A Saintly Conversation: The Humility of Praying to the Saints



Saints of Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral
St. Max, far right. Photo: FKM

 Fr. Lorenzo: "Why do we waste time turning to the saints, instead of (just) consecrating all to the Immaculate?...Why must we invoke the saints, the souls in purgatory, the angels, etc...?"

Fr. Maximilian: "Isn't it our habit to say: 'Pray for me, brother'?  We can ask the saints the same thing, and we do. By doing this, however, we do not waste time, but recognize our littleness."   (SK 518, Letters August 4, 1933)

In this brief dialogue we are reminded of the greatness of the communion of saints and our own destiny.  Were there no communion between the saints and ourselves, the angels, and the poor souls - it would be waste of time to talk to them. However, we are united in the One Saving Lord, Jesus Christ, and so we turn to them as we do our own family and dearest friends.
St. Maximilian reminds us that we are little, and by seeking the aid of our heavenly friends we are reminded of this littleness. It is an act of humility to pray to the saints, to recognize that their are people who have made it to a place we are still seeking. It is an act of recognition and hope that we ask the prayers of persons that were once journeying in this "valley of tears".  They ARE human, just like us, and so we too are called to the lofty status of communion with God.
It is quite impossible for the alternative to be true. Death cannot possibly cut off the living communion signfied at every Mass here below.  Rather, for the faithful departed this communion only intensifies as they draw near to the source and strength of this communion, the One and Triune God. The saints, who so emptied themselves of egoism here below, are the most intimately united to Him in heaven - and it is for this reason alone that we seek their prayer above all. Of course, in particular, we seek the aid of Mary Immaculate, Queen of all saints.
In prayer, then,  we are only doing the natural thing, as St. Maximilian aptly put it:  We can ask them for help, and so we do.

Mary, Queen of All Saints, Pray for us!
All God's Holy Angels and Saints, Pray for us!
http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/litanyofthesaints.html