back to the first century, while prayer to the saints arise in the 3rd century, which again makes these two different matters of discussion. Also, prayers for the faithful departed for the increase in love and knowledge of God are always addressed to God through Christ. 
   
  Bickell does a good "one the one hand" and then "on the other" presentation of the theological issues under consideration and seems to leave it up to the conscience of individual. He does offer a manner of requesting the prayers to the saints that I have seen defended in the 17th century Anglican literature--in our prayers to God the Father asking the saints for their prayers as well, but always ending the prayer "in Christ." No stand alone prayers to the saints. Bicknell advises (and I'm paraphrasing) that even the requests that the saints pray for us need to be made through Jesus--not the other way around, since it is only prayers made hrough Christ's intercession that we are assured are heard:
   
  From the Old Roman Mass: 
    "Receive, O holy Trinity, this oblation which we offer unto thee in memory of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ: and to the honor of blessed Mary ever Virgin, of blessed John Baptist, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of these and of all the Saints, that it may avail for their honour, and for our salvation: and may they vouchsafe to intercede for us in heaven, whose memory we keep on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen." 
   
    "United in one communion, we venerate the memory, first, of the glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also of blessed Joseph, her most chaste spouse, and thy blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian: and of all thy Saints; grant that by their merits and prayers we may in all things be defended with the help of Thy protection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen." 


   
  In any case, Bicknell, while giving the pros and cons of the practice very objectively, notes that it is not part of the Common Prayer tradition of the Church of England and more a matter of private devotion and individual decision.  
   
  Derrick
   
  GMSpencer@... wrote:
  
That these very intelligent men seemed not to be bothered by the 
question of how the blessed departed could hear prayers, is at least worth noting. 
gms+

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: faithandlife-unsubscribe@...

  


		
---------------------------------
Bring words and photos together (easily) with
 PhotoMail  - it's free and works with Yahoo! Mail.
--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: faithandlife-unsubscribe@...