Why do you pray to the saints? How does one get to be a saint? Where in the bible does it say to seek out the saints for either prayer or intercession? Not trying to be insulting, I am simply curious.
2006-12-09 12:34:44 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
+ Saints +
Before Jesus Christ died for our sins and opened the gates of heaven there were no saints in heaven. Therefore there are no Old Testament writings that would mention them.
Very few of the new Christians died before most of the New Testament was written. Therefore there is little in the Bible about asking saints to pray for us.
However the last book of the Bible does talk about the saints in heaven praying.
Revelation 5:8: Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.
Revelation 8:3-4: He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.
The Holy Spirit guided the early Church in many things not explained in the Bible including how does the Body of Christ (believers) on Earth relate to the Body of Christ (saints) in heaven. We are still one Body.
Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.
The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.
Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.
As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.
Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.
+ Canonization +
Here is the modern method of canonization:
In order to allow greater objectivity and less emotion, no petition for sainthood can be made until at least 5 years after the candidate’s death.
+ Diocesan Investigation +
A diocese, parish, religious congregation, or association asks the bishop of the diocese in which the candidate died to open the investigation. After Vatican approval, the bishop forms a diocesan tribunal.
Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount the candidate’s heroic exercise of Christian virtues. All documents regarding the candidate must be gathered.
At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.
+ Vatican Investigation +
All documentation is passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican.
The cause undergoes an examination by nine theologians.
If passed, the cause is for examined by the Congregation.
If passed, the cause is presented to the Pope for approval. A decree is published and read publicly.
+ Beatification +
A miracle attributed to the Servant of God is necessary.
The miracle must be proven through an appropriate investigation and another decree is issued.
Then the Pope decides on beatification.
With beatification, the candidate receives the title of Blessed.
+ Canonization +
Another miracle occurring after beatification is needed for canonization (sainthood), attributed to the Blessed’s intercession.
This miracle must again be proven through an appropriate investigation.
Papal infallibility is involved with canonization.
The Blessed acquires the title of Saint."
+ With love in Christ.
2006-12-09 17:43:45 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll try to answer this question in order and simply. Catholics pray to the Saints for their intercession with God. (Their help to convince God to your cause/prayer) One becomes a Saint by being recognized by the Church as a Holy Person. A Holy Person in the sense of actions, deeds, & divine intervention. (in addition to other criteria.) As to why Saints are recognized, & sepcific versus, that is a little long to post here.
2006-12-09 13:10:50 · answer #2 · answered by Stranggore 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics pray to the Saints but they're not "worshipping" the Saints. The whole point of having Saints is to help us understand the Grand Concept of God. Sort of "put a face" on the mystery. God is such a fantastic and grand being. God has no form. That can be tough to grasp. So we Catholics use the Saints.
2006-12-09 12:41:24 · answer #3 · answered by Bahaus B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics pray to saints to ask them to pray with us and on our behalf as we pray to God.
A person who is a follower of Christ is a saint. There are some people who are recognized by the catholic Church for their piety and devotion to God and are formally recognized. The Catholic Church does not make a person a saint. It just declares something that is already a fact.
In the New Testament, Paul frequently asks fo the prayers of others. James also encouraged us to pray for one another for the prayer of a righteous person is very effective. it is hard to get more righteous than being in the presence of God in Heaven.
The saints in heaven ARE NOT dead. "Being dead" means being in Hell. Those in Heaven have everlasting life and are are very much still a part of the faith community along with those in this life.
we do not pray to the saints in order to get to God. Catholics pray to the Saints and to God directly. We WORSHIP God and we ask the saints to pray for us.
2006-12-09 14:01:46 · answer #4 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Saints or Holy Ones of God, can only be choosen by God, so does their pope think he is God. You are not suppose to pray to anyone but Jehovah God himself and you do it in the name of Christ Jesus, that is the only Biblical way to pray. Jesus showed us this in the model prayer. The Bible or God's word is clear, Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. They claim they don't worship the saints but only pray to them, since you are only to pray to the Father, they replace God with the saints, hence, make them their gods.
2006-12-09 12:41:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We pray to the saints because they are great guides for the faith! We are but all Humans just like them but they have gone ways that they may be able to welcome Jesus in their lives and be distinguished as great examples and leads that we could follow. No offence taken. Thank you for asking, it always gets someone a long way but the true and proper way, to ask. We carry the same faith that they ones had and we pray the same way they did.. that we be all in the same place upon judgement day.. We are asked to be witnesses and not judges! Thank You!
2006-12-09 12:50:56 · answer #6 · answered by Paul Anthony B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of our Catholic faith is taken from the old pagan religion. The Pope is our Emperor. The saints are our gods. I pray to them (and to Mary, who is our goddess) and light candles (a left over from pagan ritual). I know it is supersition, but I believe it works.
2006-12-09 12:39:15 · answer #7 · answered by Isis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is in our creed. We believe in the communion of the saints...so like one who has gone before us who is in God`s favour we ask for their assistance through God...somone to speak on our behalf....it is an old testament tradition although they did not refer to saints...prophets like elijah....
2006-12-09 12:39:16 · answer #8 · answered by Therapist King 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
biblically a saint is simply a christian...if you are saved by the blood of christ you are a saint...thats biblical. this is just another catholic blunder
2006-12-09 12:37:18 · answer #9 · answered by Robert K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus says there is no other way but only through him. So, why go indirect when told to go direct?
2006-12-09 12:40:24 · answer #10 · answered by Alfretz T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋