The Intercession of Saints

The Epistle of Barnabas (Written ca 70 A.D.)

“Thou shalt remember the day of judgment night and day, and thou shalt seek out day by day the persons of the saints, either laboring by word and going to exhort them and meditating how thou mayest save souls by thy word, or thou shalt work with thy hands for a ransom for thy sins.” – The Epistle of Barnabas 19:10

The Shepherd of Hermas (Written ca 90 A.D.)

“The Shepherd said: ‘But those who are weak and slothful in prayer, hesitate to ask anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask him. But you, [Hermas,] having been strengthened by the holy angel [you saw], and having obtained from him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from him?’” (The Shepherd 3:5:4 [A.D. 80]).

Clement of Alexandria (150-215 A.D.)

“In this way is he [the true Christian] always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him [in prayer]” (Miscellanies 7:12 [A.D. 208]).

Origen of Alexandria (184-253 A.D.)

“But not the high priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep” (Prayer 11 [A.D. 233]).

Cyprian of Carthage (200-258 A.D.)

“Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides [of death] always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father’s mercy” (Letters 56[60]:5 [A.D. 253]).

Sub Tuum Praesidium (Prayer ca. 250 A.D.)

“We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers,O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.” – Sub Tuum Praesidium Prayer

Funerary Inscription of Atticus (ca 300 A.D.)

“Atticus, sleep in peace, secure in your safety, and pray anxiously for our sins” (funerary inscription near St. Sabina’s in Rome [A.D. 300]).

Funerary Inscription of Matronata Matrona (ca 300 A.D.)

“Pray for your parents, Matronata Matrona. She lived one year, fifty-two days” (funerary inscription near St. Sabina’s in Rome [A.D. 300]).

Ryland’s Papyrus (Written ca 350 A.D.)

“Mother of God, listen to my petitions; do not disregard us in adversity, but rescue us from danger” (Rylands Papyrus 3 [A.D. 350]).

Methodius of Olympus (Martyred 311 A.D.)

“Hail to you for ever, Virgin Mother of God, our unceasing joy, for to you do I turn again. . . . Hail, you treasure of the love of God. Hail, you fount of the Son’s love for man” (Oration on Simeon and Anna 14 [A.D. 305]).

“Therefore, we pray [ask] you, the most excellent among women, who glories in the confidence of your maternal honors, that you would unceasingly keep us in remembrance. O holy Mother of God, remember us, I say, who make our boast in you, and who in august hymns celebrate the memory, which will ever live, and never fade away” (ibid.).

“And you also, O honored and venerable Simeon, you earliest host of our holy religion, and teacher of the resurrection of the faithful, do be our patron and advocate with that Savior God, whom you were deemed worthy to receive into your arms. We, together with you, sing our praises to Christ, who has the power of life and death, saying, ‘You are the true Light, proceeding from the true Light; the true God, begotten of the true God’” (ibid.).

Ephraim the Syrian (306-373 A.D.)

“You victorious martyrs who endured torments gladly for the sake of the God and Savior, you who have boldness of speech toward the Lord himself, you saints, intercede for us who are timid and sinful men, full of sloth, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, and enlighten the hearts of all of us so that we may love him” (Commentary on Mark [A.D. 370]).

“Remember me, you heirs of God, you brethren of Christ; supplicate the Savior earnestly for me, that I may be freed through Christ from him that fights against me day by day” (The Fear at the End of Life [A.D. 370]).

Hilary of Poitiers (310-367 A.D.)

“To those who wish to stand [in God’s grace], neither the guardianship of saints nor the defenses of angels are wanting” (Commentary on the Psalms 124:5:6 [A.D. 365]).

“There are, as Raphael told Tobias, angels assisting before the majesty of God, and carrying to God the prayers of suppliants. . . it is written: ‘For they are ministering spirits, sent for service, for the sake of those who will inherit salvation’ (Heb. 1:14). It is not the nature of God, but the weakness of men, which requires their service. For they are sent for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. God is not unaware of anything that we do; but in our weakness we are impoverished for a minister of spiritual intercession in the matter of beseeching and propitiating.” –Commentary on Psalm 129 [130]: 7 (Written 365 A.D.)

Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386 A.D.)

“Then [during the Eucharistic prayer] we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition” (Catechetical Lectures 23:9 [A.D. 350]).

The Liturgy of St. Basil (Written 373 A.D.)

“By the command of your only-begotten Son we communicate with the memory of your saints . . . by whose prayers and supplications have mercy upon us all, and deliver us for the sake of your holy name” (Liturgy of St. Basil [A.D. 373]).

Epitaph of Pectorius (375 A.D.)

“Aschandius, my father, dearly beloved of my heart, with my sweet mother and my brethren, remember your Pectorius in the peace of the Fish [Christ]” (Epitaph of Pectorius [A.D. 375]).

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390 A.D.)

“May you [Cyprian] look down from above propitiously upon us, and guide our word and life; and shepherd this sacred flock . . . gladden the Holy Trinity, before which you stand” (Orations 17[24] [A.D. 380]).

“Yes, I am well assured that [my father’s] intercession is of more avail now than was his instruction in former days, since he is closer to God, now that he has shaken off his bodily fetters, and freed his mind from the clay that obscured it, and holds conversation naked with the nakedness of the prime and purest mind” (ibid., 18:4).

Gregory of Nyssa (335-395 A.D.)

“[Ephraim], you who are standing at the divine altar [in heaven] . . . bear us all in remembrance, petitioning for us the remission of sins, and the fruition of an everlasting kingdom” (Sermon on Ephraim the Syrian [A.D. 380]).

John Chrysostom (347-407 A.D.)

“He that wears the purple [i.e., a royal man] . . . stands begging of the saints to be his patrons with God, and he that wears a diadem begs the tentmaker [Paul] and the fisherman [Peter] as patrons, even though they be dead” (Homilies on Second Corinthians 26 [A.D. 392]).

“When you perceive that God is chastening you, fly not to his enemies . . . but to his friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to him, and who have great power [in God]” (Orations 8:6 [A.D. 396]).

Ambrose of Milan (340-397 A.D.)

“May Peter, who wept so efficaciously for himself, weep for us and turn towards us Christ’s benign countenance” (The Six Days Work 5:25:90 [A.D. 393]).

Jerome of Stridon (347-420 A.D.)

“You say in your book that while we live we are able to pray for each other, but afterwards when we have died, the prayer of no person for another can be heard. . . . But if the apostles and martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, at a time when they ought still be solicitous about themselves, how much more will they do so after their crowns, victories, and triumphs?” (Against Vigilantius 6 [A.D. 406]).

Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.)

“A Christian people celebrates together in religious solemnity the memorials of the martyrs, both to encourage their being imitated and so that it can share in their merits and be aided by their prayers” (Against Faustus the Manichean [A.D. 400]).

“At the Lord’s table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we do others who rest in peace so as to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us that we may follow in their footsteps” (Homilies on John 84 [A.D. 416]).

“Neither are the souls of the pious dead separated from the Church which even now is the kingdom of Christ. Otherwise there would be no remembrance of them at the altar of God in the communication of the Body of Christ” (The City of God 20:9:2 [A.D. 419]).

Pope Celestine I (376-432 A.D.)

“I exhort you, most blessed brethren, that love alone be regarded in which we ought to remain, according to the voice of John the Apostle whose relics we venerate in this city. Let common prayer be offered to the Lord. For we can form some idea of what will be the power of the divine presence at the united intercession of such a multitude of priests, by considering how the very place was moved where, as we read, the Twelve made together their supplication.” –The Letter of Pope Cœlestine to the Synod of Ephesus 17, May 8th,  431 A.D.

John Cassian (360-435 A.D.)

“Sometimes too the pardon of our sins is obtained by the intercession of the saints, ‘for if a man knows his brother to sin a sin not unto death, he asks, and He will give to him his life, for him that sins not unto death (1John 5:16)”; and again: ‘Is any sick among you? Let him send for the Elders of the Church and they shall pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him (James 5:14).’” –Conference 20: Chapter 8

“But if you cannot secure perfection in goodness by the eradication of all your faults, you can show a pious anxiety for the good and salvation of another. But if you complain that you are not equal to this service, you can cover your sins by the affection of love. And if in this also some sluggishness of mind makes you weak, at least you should submissively with a feeling of humility entreat for remedies for your wounds by the prayers and intercession of the saints.” –Conference 20: Chapter 8

Balai of Qenneshrin (Died ca 450 A.D.)

“O Mother of our Lord, we place our trust in you truly, for your majestic Son listens to you kindly. To you be glory on the day of your mother’s memorial, O Son of God, who strengthens His martyrs. O blessed Mary, come and be the protection of our weakness, that we may live in grace with you through your prayers. O holy ones, be our companions, with mercy. Persevere in prayer and righteousness before God. Help us fervently with prayer, martyrs, and expel the Evil One, for behold, he constantly harms us. Call the departed and raise them by way of command, Son of God, for You are truly the Resurrection. May the commemoration of [Saint] Thomas bring blessings to us, and his prayer be a bulwark to our souls. O departed, tomb-dwellers, be comforted. The Good News is upon you, for Resurrection is standing at the door. Glory be to the Father, who chose Mary among all generations, and worship be to the Son, whose hidden power dwells in the holy ones. The one who has always loved fasting and rejoices in it, their lives are joined to God, and they delight in Him. May the Church worship the Father, who crowned her with the crown of fasting, and may her children give thanks to the Son, who fasted for our sake. Pray on our behalf to your Lord, who is pleased with you, that through your prayer we may rejoice in your gladness. We beseech the martyrs and entreat them earnestly to implore with us the Lord, who crowned them.” – The Book of Hymns (also called the “Sliba” or “Sliba d-Mari”) of Balai: Hymn on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.  The Liturgical texts of the Syriac Orthodox Church

Jacob of Serugh (451-521 A.D.)

“O Son of God, by her prayers make your peace to dwell in heaven, in the depths, and among all the counsels of her sons. Make wars to cease, and remove trials and plagues; bestow calm and tranquility on seafarers. Heal the infirm, cure the sick, fill the hungry; be a Father to orphans whom death has left destitute. In your piety, drive out devils who harass mankind, and exalt your Church to the four quarters of the globe, that it may sing your praise. Watch over priests and purify ministers; be a guardian of old age and youth. O Bridegroom Christ, to you be praise from every mouth, and on us be mercy at all times. Amen.” –On the Death and Burial of the Virgin Mother of God. S. Martyrii, qui et Sahdona quae supersunt omnia [Paris and Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1902], 709–719. tr. Mary Hansbury, On the Mother of God. Jacob of Serug, with an introduction by Sebastian Brock [Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1998], 89–100, here 99–100). See also Puthuparampil, Mariological Thought, 343–344.

Severus of Antioch (459-538 A.D.)

“We implore her who is the birthgiver of God and pray her to intercede for us, she who is honored by all the saints.” -Ottoeco, hymn 118, Patrologia Graeca (PG) Volume 89

Romanos the Melodist (Died ca 560 A.D.)

“Cease your laments; I will make myself your advocate in my Son’s presence. Meanwhile, no more sadness, because I have brought joy to the world. For it is to destroy the kingdom of sorrow that I have come into the world: I, full of grace. Then curb your tears; accept me as your mediatrix in the presence of him who was born from me, because the author of joy is the God generated before all ages. Remain calm; be troubled no longer: I come from him, full of grace.” –On Christmas 2, IO-II.

Modestus of Jerusalem (Died 630 A.D.)

“For he truly saves from all tribulation those who confess you to be Mother of God- the God who has initiated you into his mysteries, that you might be with him to intercede for us.” –Encomium on the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, Mary, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin, chap 10

“Since you abide in his presence with full freedom of access, pray to him for his Church, that it may be preserved forever in this reverent state of mind. Hail, venerable, immaculate Mother of God! The Lord God came from on high to dwell in your womb as his earthly homeland, without being limited and without leaving heaven behind; now he deems you worthy to come from this earthly, temporal homeland into a better land in heaven, a place also given- through your mediation- to the saints as their longed-for goal.” –Encomium on the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, Mary, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin, chap 10

“Hail, divine altar erected on God’s foundation! Through you the atoning and saving sacrifice for the whole world came forth, Christ our God. For from you, holy Mother of God, he put on that vestment of flesh prepared for him by the Holy Spirit, and came forth as “a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek’ (Ps 109:4 LXX]; cf. Heb 5:6), as Scripture says; and he has decreed that he will take you as his partner, in order to provide forever a propitiatory sacrifice for all humanity, as you intercede for them Hail, Mary, resplendent spiritual Paradise!” –Encomium on the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, Mary, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin, chap 10

Theoteknos of Livias (550-650 A.D.)

“She [Mary] has free access to God, and so bestows on us spiritual gifts; she gives grace to our words, and teaches us wisdom, for she is the mother of wisdom.” –Encomium, Section 9

Maximus the Confessor (580-662 A.D.)

“She is the ardent intercessor with her son, Christ God, for all those who entreat her.  She is the calm harbor of all those buffeted by waves, who rescues them from spiritual and fleshly waves.  She is the guide on the way of life for all who have gone astray.” –The Life of the Virgin: Maximus the Confessor, Chapter 9, translation by Stephen J. Shoemaker

Germanus I of Constantinople (634-733 A.D.)

“May the Ever-Virgin – radiant with divine light and full of grace – Mediatrix first through her supernatural birth and now because of the intercession of her maternal assistance -be crowned with never-ending blessings. . . we should make our way honestly, seeking balance and fittingness in all things, as sons of light.” -Homily for the Liberation of Constantinople 23 (Written in 717 A.D.)

“For, just as in your Son’s presence you have a mother’s boldness and strength, do you with your prayers and intercessions save and rescue us from eternal punishment, for we have been condemned by our sins and do not dare even to lift our eyes to heaven above.” -Homily on the Cincture (Written ca. 700 A.D.)

Andrew of Crete (650-740 A.D.)

“O, how marvelous it is! She acts as Mediatrix between the loftiness of God and the lowliness of the flesh, and becomes Mother of the Creator.” –Homily 1 on Mary’s Nativity (Written ante 740 A.D.)

John of Damascus (675-749 A.D.)

“Jacob contemplated heaven joined to earth by the two ends of a ladder and saw angels going your up and down upon it and saw himself symbolically wrestling with the Strong One, the Invincible. So you have assumed the role of a mediatrix, having become the ladder by which God comes down to us, assuming the weakness of our nature, embracing it and uniting himself to it, and thus making man into a mind that can see God. Thus O Mary you have reunited what had been divided.”-Homily I on the Dormition 8 (Written ca. 730 A.D.)

“Through her, the reconciliation between us and him was ratified. Grace and peace were granted us, so that men and angels are united in the same choir, and we, who had been deserving of disdain, have become sons of God. From her we have harvested the grape of life and have cultivated the seed of immortality. For our sake she became Mediatrix of all blessings; in her God became man, and man became God.” –Homily II on the Dormition 16 (Written ca. 730 A.D.)

Theodore the Studite (759-826 A.D.)

“In addition, I follow the six holy and ecumenical councils and reject every error of heretical association. I also follow the Second Council of Nicaea which was recently assembled against the accusers of Christ. I accept and revere the sacred and holy images of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Mother of God, of the apostles, prophets, martyrs, and of all the holy and just. Moreover, I ask for their undefiled intercessions to propitiate the Godhead. With faith and awe I embrace their all holy relics as full of divine grace.” –Testament: Concerning Faith 1

“At this moment her natural form, radiant as the sun, is hidden; yet her light shines through her painted image, and she offers it to the people for the life-giving kiss of relative veneration, even if the heretics are unwilling. The holy dove has flown to her home above, yet she does not cease to protect those below; …gathered up to heaven, she banishes demons by her intercession with the Lord.” – Encomium on the Dormition of’ Our Holy Lady, the Mother of God (Written 747 A.D.) Patrologia Graeca: The Greek Fathers of the Church Vol 99. Edited Jacques-Paul Migne. 1857–1866

“Now the Mother of God shuts her material eyes, and opens her spiritual eyes towards us like great shining stars that will never set, to watch over us and to intercede before the face of God for the world’s protection. Now those lips, moved by God’s grace to articulate sounds, grow silent, but she opens her [spiritual] mouth to intercede eternally for all of her race. Now she lowers those bodily hands that once bore God, only to raise them, in incorruptible form, in prayer to the Lord on behalf of all creation.” –Encomium on the Dormition of’ Our Holy Lady, the Mother of God (Written 747 A.D.) Patrologia Graeca: The Greek Fathers of the Church Vol 99. Edited Jacques-Paul Migne. 1857–1866

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