On EWTN, again early in 1997, we find two enthusiastic priests, Fr. George W. Kosicki and Fr. Harold Cohen, offering a “Marian Helpers” booklet. They can scarcely contain their excitement as they commend to viewers Sister Faustina, who “shared so fully in Christ’s death and resurrection … and continues that ministry in heaven now.” Jesus supposedly said to her, “Distribute graces as you will, to whom you will, and when you will!” The priests urge viewers. “Get in touch with her!”
While it is biblical to ask friends on earth to pray for us, there is no example in Scripture of asking a dead person to do so, nor any means given for contacting the deceased. God repeatedly warns against attempted contact with discarnate spirits (Deuteronomy:18:9-12 [9] When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
[10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
[11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
[12] For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
See All...; etc.). Nowhere in the Bible is prayer directed to Abraham, or to Moses or Daniel or Mary. All prayer is to God alone. The Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us (Romans:8:26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
See All...), Christ is our advocate at the right hand of the Father (Romans:8:34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
See All...; 1 John:2:1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
See All...), and He is the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Timothy:2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
See All...).
Yet millions of Roman Catholics not only ask the so-called saints (who can’t hear them) to intercede for them, but also pray to them directly as though they had all the power of God. It is they who answer prayers (St. Anthony himself finds and returns lost objects, etc.). And this is the official position of the Roman Catholic Church: Prayers are in fact offered to the “saints.” Both Vatican II and the new universal Catechism of the Catholic Church refer to Mary as “Mother of God, to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.” (EWTN informs us that “Mary” came to chase the devil away when he was pummeling Padre Pio.)