And isnt this like polytheism? Try not to be politically correct for a second, and tell me what you actually think it is?
2007-02-17 15:40:36 · 13 answers · asked by prole1984 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is not polytheism. It is more of a Hall of Fame.
Saints are Christian heroes who have lived and died in great faith and virtue and serve as wonderful examples of how we can live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
+ Communion of Saints +
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 living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.
Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.
+ Patron Saints +
Some saints are recognized as patron saints of certain peoples, places, things, and occupations due to circumstances surrounding their lives.
For example:
People: Saint Peter was a fisherman before he became a fisher of men and is the patron saint of fishermen (and popes).
Place: Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland and is the patron saint of Ireland.
Things: Saint Claire was near death and was unable to attend Mass, she turned in the direction of the Chapel. The wall between her and Chapel vanished and she was able to both view the Mass and participate. For this reason, she is the patroness of TV.
Occupation: Saint Matthew the Apostle was a tax collector and is the patron of accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, and, yes, tax collectors .
+ With love in Christ.
2007-02-18 13:43:52 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i grow to be raised Catholic. This holiday praises the saints, that are those who've "made it" to heaven. This coated canonized people, who're known and licensed to have "gotten their wings", and likewise those unknowns who're there, besides. ;-) from time to time this heavenly community is termed the Communion of Saints. the following day, Nov. 2, is All Souls Day, it is should you're no longer yet cleansed of sin, even those nonetheless living, who nonetheless want to be forgiven and do penance, or get wiped clean up in Purgatory when they die. there is not any "All Damned Souls Day", besides the undeniable fact that which will be interesting. no one prays for them because the doctrine is going, that that is too previous due for them. i'm no longer a Catholic any more beneficial. I basically understand the doctrines. poor stuff, huh? --A Pantheist--
2016-12-04 07:53:34 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a word: Tradition.
And no, it's not polytheism; there's no confusion with saints being human and God being God.
Think of it more in terms of specialization, of expertise. You go to a cardiologist for one thing, a podiatrist for another, right? Similarly, St Jude handles one kind of situation, St Anthony something different.... but ultimately, it's God and only God running the show ;*)
2007-02-17 15:49:55 · answer #3 · answered by smendler 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is like polytheism because humans have a natural desire to worship more than one being and assign those beings to different elements. Maybe the greeks were right
2007-02-17 15:44:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
First, let me ask you this: If i had a need- say my mom is ill, and I ask you as a fellow Christian to pray for her....what would you say? Would you tell me just to have my mom pray to God for herself instead of asking other people to prayer for her? I HOPE NOT!!!!
Praying to the saints is no different then us praying for each other. As Christians. we believe those in Heaven are more alive than we are- they are in the very presence of GOD! How much more effective their prayers on our behalf must be than our weak prayers!
Why all the different patronages of saints? Think of them as specialists....would you go to a dentist if you had a broken foot? No, of course not. Saints become patrons of things they conquered in this life.
Any friend of Jesus is a friend of mine!
2007-02-18 15:52:18 · answer #5 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have a Patron Saint of VD!! How great would that be? Can you imagine the scene in heaven?
"Dear Child, for your reward, you get to be Patron Saint of the Clap! For eternity, you get to hear prayers of "I have this sore on my thing...?"
*edit* Saint Fiacre - I looked him up :)
2007-02-17 15:44:41 · answer #6 · answered by Laptop Jesus 2.0 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think saints were put their to ease the transition from the polytheistic pagans to christianity. It was a way to make the christian religion look similar to the pagan religions.
2007-02-17 15:45:30 · answer #7 · answered by DimensionalStryder 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you have something like a thousand saints, it gets hard to miss a day.
2007-02-17 15:43:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As the church moved through the world spreading the gospel, it encountered local religious feasts. In order to reduce that allure of such feasts, they converted them to saint's days.
2007-02-17 15:47:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
they are one of the only followers of Jesus that have corrupted their faith with pagan traditions. the one you have presented here is false gods in the house of the one true God. i can guarantee you that not one will admit the sin they commit on a daily basis. the worship of false gods
2007-02-17 15:51:26 · answer #10 · answered by Thumbs down me now 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋