The Catholic Church has always valued prayer as an essential element of its spirituality, with a unique importance given to the act of praying to saints.
However, this is still seen as a very confusing part of the faith by a lot of Catholics and non-Catholics too.
The act of praying to saints for their intercession is one of the practices that make Catholicism exceptional. This practice can be traced back to early Christianity, where saints were called upon for safety and direction. But why do Catholics pray to saints? What power does this form of prayer hold?
Fundamentally, requesting for a saint’s intercession is an expression of belief in God’s communication among all Christians, whether they are alive or dead. They think that the saints who have lived in a holy manner are very close to God and can help us by praying.
In addition, by praying to saints, we remember how we are linked to and depend on this lively crowd of witnesses around us. This provides tangible proof that in our spiritual journey we are not alone, but rather we enjoy the support and prayers of those who have passed on.
The Bible has a lot of evidence that can support praying to the saints if analyzed well.
For instance, in Hebrews 12:1, it is written that there are many witnesses around us. By using this kind of a verse, one would understand that the saints are in fellowship with God now and they pray on us always.
The book of revelation also supports this argument as it states “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.” (Rev. 5:8).
Many non-Catholics mistakenly think that praying to saints contradict with God being everywhere.
However, it is wrong to think that requesting saints’ intercession weakens the power of God. In fact, this helps us understand better the divine plan, because we acknowledge that there is a common effort of all people who belong to one society of Christians.
To add on, it is not right that when we pray to saints then we are worshiping them just like God. It is rather a way of imploring for the company’s and unity’s sake upon which they also rely so much while they are conducting themselves rightly in this world and following God closely.
The act of praying to saints is seen by many non-Catholics as being idolatrous or an extra step that is not needed. However, Catholics see this practice as having a deep meaning in that they believe that the saints are there to guide them spiritually.
Contrary to what most people think, Catholics do not adore saints when they pray but rather seek for their intercession and guidance since they have lived righteous lives here on earth and are now in heaven with God. These saints are considered the great examples of faith, which can encourage us to be righteous.
We pray to them for assistance and direction just as we learn from their experiences and follow suit of morality in our respective lives. Through the intercession of these holy men and women, we reach out to others and also reinforce our unity with God whom he chose for himself.
Many stories have been told about miracles and divine intervention which are said to have happened because some people prayed to the saints.
People believe that saints can help them in their prayers to God through various incredible ways such as curing illnesses or preventing injuries.
For instance, there are some miracle stories linked with certain saints like St. Jude known for being the patron saint of desperate cases, and St. Anthony of Padua who is recognized as a great counselor in difficult times and a finder of lost things.
The Holy Communion is a way through which Catholics show that they believe that all people are brothers and sisters in God and that we are connected with every human being who ever lived, who lives now or who will live in the future.
By using the term Communion of Saints, we acknowledge the unity among believers, where all are part of Christ’s body. It encompasses those here on Earth (Church Militant) and those who are now at rest (Church Triumphant).
Through this tie we can implore for their prayers and vice versa they can ask us to pray for them while we move along in this earthly pilgrimage.
Catholics believe that saints are important in their spiritual life because they are alive and take part in different issues that concern us through intercession.
Therefore, if this form of prayer is very strong, can it be included among the other normal prayers that we do on a daily basis? Here are a few suggestions:
A lot of Catholics are devoted to some saints with some of them selecting one as their patron depending on what they do for living, where they live or simply because they like him more than others.
Invest some effort into studying the saint you are associated with and creating closeness between the two of you. By doing this, you will enhance your comprehension of the reasons behind your attraction towards him or her and the ways in which he/she may be able to help you out.
In the Catholic Church, there are many prayers and novenas for saints which can act as a guide for our prayer life.
One way is to slot these prayers in your everyday schedule or set aside particular days of each week for honoring those saints whom you cherish most.
Although it is normal to seek the help of saints we are familiar with, we should also try out new ones too.
Every saint possesses distinct characteristics and a story that could touch on various parts of our life.
Therefore, one should not be too shy to ask for their intercession while tackling unforeseen problems or moving around in a strange land.
Praying to saints may appear strange to those who do not follow the Catholic faith.
Nevertheless, Catholics have a cultural practice of imploring saints to intercede with them, which has been passed down for many generations.
1. A Connection to Our Ancestors
The honoring and remembering of ancestors is highly valued in most societies.
Likewise, the veneration of saints among Catholics can be viewed as a form of honoring our spiritual forefathers, who set a path for us and still lead us with their teachings and prayers.
2. A Diverse Community of Faith
In the universal Church, there are many traditions which have produced saints of all kinds – some popular examples include St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Theresa, as well as less famous but very important ones in every nation’s history.
The fact that people in one culture worship the saints while others do the same proves that humans are united by a sense of devotion that goes beyond geography and temporal order.
3. Customs that Nourish Faith
The tangible ways through which the Catholics can enhance their connection with the saints and show that they are faithful include lighting candles, saying special prayers or making some offerings in certain shrines.
In conclusion, it can be said that praying to saints makes us feel that we are all connected and part of a larger faith community, which helps us in our individual attempts to become better persons – saints.
At first sight, this may appear as an irrelevant religious practice but it is deeply rooted in theology and history, and it comes from the ancient Christian customs. Praying to saints does not serve the purpose of worshiping them before God; instead, it is a means of acknowledging their holiness and imploring for their mediation with Him.
This reminds us that we are always accompanied in our spiritual journey as part of the saint’s society. By way of prayer to the saints, Catholics draw strength from them that they were able to overcome many obstacles in life like they did, being just humble people but with faith in God, which was not normal at all.
We are confident that these dear saints are still praying on us and they can help especially when we feel that our prayers are not enough or too much for something!
