Q&A Clip: If God Is All-Knowing, Why Do We Pray? And Why Do We Need the Saints? | Jonathan Pageau

Summary

The speaker explores the significance of praying through the intercession of saints and holy ones, explaining that it reflects a deep connection within a hierarchy of care and reverence. This 'chain of care' unites believers with saints and angels in a collective movement towards God. By asking saints to pray for us, we participate in a cycle of love and attention that enhances our unity with the divine. Ultimately, this practice leads to theosis, or becoming more like God, by aligning ourselves with the divine council.

Takeaways

• 🙏 Praying through the prayers of a Holy One is a way to participate in a spiritual unity and reverence, rather than a mere request for divine intervention.
• 🌐 The concept of praying through others is rooted in the understanding of reality as interconnected and not just individualistic.
• 🔗 It is believed that God already knows our needs, as stated by Saint Paul, so prayer is not about informing God but about participating in a spiritual relationship.
• 🤝 The idea of a 'chain of intercession' suggests a hierarchy of care and reverence, where we pray to God, thank Him for the Saints, and ask the Saints to pray for us.
• 🕊 Praying for salvation through the prayers of the Saints is a way to be united in love with them, reflecting the belief in the power of their intercession.
• 🌟 The structure of prayers to Saints involves celebrating them, thanking God for their example, asking for their prayers, and ultimately seeking God's salvation through their intercession.
• 🙏🏻 Prayers to Saints are not idolatry but a recognition of their role as models of God's love and justice, whose prayers are powerful because of their righteousness.
• 🔄 The cycle of love, care, and attention in prayer moves from us to God and back, symbolizing the unity and multiplicity of the faithful community.
• 🎼 The script paints a picture of a 'Symphony of prayers' where individuals, Saints, and God are all interconnected in a beautiful, harmonious relationship.
• 🛐 The concept of theosis, or becoming more like God, is tied to the idea of participating in the divine council and being agents of God in the world.
• 🕊️ The ultimate goal is to model God's love and act as patrons or guardians of different aspects of reality, fostering unity and powerful bonds within the church.

Q & A

What is the significance of praying through the prayers of a Holy One according to the transcript?

Praying through the prayers of a Holy One signifies a deep understanding of reality and the interconnectedness of all in the divine plan. It is about participating in a chain of intercession and care, where the prayers of the holy ones are seen as powerful and effective because of their closeness to God.

Why do we ask others, including the Saints, to pray for us even though God already knows our needs?

Asking others to pray for us is not because God needs to be informed of our needs, but rather it is about participating in a spiritual community and acknowledging the power of communal prayer. It is about being united in love and prayer with those who are close to God.

What is the 'chain of intercession' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'chain of intercession' refers to the interconnected spiritual relationship where we pray to God, thank God for the Saints, ask the Saints to pray for us, and finally, pray that God saves us through their prayers. It is a cycle that represents the unity and multiplicity of the spiritual world.

How does the concept of praying for something through the prayers of a Holy One relate to the idea of theosis?

The concept of praying through the prayers of a Holy One is deeply connected to theosis, which is the process of becoming more like God. It suggests that we are called to participate in the divine life, to be agents of God in the world, and to model the love of God to those under our care.

What is the role of the Saints in the prayer life of believers as described in the transcript?

The Saints are seen as models of God's love and justice. They are thanked for their example and asked to intercede in prayer for believers. Their prayers are considered powerful because of their righteousness and close relationship with God.

Why is it important to understand the structure of prayers to Saints as described in the transcript?

Understanding the structure of prayers to Saints helps to avoid misconceptions about idolatry. It clarifies that the prayers are not directed to the Saints as gods, but rather seek their intercession based on their exemplary lives and closeness to God.

What does the transcript suggest about the relationship between unity and multiplicity in the spiritual realm?

The transcript suggests that unity and multiplicity coexist in a beautiful harmony. It is not about a collection of isolated individuals but a symphony of prayers where each part has a role in the grand design of divine love and care.

How does the concept of praying through the prayers of a Holy One contribute to the idea of the 'Divine Council'?

Praying through the prayers of a Holy One contributes to the idea of the 'Divine Council' by emphasizing our participation in the divine life. It suggests that we are part of a council where we are called to be agents of God's love and justice in the world.

What is the final move in the cycle of prayer as described in the transcript?

The final move in the cycle of prayer is asking God to save us through the prayers of the Saints. This move reveals the secret of the unity in prayer and the desire to be united with the Saints in love and spiritual communion.

How does the transcript describe the image of the church as a whole in relation to prayer?

The transcript describes the church as a united body in powerful bonds, not as a collection of individuals but as a symphony of prayers where each member plays a part in the divine plan, moving towards unity with God.

What does the transcript imply about the nature of God's knowledge of our needs?

The transcript implies that God's knowledge of our needs is complete and does not require us to vocalize our requests for Him to know. The act of prayer is more about participating in a spiritual community and aligning ourselves with divine will.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Understanding Intercession in Prayer

This paragraph explores the concept of praying through the intercession of holy figures, such as saints and angels. It emphasizes the importance of understanding this practice as a part of the interconnected reality of the spiritual world. The speaker clarifies that praying through others is not because God needs to be informed of our needs, but rather it is about participating in a 'chain of intercession' and reverence towards those who exemplify divine behavior. The paragraph discusses the structure of prayers to saints, which involves celebrating their virtues, thanking God for their example, asking for their prayers, and ultimately seeking God's salvation through their intercession. This practice is seen as a way to unite in love with the saints, reflecting a cycle of love, care, and attention that moves between God and humanity, illustrating the coexistence of unity and multiplicity in the spiritual realm.

Keywords

💡Prayer

Prayer is a form of communication with a deity or sacred entity, expressing one's thoughts, desires, or gratitude. In the context of the video, prayer is not just a personal act but a communal one that involves the intercession of saints and angels, reflecting the interconnectedness of the faithful with divine beings.

💡Intercession

Intercession refers to the act of intervening on behalf of another, often in a spiritual context. The script discusses the concept of a 'chain of intercession,' where saints and angels are asked to pray for individuals, demonstrating a hierarchical yet unified approach to spiritual communication.

💡Saints

Saints are individuals recognized in various religious traditions for their holiness and are often believed to intercede on behalf of the faithful. The video emphasizes the role of saints as models of behavior and being, whose prayers are seen as powerful due to their closeness to God.

💡Angels

Angels are spiritual beings often depicted as messengers or intermediaries between God and humanity. In the script, angels are part of the chain of care and reverence, contributing to the unity of the faithful in prayer.

💡Theosis

Theosis is a concept in Eastern Orthodox theology referring to the process of becoming like God, not in essence, but in likeness. The video connects the idea of prayer through the saints to theosis, suggesting that through such prayers, individuals can participate more fully in the divine life.

💡Hierarchy

Hierarchy, in this context, refers to the structured order within the spiritual realm, with God at the top, followed by angels and saints. The script uses the term to illustrate the flow of prayer and intercession, emphasizing the importance of order in spiritual unity.

💡Unity

Unity is the concept of being one in purpose, thought, or action. The video describes a 'beautiful Symphony of prayers' that unites individuals in love and prayer, highlighting the interconnectedness of all in the spiritual journey towards God.

💡Multiplicity

Multiplicity refers to the existence of many elements or aspects. The script contrasts unity with multiplicity, suggesting that while individuals are distinct, they are also part of a larger, harmonious whole in their spiritual lives.

💡Divine Council

The Divine Council is a concept that implies the existence of a council or assembly of divine beings, including God, angels, and saints. The video suggests that humans are called to be part of this council, participating in the divine governance of the world.

💡Idolatry

Idolatry is the worship of idols or false gods. The script addresses misconceptions about praying to saints, clarifying that it is not idolatry but a form of intercession and participation in the divine life, free from the worship of false deities.

💡Participation

Participation, in the context of the video, refers to the active involvement of individuals in the divine life through prayer and intercession. It is the way in which the faithful are called to be agents of God in the world, modeling the love of God to others.

Highlights

Praying for something through the prayers of a Holy One is a way to participate in the unity and multiplicity of the church.

We ask others to pray for us not because God doesn't know our needs, but to participate in the chain of intercession and care.

Praying to God through the prayers of Saints is a way to be united in love with them and participate in their powerful prayers.

The structure of prayers to Saints involves celebrating their virtues, thanking God for them, asking them to pray for us, and asking God to save us through their prayers.

Praying to Saints is not idolatry, but a recognition of their modeling of God's love and justice, and the power of their prayers.

The cycle of love and care in prayer moves from us to the Saints, to God, and back down to us, creating a beautiful symphony of unity.

Praying in this way acknowledges the interconnectedness of the divine council and our role as agents of God in the world.

The concept of theosis is related to this prayer practice, as it embodies our calling to participate in the divine and become more like God.

Praying through the Saints helps us to move closer to God and to ask for their intercession on our behalf.

The hierarchical structure of prayer reflects the reverence and respect for those who model godly behavior.

This prayer practice is a way to deepen our relationship with the Saints and to experience the power of their intercession.

The unity of the church is strengthened through this communal prayer practice, where we are all connected in love and intercession.

Praying in this manner allows us to experience the divine love and attention that moves through the hierarchy of the church.

The practice of praying through the Saints is a way to model the love of God to those under our responsibility.

This prayer practice ultimately leads to true participation in God and the possibility of deification, as we become more like the divine council.

The beauty of this prayer practice lies in the way it unites us with the Saints and God in a powerful bond of love and intercession.

Transcripts

so Benjamin wood says we often praise

some variation of the following to

Christ through the prayers of thy most

pure mother our Guardian Angels the

Saints Lord have mercy on me how should

we understand this phrasing what does it

mean to pray for something through the

prayers of a Holy One

this is very important to understand and

um it has to do

it really has to do with the way in

which we understand reality it has to do

with the idea because you wouldn't say

that it's not just

about the prayers of the most holy ones

the reason why we ask others to pray for

us you know you could say something like

we don't need to pray God knows what you

need Saint Paul even says it he says he

said God knows your needs you know God

hears the secret Whispers of your heart

you know it's not like

we have to utter these phrases so that

God hears us or else he won't know what

it is that we need

um or he won't save us because you know

we haven't asked for it or something

like that it has to do with this fractal

the way the the world Works into the

refractual relationships you could

understand it as a chain of enter

intercession a chain of care

think about it that way there's a chain

of care and a chain of reverence towards

those things which Model Behavior and

being to us

and so we pray to God

we thank God for the Saints

then we ask the Saints to pray for us

and then the last move is this one which

is the one which kind of reveals the

secret of what's going on

is that we want

God to save us through their prayers we

pray that God save us through their

prayers because because that's how it

all kind of participates we we want to

be United to the Saints in prayer we

want them to pray for us we want our

love and attention to move up and down

the hierarchy and that it happens in

every way so that we're we're United so

if God Saves us through our prayer

through their prayers then we are united

in love to them they are united with us

in the ways that are that are that are

deep and very powerful and so that is

really that is really understanding and

so if you look at the way that the

prayers to Saints are structured people

often they just say you know praying to

Saints is idolatry praying to Saints is

is bad because it's you know you're it's

you're praying to them as if they're

Gods but if you look at the way that

this prayers are structured they really

do always have that that structure it's

it's like we

we we celebrate the person

for what they are and what they've done

and what they model for us

then we thank God for that model

then we ask the saint to pray for us

because we see them as modeling God and

so as being a just you know as being

someone who is just and whose prayers

are powerful because of that and then

finally we ask God to to answer our

prayers through their prayers to

basically save us through their prayers

and so you can kind of see this like

cycle of love and care and attention

which moves up to God and then comes

back down to us and it really is that

beautiful image of how unity and

multiplicity coexist together and that

we're not just a bunch of flat

individuals you know and then there's

God up there but rather it is this this

beautiful

um Symphony of prayers and and

principalities and people who are close

to God wanting us to move up into god

with them and US asking them to pray for

us to God and so it's like this

beautiful image of a yeah you can kind

of see it in your mind if you kind of

see people going up and then trying you

know wanting people to come with them

asking God to take them with them and US

asking them to pray for us and asking

God to to use them because we we love we

love for that to be true we love for the

church the body to be United in these in

these powerful bonds so so hopefully

there's a good image of why we pray the

way we do

um and It All Leads to the idea of

theosis It All Leads to the idea that we

are called to be in the Divine Council

we are called to be you know the Agents

of God in the world the uh you know we

are called to be like the angels to be

uh to be the the patrons of aspects of

different reality and to model the love

of God down to those that are under our

responsibility and that ultimately leads

to True participation in in God true

deification to the extent that that's

possible

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]