When Catholics speak of the word “Saint”, it both means, “Saint” with a capital S, or “saint” with a small S. “Saint” refers to “Canonized Saints” who were ‘known’ or ‘popular’ to the public for their holiness and virtues, formally declared through the long and careful investigation for Beatification, and then honored for Sainthood. While “saint” refers to ordinary people who died and are not in Heaven, might directly went to Heaven, or had finished spending their time in Purgatory to be chastised and have now moved on for eternity in Heaven. The Saints are Patrons or Patronesses of different conditions of people, who have done proven miracles. But the regular saints are also enjoying an endless time in Heaven. One thing is for sure though… you can pray to both of them, and they can offer prayers in our behalf, to God!
Often, we hear a person who asks his deceased family members or relatives, saying, “Dad, you’re in heaven now, but please help me get through this, and pray for me.” His dead loved one can, in fact, pray for him, if he’s indeed in Heaven. No one can be sure if our loved ones who passed on are in Hell, Purgatory, or Heaven. But one can only assume. If the dead person you’re asking to pray for you is in Heaven, then he really can pray for your intentions to God for you.
Many of these saints are Martyrs, who are the epitome of the Christian faith. They died for Jesus Christ. Willingly, they chose death over renouncing our Roman Catholic faith and Him.
I feel sad that these Saints because they are the victims of mockeries and insults from unbelievers and other sects and denominations. They speak ill of them with such disgust and hatred, when these people changed the earth, and made it a better place when they were still living. Just as we award students for their achievements, actors and actresses for their acting ability, or athletes for their amazing strength or speed, the Saints are more than worthy for their contributions and their perfect heroism.
Here are the points that other sects and cults throw against us Catholics (with contempt on us), and how we must answer them:
“They are dead!”
– Physically, they are dead. But the irony is that, the Saints or the saints are EVEN MORE ALIVE THAN YOU AND ME, US. We on earth can only perceive through our 5 senses. While all of them, souls, have this higher level of awareness that aren’t subjected to our human senses. They see God face-to-face, and this is referred to as “Beatific Vision”. Not only the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit they see at all times, but all the other heavenly members too, like the Angels and every other Saints. Since they are with God, and they see Him ‘in person’ all the time, they are the best ones than can pray for us, even more than our living friends and family here in the world can ever do.
“Contacting them is a Seance, Mediumship, Necromancy!”
– Well, we are not summoning them from the dead, bringing their souls back among the living.
Take note that not one single soul from the dead can ever go back to the world, because they are either in Hell, Purgatory, Heaven already. Only demons or also known as ‘spirits’ can be summoned.
(“Let there not be found among you anyone who causes their son or daughter to pass through the fire, or practices divination, or is a soothsayer, augur, or sorcerer, or who casts spells, consults ghosts and spirits, or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the LORD, and because of such abominations the LORD, your God, is dispossessing them before you. You must be altogether sincere with the LORD, your God. Although these nations whom you are about to dispossess listen to their soothsayers and diviners, the LORD, your God, will not permit you to do so. A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kindred; that is the one to whom you shall listen.” – Deuteronomy 18:10-15)
Seances are done to acquire information, gain material and other benefits, from these evil spirits. We are not conjuring the saints. All we do is ask for their prayers, because the Saints and the saints can hear us.
“They are not God, who is Omniscient (ever-knowing), Omnipotent (ever-powerful), Omnipresent (ever-there or present), (the characteristics of God as defined by Catholic Theologians, which the Protestants borrow from us), like He is!”
– Since God is eternal, there is no ‘Present’, ‘Past’, ‘or ‘Future’ with Him. Anything is like happening for Him at the same time. ‘Time’ as we know is governed by physical laws and forces of the universe, and only moving forward. But God isn’t bound by time. God is eternity. And Heaven is where God is. Because all the Saints and the saints are in Heaven, consequently, they aren’t bound by any sort of time too. These loving Residents of Heaven are allowed by God to hear our Prayers to them all at once. When we call on the, and ask for their help, it’s not like here in the world that we’re queuing on lines to be attended by call center representatives. Anytime, we can pray to them, and they hear us at once.
“Pray directly to Jesus!”
– We always see the value of other people, including your own family and friends, praying for us here on earth. These other sects and cults do this too. Isn’t it that those Saints who are with God in Heaven, can better pray for us because they say our prayer right in front of God?
“Christ is the only Mediator between God and man!”
– To pray to the saints does not go against with the Bible verses, “For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6) Yes, only Jesus is the sole unique Mediator, because it means that He is the only one who is both God and Man. Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant (while Moses was the Mediator of the Old Covenant). The term ‘Mediator’ here isn’t about the ‘way’ or ‘manner’ of reaching or talking with God. Asking the Saints for help and prayers, clearly isn’t taking away Christ’s role as the only Mediator. You don’t see asking your friends and family to pray for you that they are replacing Christ, right? This is very plain and simple. I can’t see why the Protestants and Born Again people can’t translate a simple idea in their heads.
“The ‘Saints’ are not Biblical!”
– And the following verses prove that there are ‘saints’ who ‘live’ on with God in Heaven:
“[An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God.” (Revelation 8:3-4)
“the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” (Revelation 5:8)
Remember my brothers and sisters in Christ, that the Saints are praying for us, with Mary as the Queen of All the Saints and saints, rooting for us living people here in the world to qualify, in the next life, for our salvation.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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Inspiring article. Thanks!