One of the most frequent questions that Catholics are asked is "Why do you worship Saints?"
(Spoiler alert: We don't!)
This post will cover some of the most commonly asked questions about Saints and help you to know and answer questions about what the Church ACTUALLY teaches!
Q: “How can you say that you don’t worship Saints if you’re praying to them?”
A: The book of James 5:16 says, “The prayer of the righteous person is very powerful.” Those in Heaven (the Saints) are obviously righteous. Asking the Saints to pray for us is no different from asking a devout friend to pray for us, too.
Q: “Aren’t you praying to dead people? Isn’t that a sin?”
A: Death has been defeated by Christ’s Ressurection! Therfore, those in Heaven (The Saints) are eternally alive!
Q: “Who are your favorite Saints?”
A: Saint Ann is my namesake (my middle name is Annette). Saint Gianna Molla is my Confirmation Saint. I have a special devotion to Saint Therese, Pope Sant John Paul II, and Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi.
Q: “How do people become Saints?”
A: Simply speaking, anyone who is in Heaven is a Saint. However, we do not refer to all people who are in Hevaen with the title of “saint.” Those who are called “saint” are those whom the Church has investigated and who have found to have lived a heroically virtuous life or died as a martyr, and miracles have occured through their intercession (ie: Someone asked the saint to pray for their intention and it miraculously was granted. This is considered reasonable evidence that the person is in Heaven interceding for us on earth).
Q: “What is a patron Saint?”
A: A patron Saint is one who you have a particularly strong devotion to and who intercedes on your behalf. This could be your Confirmation Saint; a Saint you were named after; or just a Saint who you have a strong connection to because of their life or what they traditioanlly intercede for.
Countries, causes, schools, churches, and even many hobbies, sports, and careers all have patron saints as well.
Check the Instagram Page, @the_little_apologist, to ask more questions and view even more fun content about the Saints and the Church.
As always, please feel free to drop any questions you have in the comments or in the email form on the home page.
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