Intercession

Intercession is a form of prayer of petition on behalf of others. The prayer of intercession leads us to pray as Christ, our unique Intercessor, prayed — sharing in his priestly concern for all humanity (CCC 2634).

Christ as the One Intercessor

The New Testament is explicit: "There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). Christ is the unique Intercessor — his intercession is perfect, perpetual, and all-sufficient. He "always lives to make intercession" for us at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 7:25; CCC 2634).

Our Intercession in Christ

The uniqueness of Christ's intercession does not exclude ours — it includes and enables it. When Christians intercede, they share in Christ's own priestly prayer. Our intercession is not a competing mediation but a participation in the one mediation of Christ. Paul commands: "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men" (1 Timothy 2:1; CCC 2636).

Intercession of the Saints

The saints in Heaven intercede for us — alive in Christ, sharing his life and his prayer. The Church has always asked the saints to bring her prayers before God. This is an expression of the Communion of Saints — the Body of Christ praying together across all boundaries of death (CCC 956).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why pray to the saints when we can go directly to God? We can and should go directly to God. But we also ask other Christians to pray for us — which is itself intercession. Asking the saints is asking the most powerful intercessors possible: those perfectly united to God in Heaven, whose love and prayer are unimpeded (CCC 2683).