Annotation CCCX

”Whether by occasion, or by truth, Christ is announced.” — Philippians 1:18

Whether the saints are to be invoked.

Chrysostom, at the end of the homily which is written out of the order of the others upon this passage, and which is inscribed On the Advancement of the Gospel [De profectu Evangelii], seems to explode [reject] the intercessions and patronages of the saints, writing thus: “MOREOVER, thou hast no need of patrons with God, nor of much discourse, that thou mayest flatter others: but although thou be alone, and lack patrons, and pray to God through thyself, thou wilt nonetheless be altogether the possessor of thy wish. For neither does God assent so easily when others pray for us, as when we ourselves pray — even if we be full of very many evils.” And a little after: “DOST thou wish to learn, that even we ourselves, praying to God, effect more than when others pray for us? The Canaanite woman cried out; and, as the disciples came, they say, ‘Send her away, because she cries after us.’ And to them indeed he said, ‘I am not sent except to the sheep of the house of Israel.’ But when she herself approached, and persevered crying, ‘Lord, even the whelps eat of the crumbs from the table of their masters’: then he gave the benefit, and said, ‘Be it done to thee as thou wilt.’ Thou seest in what manner he repelled [her], when others prayed: but when she herself cried out for the gift, he assented.”

This passage the Lutherans, as [it were] the Achilles of Zeno, oppose to the Catholics against the invocation of the saints. But it appears that Chrysostom brought these [things] forth not against the imploring of the saints — which everywhere he most keenly defends — but rather against certain slothful [men], who so commit themselves to the patronage of the saints, that meanwhile they, idle, cast themselves wholly into sins, and, sleeping, will do nothing for their own salvation. That to these the prayers of the saints profit nothing, Chrysostom affirms in almost innumerable places — but especially [in] the 8th homily on Matthew, saying: “IF we be negligent and slothful, we cannot be saved even by the merits of others, etc. But these [things] we say, not that we deny that the saints are to be supplicated for sinners; but lest we resolve [dissolve] ourselves into idleness and sloth, and, sleeping ourselves, commit the care of our [affairs] to others only.” And [in] the 5th homily on Matthew he says: “EVEN if the patriarch Abraham supplicate for those who, by remaining in their vices, are incurably sick, God will depart, forsaking the one who asks, lest he hear the voice of the one interceding for such [men], etc.” Not therefore, as if yawning and slothful, are we to depend upon the merits of others; for the prayers and supplications of the saints have a force on our behalf — and indeed a very great one — but then truly, when we too ask this same [thing] through penance, and flee to better pursuits. And [in] the 43rd homily on Genesis he says: “WHEN [that] which is from us we bring at the same time, and the intercession of the saints is added, it profits us very much. But if we ourselves be negligent, and place the hope of our salvation in them alone, it profits us nothing further. Not because the just are weak, but because through our own sloth we destroy ourselves.” And [in] the 1st homily on the first epistle to the Thessalonians he says: “‘WHAT need have I,’ sayest thou, ‘of the prayers of others, when I myself shall have been diligent?’ Never say this, O man. There is need, and need of much prayer, etc.” And after he has by many arguments

—demonstrated the intervention of the saints to be exceedingly necessary to us, at length he concludes the discourse with these words: “THESE [things], therefore, being known, let us neither contemn the prayers of the saints, nor cast [our] whole [selves] upon them: this indeed, lest we be rashly overwhelmed by [their] snares; but that, lest we fall away from much gain and advancement — but let us also pray that they may pray for us, and reach out a hand; and let us ourselves cleave to the pursuit of virtue, that we may be able to attain the goods promised to those who love God, etc.”