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I have felt that prayer to the saints doesn't mean much. Yes, the saints are dead and their souls are in heaven. But has anyone ever been able to prove that prayer to these prayers to the saints is successful? These saints do not know anything about what happens on earth. When we die, our soul leaves our body. As made known in Luke 34:43 "Truly I say to you, on this day you will be with me paradise. " Our physical bodies stay on earth but our soul's go to heaven. I do not believe that those who have passed on, have any communication with those left on earth who are alive.
From what I have studied, prayers to the saints are done because some believe that the saints have a closer communication with God. All of us are equal before the throne of God. We are all sinners saved by grace. None of us has any special "in" with God. Yes, we can ask for others to pray for us, but asking the dead to pray for us borders on the dark side. They are dead and can not do anything.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Sarah Winn