Why do Catholics pray to Saints?

Answer 1

The simple answer is that we pray to them, to ask them to pray for us.
It is more complicated than that, however. The first point is that before they are canonised by a pope, there has to be a thorough going investigation into their lives, work, character, etc and if at the end of this, it is decided that they lived a truly holy life ( deeply and exceptionally dedicated to God), then the pope living at that time will declare them a saint, (canonise them). Thus, we believe that they are close to God ie in heaven.
The second point is that catholics believe in the communion of Saints, for which their is Biblical basis. This means that they are, even though they have passed from this life, still members of the church of Christ on earth. This means we can ask them to pray for us (intercede for us) and that , being in heaven, their prayers may have more value. But it must be remembered that they can ONLY pray for us. they have no powers of themselves. Just as we can ask living members of the church to pray forus, so , we can also ask the deceased members of the church to do so. Some people even pray to their parents to ask them to help with their prayers.
We also believe that the Virgin Mary, as the mother of God (Jesus) must be in the position of highest honour in heaven (if there is such a position.) so she must be in a special position to be able to .help us with her prayers. It is unfortunate that Mary's position is misunderstood by some Catholics who think that she has the power to grant favours. This cannot be true; any favours granted as a result of prayers to Mary, and there have been many reported, are as a result of God's power and her prayers to him. The commonly used Catholic prayer, the Hail Mary emphasises this with the words, "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners..." Incidentally, many non-catholics think that by using the word 'Hail' to address Mary, catholics are worshipping her. The word actually means something like 'Greetings" and is the same word used by the Angel Gabriel during the visitation.

Answer 2

Some people say that you should only pray to God and that the Bible states that Jesus is the only mediator. There is a very long tradition in the Christian Church, which is still practised today, of praying, or interceding for each other as individuals as well as groups. Is there a Christian who can honestly say that they have never uttered the words, Please pray for me..., or, I will pray for you, to another Christian. Born again Christians are particularly fond of the latter quote. If we can pray for each other, why can't we ask the deceased members of the church to pray for us too?


There is another belief which comes from the Old Testament that when many people pray, it is better than an individual praying. So the more people who can help us with our prayers the better.

Think about the many people who may have difficulty in praying to God or Jesus, either because they lack faith, think themselves unworthy, or because they have had bad experience with men in their lives and find it difficult to pray to a male figure.

The Jews, and probably even Jesus, prayed to Father Abraham, who as Saint Paul says was the spiritual father of all Jews. When Jesus told about the story of the rich man and Lazarous, and the rich man had gone to hell, the rich man was interceding on behalf of his living brothers, the words Jesus himself spoke were, that he prayed to Father Abraham.Of course, in the end we must know that we do not HAVE TO pray to the Saints, and many Catholics never do so. We Know we have Jesus who hears all our prayers, but other people, and the saints, and the Mother of God are their If we feel the need. As someone who always feels that he can pray directly to God, it would be wrong for him to despise, or even criticises another, who also asks for the help of the saints.

Answer 3

The different answers to this simple question give clear indication of the lack of truth coming out of the churches. Catholics pray to Mary or to the saint because they have been misled by their clergymen to believe that Mary or the saints can intercede for them. That is glaringly wrong. Jesus is the ONLY way to God. At John 14:6, he said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." How much more plain can you get?!

Answer 4

The historic Christian practice of asking our departed brothers and sisters in Christ—the saints—for their intercession has come under attack in the last few hundred years. Though the practice dates to the earliest days of Christianity and is shared by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, the other Eastern Christians, and even some Anglicans—meaning that all-told it is shared by more than three quarters of the Christians on earth—it still comes under heavy attack from many within the Protestant movement that started in the sixteenth century.

Answer 5

A very nice question... I'm a catholic but as i mature, i realized that there is no need for us to pray for these saints. coz praying for them to help us already washed the idea of the presence of God. When i was in college, my friends would pray to st. jude to help them passed the exams. why would you pray to st. jude to help you when u can already address your prayers to God. And these saints are dead! They won't be do anything in our behalf. God Himself wants us to talk to Him personally. There is no need for back-ups or whatever, coz God is the merciful God. He would love all of us to come and follow Him with all honesty.

Answer 6

Saints are close to God. Catholic do not pray to the saints...they pray for their intersession to God. but as i attend bible study i learned that everyone can pray to God directly and he speak with us through the Holy Scripture. direct and accurate.

Answer 7

This is a really good question. I walked away from the Catholic religion because of this. We are only to pray to God.

Answer 8

I will never understand it. Then, I am not a Christian, and I do not understand why Christians believe that Jesus is G-d------------and how he was killed and came alive again. To me, saints are the same way------how can someone who is dead intercede for you? Once you are dead, you are dead. Pray directly to G-d.

Answer 9

Why do Pentecostals clap their hands to folk music praising God in a communal frenzy like they're at a rave party and on drugs?

Answer 10

I'll let scripture answer this one:

1st Corinthians 12:2
You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

Saints are dead, they are praying to idols.

Or else, why is there a RESURRECTION from the dead if everyone is already alive???