. As co-reigners with Christ, the denizens of
heaven have knowledge of the conditions and events of His kingdom; hence
the saints may pray for us individually; therefore it is permissible and
profitable for us to invoke them. It is obvious that the knowledge of
individual occurrences does not mar the bliss of the saints. How they
gain this knowledge is not clear to the spiritual authors; but most of
them incline to the view that they attain it by direct divine mediation.
God reveals our condition and our invocation to the saints.

Can we doubt the willingness of the saints to aid us by their
intercession? According to St. Paul, charity is the greatest of all
virtues. If, then, the saints, whilst on earth loved their fellow-men,
cared for and prayed for them, how much more will they do so now, when
their charity is perfected? They, too, were pilgrims on earth, who had
to suffer the adversities and miseries of life and therefore know by
experience how sorely in need of divine assistance we poor mortals are.
Persons who have themselves experienced trials have more compassion for
the adversities of others. Therefore it is certain that the saints have
compassion on us, that they wish our prayers to be heard and bring them
before the throne of God. "The saints," says St. Augustine, "being
secure of their eternal welfare, are intent upon ours." Holy Scripture
establishes this beyond doubt, saying that the saints bring the prayers
of the faithful before the throne of God (_Apoc._ v. 8).

Or is there any one that doubts the _efficacy_ of the saints' prayer
with God? At any rate, we must concede that their prayer is more
effectual than ours; for they are confirmed in justice, and therefore
friends and favorites of God, whilst we are sinners, of whom Holy
Scripture says, "The Lord is far from the wicked, and He will hear the
prayers of the just" (_Prov._ xv. 29). On this subject, let us hear St.
Basil in his panegyric on the Forty Martyrs: "You often wanted to find
an intercessor: here you have forty who intercede unanimously for you.
Are you in distress? Have recourse to the holy martyrs. Rejoicing, do
the same. The former that you may find relief, the latter that you may
continue to prosper. These saints hear the mother praying for her
children, the wife invoking aid for her sick or absent husband. O brave
and victorious band, protectors of mankind, generous intercessors when
invoked, be our advocates with God!"

There is no d