Catholics: Why do you have Saints when God says not to worship idols? You pray to them yes?

Question

My wife is Catholic and she prays to a Saint of Dreams, a Saint of Traveling, a Saint of Animals, etc... Are these not sub-Gods that are being prayed to as individuals? How is this any different than the Romans having Zeus as the main God, but having sub-Gods tht controlled the elements, the seas, and so on?

So you pray to a Saint to pray to God FOR you instead of praying to God yourself? Why have a middle-man? I am honestly trying to understand this....?

Answer 1

Let me break your question into two parts - 1) What are saints? & 2) What exactly are we doing when we pray to a saint and why would we possibly want to do so?

1) What are saints? The Catholic tradition of saints is one that comes from the people. Throughout the ages, communities would identify people in their midst who were especially good and pious. They weren't different, but they were respected for their committment to God and the good they did during their lives. When these people died, they were remembered fondly and their wisdom was preserved. It was kind of a "what would so-and-so do" situation. Over the centuries, stories grew (some out of hand) and the Vatican finally created an official list of recognized saints. This list and nice and all, but really, saints are simply people who have died who we recognize as being good examples for us.

They aren't divine, nor are they gods. Many saints have become known as patron saints of various things based on what they did in their lives, but that doesn't mean they have any real control over stuff.

2) Why would we pray to them? First of all, saints are NOT worshipped. (If they are, then there are some priests out there not doing a good job of catechezing their congregations.) They are respected and maybe revered, but not worshipped. Second, prayer isn't the same as worship. The root of the word has to do with simple communication. In fact, it used to be used in common life. (Think Shakespeare, something along the lines of "I pray thee, sir, tell me where I can find the friar.") And even in official prayers, we are asking the saints to pray TO God with and for us.

So, why bother with them? We certainly don't NEED to pray to/with saints. For some people it's simply tradition. For others, I think it's more of a psycological need. Saints were everyday people who lived life like we have to. For some, it's easier to identify with talking to a person who has "been there, done that" and asking help to pray to God. I think that for some, it's as much about working out the prayer in your head. Have you ever gone to a grave and "talked" to a beloved deceased relative or friend? It's kinda like that. And asking saints to pray with and for us is just like asking family and friends to pray for us.

Answer 2

So many excellent answers.

Hi Vamp,

You've gotten a lot of great responses.

I just want to add a few more things.

Matthew 18:19-20

Again, (amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

This means that asking others to pray for or pray with you, means Jesus sits up and takes more notice.

So while we can go directly to God with our needs, having a prayer team is better. Me and a few saints as it were.

While many have made the excellent point of saints being just people and many non-Catholics ask friends and family to pray for them - a saint is both a) readily available and b) heroic in virtue - which means a proven "Olympic Gold Medal Winner" in the church.

Who better to pray for you?

Your friends and family may get busy. Things come up. Life gets in the way. But a saint is already in Heaven with nothing to disturb their prayer. They can go right to the throne of God and kneel before HIM to intercede for us.

Saints can not create things. They are not gods or demi-gods in any way shape or form. Saints always insist - when miracles happened in their earthly life - that the gift is from GOD and not from them. Thus when a miracle happens through their intercession - we give glory to God. We never give glory to a saint.

While many saints were gifted in terms of the elements - they would be the first to tell you - THEY did not end the storm. God did. And he did so because they asked. That is to say they prayed. No saint ever claimed to control the weather.

Answer 3

Catholics worship no-one but the one true God. Saints are human beings, not objects of worship. However, what possible problem could there be in TALKING TO other human beings? Yes, we do talk ("pray") to the saints for the same reason we talk to fellow Christians here on earth - to request that they pray for us. And before you bring up the passage about "communicating with the dead", recall that Jesus himself said those who follow Him "will never die". Catholics believe Him. Do you? Since the saints are alive and well, and in God's intimate presence, they are in an ideal position to intercede for us. I'm always puzzled by the Protestant idea that we can pray for one another as long as we are earthly sinners, but we have to stop praying once we are in the presence of God. But then Protestants have a great many new traditions that were never heard of until a few hundred years ago, and which would have puzzled the Apostles as well.

Answer 4

Though I am not Catholic, I believe that rather than praying to saints as someone might pray to God, they ask that the saint intercede on their behalf. Like asking an influential friend to go along when asking for something it might be difficult for you to get. They don't ask prayers of them as though they were gods or demi-gods and they don't actually pray TO statues either.

It might be a good idea if you speak to you wife about exactly what these practices are and what they mean. You might also speak with her priest if you have problems or concerns about them.

Answer 5

Good question, first of all the definition of a saint according to the church is one who is united with Jesus, so all who are members of the Church are considered saints. Those who we have canonized and are called saints, are not worshiped. They are not sub-gods, think of it like the sun and some stain-glass windows. The sun is God and the glass is the saints. The sun shines through the glass, God shines through the saints. We don't pray to the saints as individuals, we ask them to pray for us, just because someone prays for you doesn't mean they are some sort of sub-god. When someone sneezes and you respond "God bless you!" you are not considered some sub-god, you are just asking God to bless this person. This is what saints do.

Answer 6

If I asked you to pray for me and you did, then you helped me but I did not worship you I just asked your help so that God could hear my prayer better. The saints are friends of God so He hears their prayers since they were pure and really loved Him. We don't worship idols. We worship only God. We don't pray to the saints. We ask them to pray for us. There is a big difference between the two. God bless you.

Answer 7

It's good to see that people are finally questioning Catholicism. If people really knew the truth of the origin of this 'pagan based religion' they would be shocked.

I am a former Catholic and was finally brought to the real TRUTH of the Word of God, the bible, and, as well, to many sad historical facts about this 'Roman religion' that exposed it for what it truly is and has been for centuries.

And that is that, 'the holy roman empire, (and it's church, the Roman Catholic Church), is none other than the prophesied reestablishment of the first and oldest "pagan mystery religion" known as the "Babylonian Mystery Religion" of ancient times! (Yes! Study my friends STUDY and you will 'see').- Read the book of Daniel!!

The TRUE apostolic church that originated and was built by Jesus Christ's teachings and the apostles themselves was 'stolen away' by the powerful Roman empire of that day; and for political and economic and power hungry reasons that they definetly had in mind.

The original doctrine and teachings of the original church, that Peter and James and others built and organized in JERUSALEM, (only later in Asia Minor and down into Rome, by Paul), were most definitely changed and 'doctored up' to accomodate the 'pagan rituals and idol worship' practices of that day. (Many teachings were 'prostituted' and traded for the 'traditions of men'; those early 'writers', (fathers), of the Catholic church). So sad and so WRONG!! (Read, Revelation 17 and 18, and take a good hard look at Revelation 17:5!!).

They 'murdered' Peter and James and Paul!!!

So much has been hidden by this Catholic church throughout the centuries that it should most definetly be categorized as a "CRIME!!"

Not to mention, how many MILLIONS have been lead astray by the false teachings and proclamations they have made.

(Please study my friends; STUDY!; and you will 'see').

God bless you all.

Answer 8

Catholics DO NOT pray to saints, they appeal to them for prayer. It's called the communion of saints. Everyone in heaven can pray for everyone on Earth. It's like asking your friend to pray for your sick uncle....

No, they don't pray to them for prayer. Catholics believe very much in the power of prayer. If you're religious, do you not hope your loved ones will pray for you in your times of need. It's the same principle.

Catholics only WORSHIP the trinity. Not the saints, not the pope.

Answer 9

If you listen to the prayers, she is asking them to intercede on her behalf. Prayer is not always or just worship but also communication.

same as asking a living friend to pray for us we are asking them to intercede and speak on our behalf. There is no difference, for catholics the communion of saints is eternal with those saints (all of us) that are still living and those that have gone we are all one connected community.


How many times do we have to clarify this before people stop trying to make it what it is not.

EDIT Reply:
We do pray to God directly, we just have others pray for us also.

Why does anyone have anyone pray for them? For support and assistance.

Have you never asked anyone to pray for you? Friend? Family memeber? Fellow Church member? Every heard of the Protestant Prayer chains (think of it like that)?

Why did you do that?

It is the same reason. Everyone needs to drop the thought that they are some sort of mediary, they are not.

They are an additional advocate.

Answer 10

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) living on Earth relate to the Body of Christ (saints) living 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, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

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.

And prayer to the saints is optional not required.

With love in Christ.