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'''Intercession of the saints''' is the Catholic and Orthodox teaching that the [[saint]]s in heaven [[intercede]] for the living on earth. The term [[intercession]] is used in the Christian church regarding the commending of oneself to the saints for assistance by their prayers to God. The [[Council of Trent]] declared in the decree to the bishops concerning instruction ([[Catechesis]]) that they teach the faithful, "the saints, ruling together with Christ, offer their prayers for men to God, and that it is good and useful to invoke them suppliantly and to have recourse to their prayers and to their powerful help in obtaining benefits from God through [[Jesus Christ]]..." (Session 25)

'''Intercession of the saints''' is the Catholic and Orthodox teaching that the [[saint]]s in heaven [[intercede]] for the living on earth. The term [[intercession]] is used in the Christian church regarding the commending of oneself to the saints for assistance by their prayers to God. The [[Council of Trent]] declared in the decree to the bishops concerning instruction ([[Catechesis]]) that they teach the faithful, "the saints, ruling together with Christ, offer their prayers for men to God, and that it is good and useful to invoke them suppliantly and to have recourse to their prayers and to their powerful help in obtaining benefits from God through [[Jesus Christ]]..." (Session 25)

The saints follow Christ in interceding for us with God the Father (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25); also the act of ''[[dulia]]'' (reverence) is performed not to obtain '''''from''''' the saints but '''''through their prayers''''' what only God can bestow. The saints, knowing of man's needs and that Christ as [[Mediation|Mediator]] bestows all favors of grace through the ministry of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]], His Mother, unite their own prayers with the prayers of Mary, direct them to Christ the Lord, and aid us as intermediaries.

The saints follow Christ in interceding for us with God the Father (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25); also the act of ''[[dulia]]'' (reverence) is performed not to obtain '''''from''''' the saints but '''''through their prayers''''' what only God can bestow. The saints, knowing of man's needs and that Christ as [[Mediation|Mediator]] bestows all favors of grace through the mediating ministry of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]], His Mother, unite their own prayers with the prayers of Mary, direct them to Christ the Lord, and aid us as intermediaries.

This intercession of the saints is an instance in which the Church on earth and the Church in heaven (the ''Church Militant'' and the ''Church Triumphant''), praying through Christ alone, acts for the salvation of mankind as well as for the individual members.

This intercession of the saints is an instance in which the Church on earth and the Church in heaven (the ''Church Militant'' and the ''Church Triumphant''), praying through Christ alone, acts for the salvation of mankind as well as for the individual members.