RELICS AND MEDIATORS
I REMEMBER well the many holy pictures we had in our home as I
was growing up. There were pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and many of the saints. But the most important thing we had in
our house was our relic. A relic can be a piece of bone from a
saint's body, or a piece of his or her clothing, or some article
touched by the saint, etc.
We, like most other Roman Catholic families, believed that these
relics had supernatural healing powers, and we depended very much
on a relic of Saint Martin, which was a piece of cloth that had
touched one of his bones. If any of our family were ill, mother
would touch the affected part of the body with the relic and
pray, asking Saint Martin for healing.
Like most women in the Roman Catholic Church, mother would say a
'Novena' to the saint. The Novena consisted of nine consecutive
days of prayer. Many people would promise their favourite saint
that they would say a Novena each month, for the rest of their
lives, if they would answer their prayers. Some people would
promise to give up smoking, or drinking alcohol, or going to the
cinema, or attending the dance hall, if the saint would only
grant them their petition. Others would promise to give up using
sugar in their tea, or using jam on their bread, and many would
give up eating meat in return for the saint's help. They would
gladly make sacrifices, as they sought answers to their prayers.
Because of the promises they had made to the various saints, many
of these dear people would then live in constant fear of ever
breaking the promise, believing that if they did so there would
be a relapse into sickness, or some misfortune would come upon
them, or whoever had previously benefited from the saint's help.
Not only did a lot of our dear friends have relics, but there are
many of them in Roman Catholic Chapels in several different
countries, where they are venerated by the people. In Spain, in
the Camera Santa at Oveida, may be seen a piece of Moses' rod; a
piece of Mary Magdalene's hair; one of Saint Peter's sandals, and
his leather wallet; a piece of Lazarus' tomb; some crumbs left
over after the feeding of the five thousand; one of the silver
pieces for which Judas betrayed the Lord, and a portion of the
'True Cross,' believed to be a piece of the cross upon which the
Saviour died. At Palma, there is on display one of saint
Stephen's bones; part of the Blessed Virgin Mary's dress; a
remnant of Saint Joseph's coat; a piece of the column at which
Christ was flagellated; part of the robe with which Herod's
soldiers covered the Lord; a piece of the sponge offered to
Christ while He was on the cross; three thorns from His crown,
and another fragment of the 'True Cross'.
In different chapels, in various locations, can be seen the
seamless robe of Christ; the linen of Mary; Mary's wedding ring;
locks of Mary's hair; bones, arms, legs, hair, garments, and
different possessions of saints and martyrs. All of these relics
are vitally important to many devout Roman Catholics, and we were
always taught to venerate them. Most families had their favourite
mediators, and were praying regularly to them. It was a wonderful
thing to actually have a relic of the saint whose intercession
you depended upon.
Having prayed to Saint Martin for many years, and having totally
depended upon him as a mediator, I now decided to examine the
Scriptures, to see what God had to say in His Word on the subject
of mediators. I had already discovered that the Old Testament
high priests had mediated on behalf of the people, but I was
amazed as I read what God's Word said concerning the fact that
their mediation ended very suddenly, for "Death prevented
them from continuing in office." 1
Yes, death prevented them from continuing their ministry. This
meant that they could only mediate on behalf of the people until
the moment of death, and their ministry ended there and then.
After death, they could not mediate on behalf of the people. Now,
as a Roman Catholic, I had always been taught, and firmly
believed, that there were, in fact, people who could mediate on
your behalf, even after they had died. After mass, we would pray,
"O God, our refuge and our strength, look down in mercy on
Thy people who cry to Thee; and by the Intercession of the
glorious and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint
Joseph her spouse, of Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of
all Thy saints, in mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the
conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of our
holy mother, the Church." This prayer was included in the
mass by direction of Pope Pius XI, and was offered for the
conversion of Russia.
The role of the Blessed Virgin and the saints as mediators was
one of great importance, and their intercession was depended upon
very much. But the Word of God was saying that even the high
priests, who had, in fact, been appointed as mediators, were
prevented by death from continuing their ministry. They could not
mediate for the people after death. I asked myself: "Are
there any mediators in Heaven, then? Does anybody have this
ministry in Heaven?" My question was answered when I read
the following verse:
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus." 2
The Word of God makes it clear that, while the ministry of
others, who had been mediators in this life ended, because
"death prevented them from continuing in office," Jesus
Christ's ministry is completely different, for it continues:
"But because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent
priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who
come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for
them." 3
Jesus, who died and rose again, has a permanent priesthood. He is
the only one who has a permanent priesthood; He is the only one
who ministers as a priest in Heaven. He is the only one who
ministers as a mediator in Heaven. As the only mediator, He is
the only one who can go to the Father on the sinner's behalf.
Jesus Himself said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 4
I found it very interesting that Jesus invited people to come
directly to Him. He did not say: "Go to the Blessed Virgin,
or to the saints first, and they will then approach Me, or
approach My Father, and intercede for you, by seeking to
influence us on your behalf." No! He said: "Come unto
Me."
Now, here again was a great difference between what I had been
taught, and what the Word of God said. I had been told that there
were many mediators and had, in fact, prayed to Mary and many of
the saints, firmly believing that they could go to the Lord and
influence Him on my behalf. But here, in God's Word, it was so
clearly stated: "For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." 5
To me, the Word of God had become the final authority, and I was
so glad that, having been in darkness for so long, the light was
finally beginning to dawn.
1. Hebrews 7:23.
2. 1 Timothy 2:5.
3. Hebrews 7:24-25.
4. Matthew 11:28.
5. 1 Timothy 2:5.
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