The guide gave us a wonderful tour of the church. Hubby just had to have a picture taken of him sitting in the same box that George Washington and Queen Elizabeth II prayed in. Many famous people worshiped there. We met their new priest, The Rev. Canon Anne Marie Richards.
Our tour guide happened to say that it was so nice to have a lady priest. She went on to say that she never felt part of the church until the Canon Anne Marie came.
I bit my tongue.
The church had some beautiful stained glass windows. I learned the difference between painted glass and the stained glass pieces that Tiffany made. Big difference!
The stained glass windows depicted Mary, and some saints, and some famous parishioners. Our guide said, "Of course, being High Church Episcopalian, we do not worship saints like Catholics do..."
I just had to speak up, no many how many kicks in the ankle hubby was giving me.
I asked her to pray for me. She looked askance, but she said, "OK." Then I said, "Why do you not think it odd, or wrong, to pray for others, yet you think it odd, or wrong, that Catholics pray to saints?" Then I pointed to the Apostle Creed that was on a plaque. I quoted, "I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS..." What do you think the communion of saints means?
It means the spiritual solidarity among those living and those that are dead. Thomas Aquinas* tells us that we participate in this mystical body exchange of the same faith, prayers, merits, veneration, etc.
Hence, it's praying to the dead, not worshiping, but asking intercession, as we join together in prayer, just as I ask a living person to pray for me. I'm not worshiping that person. I'm asking for intercession to God.
The tour came to an abrupt close.
I did better on the tour to the synagogue.
*Summa Theologica III: 8:4.
