Is invoking ancestors to pray for you acceptable?

Tyuiop411 · #1 Jul 21, '12, 5:58 pm

I met a woman the other day that would ask all her ancestors that are in heaven or purgatory to pray for her (always in a general sense). Personally I couldn't see the problem with it since we ask the Holy Souls in purgatory to pray for us and we invoke all the Saints (everyone in heaven) on All Saints. But is what she does acceptable? Or is it frowned upon because it may be seen as ancestor worship by some?

ATeutonicKnight · #2 Jul 21, '12, 6:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyuiop411

I met a woman the other day that would ask all her ancestors that are in heaven or purgatory to pray for her (always in a general sense). Personally I couldn't see the problem with it since we ask the Holy Souls in purgatory to pray for us and we invoke all the Saints (everyone in heaven) on All Saints. But is what she does acceptable? Or is it frowned upon because it may be seen as ancestor worship by some?

I would assume it is okay. It may not be okay for some reason or another, but definitely not the reason you presented. After all, we pray to Mary and the Saints, even though this is seen as pagan worship by many Protestants. We don't avoid doing good things because of what others think. If this were the case it would be the Church of political correctness, not the Church of God.

CompSciGuy · #3 Jul 21, '12, 6:09 pm

It is acceptable if you have reason to believe that they are in heaven. When I sidewalk counsel I ask for my stillborn brother to pray for everyone who is out there, and for the aborted children to pray for us. It is ok to ask your ancestors to pray for you. As for asking the holy souls in purgatory to pray for you, maybe I'm wrong about this, but I was under the impression that the souls in purgatory couldn't pray for anyone, but could only be prayed for.

Tyuiop411 · #4 Jul 21, '12, 7:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CompSciGuy

It is acceptable if you have reason to believe that they are in heaven. When I sidewalk counsel I ask for my stillborn brother to pray for everyone who is out there, and for the aborted children to pray for us. It is ok to ask your ancestors to pray for you. As for asking the holy souls in purgatory to pray for you, maybe I'm wrong about this, but I was under the impression that the souls in purgatory couldn't pray for anyone, but could only be prayed for.

I've heard people ask the holy souls to pray for them, but I'm not sure of the reasoning behind it. I'll have to look into that one.

surritter · #5 Jul 22, '12, 10:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by CompSciGuy

As for asking the holy souls in purgatory to pray for you, maybe I'm wrong about this, but I was under the impression that the souls in purgatory couldn't pray for anyone, but could only be prayed for.

Yes, they can pray for us.