Msgr. Rossetti

Response: This gets at an important point and a significant insight and teaching of the Catholic faith. When the faithful invoke the help of the saints and angels, we are not replacing Jesus. Rather, we are asking these holy ones to assist us in our faith in Jesus. Mary herself, in her apparitions, repeatedly says that her role is to help us come to Jesus. In our lives, we enlist the help of people for many tasks including coming to the faith.

As every exorcist knows, Mary is a powerful aid to our ministry. She is a lovely gift that the Lord has given to us. Indeed, if an exorcist is not finding success in his ministry, he might discern whether he has enlisted the aid of the Mother of God, the saints and the angels. The Rite of Exorcism includes them all and fervently prays for their aid. In fact, the Rite of Exorcism stipulates that the Exorcist is not supposed to use the "imperative" prayer (commanding the demons to leave) until after he has prayed the "deprecatory" prayer, which asks God through the intercession of the saints and angels, for help.

Most of us received the faith as handed onto us by others; we are grateful to them. We are a community of the faithful. God has ordained it that members of the community assist each other in the faith and this group effort makes us stronger. During his life Jesus himself was aided by his Mother as he grew in wisdom, age and grace. It is a joyous gift to be among saints and angels and to receive their help. We rejoice in their company. We thank them for their help. They help us know and love Jesus all the more. This is a wonderful grace that is part of our faith. Thanks be to God!