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Pray this novena of Our Lady of Good Remedy

raphael

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October 31, 2021

Need a remedy for your problems? Whether your needs are financial or spiritual, the Virgin Mother can assist you.

We all have problems, some bigger than others, and often we are in desperate need of a solution. Pray this novena of Our Lady of Good Remedy.

St. John of Matha was in a similar situation and instead of giving up, he turned to the Virgin Mary. Thousands of Christians were being captured and turned into slaves, so St. John asked the Blessed Mother to intercede and provide money for their ransom.

She pulled through and St. John was able to free many Christian slaves. In thanksgiving, he honored Mary as “Our Lady of Good Remedy.”

If anyone knows how to secure a positive remedy to a difficult situation, it is the Blessed Mother.

Here is a special novena of Our Lady of Good Remedy that asks her to “Help me with thy prayers and intercession to find a remedy for my problems and needs.”

O QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, Most Holy Virgin, we venerate thee. Thou art the beloved Daughter of the Most High God, the chosen Mother of the Incarnate Word, the Immaculate Spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Sacred Vessel of the Most Holy Trinity.

O Mother of the Divine Redeemer, who under the title of Our Lady of Good Remedy comes to the aid of all who call upon thee, extend thy maternal protection to us. We depend on thee, Dear Mother, as helpless and needy children depend on a tender and caring mother.

Hail, Mary …

O LADY OF GOOD REMEDY, source of unfailing help, grant that we may draw from thy treasury of graces in our time of need. Touch the hearts of sinners, that they may seek reconciliation and forgiveness. Bring comfort to the afflicted and the lonely; help the poor and the hopeless; aid the sick and the suffering. May they be healed in body and strengthened in spirit to endure their sufferings with patient resignation and Christian fortitude.

Hail, Mary …

DEAR LADY OF GOOD REMEDY, source of unfailing help, thy compassionate heart knows a remedy for every affliction and misery we encounter in life. Help me with thy prayers and intercession to find a remedy for my problems and needs, especially for …

(Indicate your special intentions here).

On my part, O loving Mother, I pledge myself to a more intensely Christian lifestyle, to a more careful observance of the laws of God, to be more conscientious in fulfilling the obligations of my state in life, and to strive to be a source of healing in this broken world of ours. Dear Lady of Good Remedy, be ever-present to me, and through thy intercession, may I enjoy health of body and peace of mind, and grow stronger in the faith and in the love of thy Son, Jesus.

Hail, Mary …

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of Good Remedy,

R. That we may deepen our dedication to thy Son, and make the world alive with His Spirit.

Ask God’s commander of angels to guard you and your family against both spiritual and physical danger.

St Michael the Archangel is popularly known for his angelic protection, both against physical and spiritual attacks. Many Christians have invoked his heavenly aid over the years, and many miracles have occurred through his intercession. His intercession was frequently sought during the deadly medieval plagues. St Michael recently was invoked in Monte Gargano at the site of an ancient apparition. This was for protection against COVID-19.

Here is a prayer from the Raccolta that asks for St Michael’s protection against any illness or evil, recalling his role as heavenly guardian and commander.

Michael, glorious Prince chief and champion of the heavenly host, guardian of the souls of men. conqueror of the rebel angels, steward of the palace of God, under Jesus Christ our worthy captain, endowed with superhuman excellence and virtue, vouchsafe to free us all from every ill, who with full confidence have recourse to you; and by your incomparable protection enable us to make progress each day in the faithful service of our God.

Prayer for the Morning

How many are the wonders God has worked for us!

Let us give thanks and praise!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

Once, only once, and once for all,

His precious life he gave;

Before the Cross, our spirits fall,

And own it strong to save.

For, as the priest of Aaron’s line

Within the holiest stood,

And sprinkled all the mercy-shrine

With sacrificial blood;

So he, who once atonement wrought,

Our priest of endless power,

Presents himself for those he bought

In that dark noontide hour.

And so we show thy death, O Lord,

Till thou again appear,

And feel, when we approach thy board,

We have an altar here.

Canticle (cf. Daniel 3:26-27, 29, 34, 39-41)

To love God with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. (cf. Mk 12:33)

The one true sacrifice that wins our salvation is the absolute self-offering in the love of Jesus Christ on the cross. The fruit of that sacrifice in us is the holiness of love. To be holy is to participate in, reflect, and offer to all the unimaginable love that Christ has shown for the Father and for us. Our self-offering in love to the God we worship and the neighbor we serve is our true sacrifice.

Blessed are you, and praiseworthy,

O Lord, the God of our fathers,

and glorious forever is your name.

For you are just in all you have done;

all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right,

and all your judgments proper.

For we have sinned and transgressed

by departing from you,

and we have done every kind of evil.

For your name’s sake, do not deliver us up forever,

or make void your covenant.

But with a contrite heart and humble spirit

let us be received;

as though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks,

or thousands of fat lambs,

let our sacrifice be in your presence today

as we follow you unreservedly;

for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.

And now we follow you with our whole heart,

we fear you and we pray to you.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Romans 12:1-2)

I urge you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Pt 2:5)

Canticle of Zechariah

For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,/ and knowledge of God rather than holocausts. (Hos 6:6)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets, he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

Let us offer to God the sweet-smelling incense of prayer, as we say:

R/Hear us, O Lord!

For those who have been sealed in upon themselves by ill-treatment, loss, and pain:

– free them for love, we pray: R/

For those who find themselves unable to offer you worship:

– free them to rejoin the Sunday assembly of your people, we pray: R/

For those who have given their lives freely in service of others:

– bring them to the everlasting joy of your kingdom, we pray: R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

God and giver of all good gifts, we give you thanks for the saving love you have shown us in the self-gift of Jesus Christ on the cross which we celebrate with joy on this holy day. Through our Sunday worship, grant us the grace to grow in this love, that we may serve more faithfully throughout the coming week, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

Vigil of the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

God is love! Come, let us adore!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

O God of love, grant us your peace,

Within each restless mind.

May all our inner turmoil cease,

God shows us how to find

Your quiet rest, your still, small voice,

Your light upon life’s way,

To walk with you our humble choice,

God give us the grace to pray.

O God of all, grant us your peace,

We share one human bond,

And so when others seek release,

God, help us to respond

To heal the sick, to seek the lost,

[T]o set the captive free,

To serve and never count the cost;

May we live peacefully!

Psalm 16

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mk 12:30)

Unless our love for one another is grounded in our love for God, it will not be truly supernatural. God’s self-giving and faithful love for us in Christ purify our hearts of self-concern and teach us how to love truly.

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.

I say to the Lord: “You are my God.

My happiness lies in you alone.”

He has put into my heart a marvelous love

for the faithful ones who dwell in his land.

Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.

Never will I offer their offerings of blood.

Never will I take their name upon my lips.

O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;

it is you yourself who are my prize.

The lot marked out for me is my delight:

welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,

who even at night directs my heart.

I keep the Lord ever in my sight:

since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;

even my body shall rest in safety.

For you will not leave my soul among the dead,

nor let your beloved know decay.

You will show me the path of life,

the fullness of joy in your presence,

at your right-hand happiness forever.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Joshua 22:5)

Be very careful to observe the precept and law which Moses, the servant of the Lord, enjoined upon you: love the Lord, your God; follow him faithfully; keep his commandments; remain loyal to him, and serve him with your whole heart and soul.

In this way, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. (1 Jn 5:2)

Canticle of Mary

Those who sincerely love God shall rejoice. (Tb 14:7)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

[h]e has scattered the pride in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

With loving hearts, we pray:

R/Loving God, hear our prayer.

O God, your love has brought us into being:

– may we love you in return with all that is in us. R/

O God, your love has saved us from sin and death:

– may we love you in return by abandoning the ways of evil and obeying your commandments. R/

O God, your love will bring us to everlasting life:

– may we love you in return by living to the full the life of grace you have given us in Christ. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

May grace and peace in Jesus Christ be with all those beloved of God! Amen. (cf. Rom 1:7)

Marian Antiphon

Antiphon for the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7

Devoutly let us celebrate today’s solemnity

of the Most Holy Rosary of Mary the Mother of God, that she may intercede for us

before our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer for the Morning

God gives to each a home:

come, let us give thanks and praise!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Mary crowned with living light,

Temple of the Lord,

Place of peace and holiness,

Shelter of the Word.

Mystery of sinless life

In our fallen race,

Free from shadow, you reflect

Plenitude of grace.

Virgin Mother of our God,

Lift us when we fall,

Who were named upon the Cross

Mother of us all.

Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

Heaven sings your praise;

Mary magnifies your name

Through eternal days.

Canticle of Sirach (36:1, 5, 10-13)

The Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother. (Gal 4:26)

Tradition applies the image of God’s city to Mary, the holy dwelling place built by God as a home and Mother first for Jesus Christ and then for all of us, adopted sons and daughters in Christ.

Come to our aid, O God of the universe,

and put all the nations in dread of you!

Give new signs and work new wonders;

show forth the splendor of your right hand and arm.

Gather all the tribes of Jacob,

that they may inherit the land as of old.

Show mercy to the people called by your name;

Israel, whom you named your firstborn.

Take pity on your holy city,

Jerusalem, your dwelling place.

Fill Zion with your majesty,

your temple with your glory.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Isaiah 54:1)

Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear,/ break forth in jubilant song, you who were not in labor,/ For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife/ than the children of her who has a husband,/ says the Lord.

To the childless wife he gives a home

and gladdens her heart with children. (Ps 113:9)

Canticle of Zechariah

We are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman. (Gal 4:31)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

Trusting in the power of Mary’s intercession, we pray:

R/Mother of divine grace, pray for us!

For those who have no home or family:

– through your prayer, bring them to dwell in the heavenly city. R/

For those who are alone, abandoned, poor, and in want:

– through your prayer, bring them to dwell in the heavenly city. R/

For those who dwell in the cities of this world:

– through your prayer, bring them to dwell in the heavenly city. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father…

God our Father, your people wander in deserts of the spirit and wastelands of want. Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, bring us all to dwell in peace in your presence, now and for ever, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Preparing to hit the road (or the airways)? Here’s a Traveler’s Prayer

raphael

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October 29, 2021

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Preparing to hit the road (or the airways)? Here’s a Traveler’s Prayer

The Archangel Raphael guided and protected Tobiah. We pray he’ll do the same for us.

The Old Testament, Book of Tobit tells the fascinating story of the journey and marriage of a young man named Tobiah, son of Tobit.

In his travels, unbeknownst to him, Tobiah is accompanied, not by a mere mortal guide, as he believes, but by the Archangel Raphael. Thus, Raphael is an intercessor for travelers.

Here’s a prayer, centred on the Book of Tobit, for those preparing to travel.

Dear and glorious Archangel Raphael, you who revealed yourself as one of the seven archangels who stand before the throne of God.

You who are sent to bring “God’s healing,” as your name signifies.

Calling on your assistance for my journey, I do as you bid good Tobit, and I take courage, for I know God’s healing is near.

You accompanied Tobiah with the assurance that you knew his destination well, and all the routes to get there.

With your angelic power, I ask you to accompany me now. May I also be favored with the promise you made to Tobit: “I will go with him. Do not fear. In good health, we will leave you, and in good health, we will return to you, for the way is safe.”

May I return to the arms of my loved ones, having left in good health and returning in good health.

May I travel in the certainty that “a good angel” will go with me, my journey will be successful, and I will return safe and sound.

And once home, may I take your sound advice; “Bless God and give him thanks before all the living for the good things he has done for you; by blessing and extolling his name in song. Proclaim before all with due honor the deeds of God, and do not be slack in thanking him.”

Amen.

Prayer for the Morning

The Lord listens to the needy:

come, let us bow down in prayer! (cf. Ps 69:34)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

O blest Creator of the light,

Who makes the day with radiance bright,

And o’er the forming world did call

The light from chaos first of all.

Whose wisdom joined in meet array

The morn and eve, and named them day:

Night comes with all its darkling fears;

Regard your people’s prayers and tears.

Lest, sunk in sin, and ’whelmed with strife,

They lose the gift of endless life;

While thinking but the thoughts of time,

They weave new chains of woe and crime.

But grant them grace that they may strain

The heavenly gate and prize to gain:

Each harmful lure aside to cast,

And purge away each error past.

Psalm 102:2-3, 10-13, 19-21

To my words give ear, O Lord,/ give heed to my groaning. (Ps 5:2)

Sin is a subtle prison. So accustomed can we become to its walls that we cease to recognize that we are dying in slow and unseen ways. Yet God gave his very Son to break its stranglehold. Let us call out to him for help!

O Lord, listen to my prayer

and let my cry for help reach you.

Do not hide your face from me

in the day of my distress.

Turn your ear towards me

and answer me quickly when I call.

The bread I eat is ashes;

my drink is mingled with tears.

In your anger, Lord, and your fury

you have lifted me up and thrown me down.

My days are like a passing shadow

and I wither away like the grass.

But you, O Lord, will endure forever.

Let this be written for ages to come

that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;

for the Lord leaned down from his sanctuary on high.

He looked down from heaven to the earth

that he might hear the groans of the prisoners

and free those condemned to die.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Isaiah 49:24-25)

Thus says the Lord:/ Can booty be taken from a warrior? or captives be rescued from a tyrant? Yes, captives can be taken from a warrior, and booty be rescued from a tyrant;/Those who oppose you I will oppose, and your sons I will save.

The Lord is slow to anger, yet great in power. (Nah 1:3)

Canticle of Zechariah

The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity. (Ex 34:6)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets, he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

From the prison of our sinfulness, let us cry to God for mercy:

R/O Lord, listen to our prayer.

For those who feel hopelessly trapped by the habits of sin:

– grant them forgiveness and peace. R/

For those who fear your anger:

– show them also your love. R/

For those who delay examining their decisions and habits:

– let them see how quickly life passes. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

Gracious and merciful God, you heard the groans of a world that labors under the weight of sin, and you sent your only Son to lift its burden from humanity’s shoulders by taking it upon his own. Hear the prayers of sinners and the victims of sin, and deliver us by the power of his cross. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

Let us sing a new song to the Lord,

his praise in the assembly of the faithful!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

Praise to you for those, your champions

Whom our songs today proclaim;

One, whose zeal by you enlightened

Burned anew with nobler flame;

One, the kinsman of your childhood,

Brought at last to know your name.

Praise to you! Your fire within them

Spoke in love and wrought in power

Seen in mighty signs and wonders

In your Church’s morning hour,

Heard in tones of sternest warning

When the storms began to lower.

Psalm 149

God made of me, his servant, a sharp-edged sword/ and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. (cf. Is 49:2)

God takes delight in arming his people with the two-edged sword of his living Word through the ministry of those sent to preach and teach the Gospel.

Sing a new song to the Lord,

his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,

[let] Zion’s sons exult in their king.

Let them praise his name with dancing

and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people.

He crowns the poor with salvation.

Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,

shout for joy and take their rest.

Let the praise of God be on their lips

and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations

and punishment on all the peoples;

to bind their kings in chains

and their nobles in fetters of iron;

to carry out the sentence pre-ordained:

this honor is for all his faithful.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Hebrews 4:12-13)

The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. (cf. Eph 6:17)

Canticle of Mary

Your all-powerful word from heaven’s royal throne/ bounded into the land,/ bearing the sharp sword of your inexorable decree. (cf. Wis 18:15-16)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

[he] has scattered the pride in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

The Word of God is a gift and demand. Through the intercession of the Apostles, let us pray:

R/Open our hearts, O Lord, to the voice of your Word.

Your Word descends from above to restore a fallen world:

– transform us by the power of the cross regardless of the cost: R/

Your Word cuts away all that is contrary to your will:

– grant us the gift of obedience: R/

Your Word enslaves the enslavers, sin and death:

– give us the courage to accept the gift of freedom: R/

Your Word brings joy to the sorrowful:

– teach us compassion toward every human need: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with our spirit. Amen. (cf. Gal 6:18)

Marian Antiphon

Antiphon for the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7

Devoutly let us celebrate today’s solemnity

of the Most Holy Rosary of Mary the Mother of God, that she may intercede for us

before our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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What is the difference between talking to a saint and talking to a ghost?

gabriel

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October 28, 2021

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What is the difference between talking to a saint and talking to a ghost?

Full Question

What is the difference between talking to a saint and talking to a ghost? In both cases the Saint and ghost have passed on; therefore, they both are a spirit. So what difference does it make if one spirit is in heaven and the other is in my house?

Answer

The primary reason the Church forbids occult contact isn’t that there is anything wrong in talking to the dead. It is because of the means used to communicate. Therefore what the Church is forbidding are the methods and techniques used to “summon” departed souls or other spirits (like using ouija boards, crystal balls, mediums, etc.). The Church has never taught that having a “conversation” with people on the other side is sinful; what is sinful is trying to manipulate the supernatural realm to obtain forbidden power or knowledge. Read this section of the Catechism carefully to understand Church position:

All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead, or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

CCC 2116

Consider, as an example, Saul’s attempt to speak with the dead prophet Samuel through a medium in 1 Sam. 28:7-20. The sinful part of the incident was not on Saul’s desire to speak to Samuel but on how he accomplished it. It would have been okay for Saul to pray to Samuel and ask for his help instead of using a medium even though there is no indication that the person who was contacted wasn’t Samuel – showing that God may choose to allow such contact to “succeed” to bring good out of evil. However, this does not make the method lawful. We believe that olden days’ people who used idols to speak to an “unknown god”, were most likely getting to God himself. However, this does not mean such practices are still okay today. Even when St Paul came to preach to the Greeks, he said they were already praying to the God he came to talk to them about, but their means of contacting him was the problem. That means was still idolatry because they depended on images to reach God.

Talking to Saints is a whole other thing. We are spiritually connected to the Saints in Heaven. We are all members of the Body of Christ, so even if one does not ask for it, the Saint’s in heaven pray for us. The Church is in three states:

Church Triumphant: Those who have reached heaven.

The Church Militant: We who are still on the journey to heaven.

Church Penitent/Suffering: Those who are passing through purgatory.

The Prayers of each of these affect the other. So just as you can validly ask for a person’s prayer here, you can ask for a Saint’s in heaven. Also, we do not believe that the Saints are “dead”, since the entire point of being a member of Christ’s body is that we can no longer die but live forever. So a person who believes that a saint is “dead” does not understand the basic concept of Christianity.

Saints are God’s friends and are alive in him and with him. We believe that we can ask them to speak to God on our behalf.

What is the difference between talking to a saint and talking to a ghost?

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