catholics...will you ever stop venerating your saints?

Answer 1

No. We as Catholics have thrown our lot in with them. They have gone before us and they help guide our way home to the Father. They are our family, our friends, our loved ones. We seek after their resting spot. That is our faith and we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.

For me as a Catholic, it strikes me as very sad that other Christians would want to go about this life alone and unconnected to those who have crossed over into the Kingdom. They reject grace, and love, and help from other Christians insisting to go it alone. That is not the way to go about finding God.

It is also a direct denial of the creed
"....I believe in the communion of saints..."

Best of luck to those who go it alone! Just remember that as Christians we have been called to communion with God and with each other.

Answer 2

They are not catholic saints, they are Christian saints, they are respected by Orthodox, Anglican and even some older style Lutheran churchs, so actually the majority of all christians actually pray though or honor saints in various forms, I guess one has to wonder why the newer break off churches don't ?/

Answer 3

Never. We venerate saints because they are in heaven with God and they pray for us. There is proof that the saints are in heaven because there have been countless miracles done by them that science can't explain. You can't become a saint without a miracle. saints can do miracles only through Jesus because they are in heaven. We try to be like saints in order to join them in heaven with Jesus.

Answer 4

Being able to perform miracles is not a reward for being good but
a way to help peoples' unbelief. Many of the saints such as Paul were former sinners who were chosen out of God's mercy for a purpose, not because of their holiness.

Answer 5

Ploooftaaa! Scmalloooogaoooo!

TRANSLATION:
Hello there, I'm Sampson the Elephant.

Although I am not Catholic, I find your insulting anyones valued culture quite offensive. One such as yourself, being that you probably have poor literacy skills, should not be making such extremist thoughts. You could hurt your poor little abyss of a mind. I wish you the best.

This translation brought to you by the GOP. That's the GOP--keeping your children from seeing breasts until they steal the pornography from our sock drawers when the reach the appropriate age of 7.

Answer 6

No, we won't ever stop venerating saints - ever. Reason being, there's absolutely nothing wrong with venerating saints:

Veneration / Honor of the Saints
Matt. 18:10 - the angels in heaven always behold the face of God. We venerate them for their great dignity and union with God.

Matt. 15:4; Luke 18:20; Eph. 6:2-3 Exodus 20:12; Lev. 19:3; Deut. 5:16 - we are instructed to honor our father and mother.

Luke 1:28 - the angel Gabriel venerates Mary by declaring to her "Hail, full of grace." The heavenly angel honors the human Mary, for her perfection of grace exceeds that of the angels.

Romans 13:7 - we are to give honor where honor is due. When we honor God's children, we honor God Himself, for He is the source of all honor.

1 Cor. 4:16 - the most important form of veneration of the saints is "imitating" the saints, as Paul commands us to do.

1 Cor. 11:1 - again, Paul says, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." The ultimate objective of veneration is imitation.

Phil. 2:25-29 - Paul teaches us to honor Epaprhoditus who almost died for the faith. How much more honor is owed to the saints that did die for the faith!

Phil. 3:17 - Paul says to imitate him and others, which is the goal of veneration. Veneration is not worship.

1 Thess. 1:6 – Paul says to the Thessalonians, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord.” This is the goal of veneration.

2 Thess. 3:7 - Paul says that the Thessalonians should imitate him and the other bishops.

Hebrews 3:3 - Jesus is worthy of "more" glory and honor than Moses. This does not mean that the saints are worthy of no glory and honor. Instead, it proves that saintly people are worthy of glory and honor out of God's goodness.

Heb. 6:12 – the author teaches us to be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb. 13:7 - we must imitate the faith of our faithful leaders. We ask for their intercession and venerate them for their holiness.

James 5:10-11 – James teaches us to take heart in the examples of the prophets and Job, who endured suffering.

1 Peter 2:17 - Peter teaches us to honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. Don't those living with Christ in heaven deserve honor? Catholics believe they do, and honor them with special feast days, just as we honor those living by celebrating their birthdays.

Gen. 19:1 - Lot venerates the two angels in Sodom, bowing himself with his face to the ground.

Gen. 42:6 - Joseph's brothers bow before Joseph with the face to the ground. This is veneration, not worship.

Exodus 28:2 - it is especially important to honor religious leaders. Sacred garments for Aaron give him dignity and honor.

Lev. 19:32- we should also honor "the face of an old man." When the elderly die in Christ, we should continue honoring them, because death does not separate them from us or the love of Christ.

1 Sam. 28:14 - Saul bows down before Samuel with his face to the ground in veneration.

2 Chron. 32:33 - Hezekiah was honored at his death. We honor our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Sir. 44:1-2 - we should praise and give honor to those who the Lord apportioned great glory. It is our family in Christ.

Answer 7

Your erudite tone has convinced 7 of my Catholic friends to at least consider your plea. They'd like to ascertain where you got your degree in theology so as to continue this enlightening conversation.

Answer 8

Dude, remove the plank from your own eye....and think about how God wants you to behave.
-from a non-Catholic believer.....

Answer 9

Not catholic, but nope on behalf of my family.

Answer 10

Why should we. They lived remarkable lives and provide inspiration for others.