Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest
Why are we in need of an Advocate; is not Jesus our High Priest and Mediator before God?
Because there is a wicked Prosecutor constantly calling out our sins before God and us: Satan, whose name means “Accuser.”
To aid us in our lifelong trial against Satan, Christ our Judge assigns an attorney to us: a Paraclete, and Advocate of greater skill, wisdom, and power than the “prince of this world” (John 14:30). “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens,” (Ephesians 6:12). In addition to our guardian angel and so many helps, the very Spirit of God is sent to aid us in knowing the truth, for “…the truth shall set you free,” (John 8:32): the very Spirit of Love is appointed to be our Advocate, the Spirit of Mercy appealing to the Judge for Mercy! Every crime of which Satan accuses us, “…the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will,” (Romans 8:26-27).