Saints and Catholics - Misonceptions

I thought I would use my first blog entries to explain some great misconceptions people have about Catholics. I've heard everything from, we're a cult that worships statues, to we hold saints as demi-gods with magic powers to grant wishes.

I laugh whenever I hear those statements... sadly however, it isn't a joke. There are people who actually believe that.

This first entry, I thought I would focus on the whole "Catholics worship saints as magical gods" thing. FYI... we don't.

I think one reason this misconception exists, is because there are protestants who believe that when we die, that's it until the end times. No one is currently in heaven but for God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Angels. But biblically we know that is not true.

1. Jesus said to the man crucified with him after he asked Christ to remember him, "On this day you will be with me in paradise". (Luke 23:42-43)

2. The bible tells us: "And Behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the Holy City and appeared to many." (Matthew 27:51-53)

These saints rose from their sleep because of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. So we know they had to have entered heaven, either after appearing in the Holy City as proof Christ is the messiah, or when Christ ascended into Heaven himself. We know they could not remain on earth after their awakening.

So if we are to believe the bible holds the word of God and is an accurate journal of Christ's time on earth, then we must believe Saints ARE in heaven.

Catholics believe all who enter heaven are saints. For example, if your grandmother passes away, pious woman, and enters heaven because of her devotion to God... she is a saint.

of course, some saints are more well known by a great population because of the way they lived and miracles that happened in their lifetime. The story of their lives spread, the miracles that happened and continue to happen become widely known, so they become a fixture in the Catholic faith.

As an example: St. Bernadette of Lourdes. She is well known by Catholics as a child visionary who the Blessed Mother appeared to. We'll talk about saints in later blogs. That said, many miracles happened in the grotto where Mary appeared to her as Mary promised would happen. Thousands came to the grotto for healing in Bernadette's time. That Grotto still stands today.

Bernadette became a nun after the apparitions ended, and suffered greatly in her final years. No one knew how greatly until near the end when they were shocked to hear from a doctor how excruciating her disorder was (tuberculosis of the bone). She offered her sufferings up to God and passed at the age of 35. 

She was known far and wide even before her passing. Because of her pain and quiet suffering, when one has physical pains or health issues of the body, they ask St. Bernadette to intercede on their behalf. 

We look at the lives of saints as a guide of how we should be. But being sinners, being human... sometimes we have our failings, we have our spiritual emergencies, we have dark times when we need to reach up for help.

So many times I hear on Facebook... "My grandmother just had a stroke, I could really use prayers from everyone for her." or "I've hit some hard times. I am not looking for anything, but I could really use your prayers."

That is basically what we do as Catholics when it comes to saints. We don't "pray" to them in worship... we ask them to pray with us and pray on our behalf.

They can't perform magic, only God grants miracles.. but many times, because of their intercessions, God will use them as a tool in which a miracle can occur.

For example: There is one who is still waiting to become an official saint in the Catholic church, although the faithful know he is in heaven and thus a saint already, even if not canonized officially. he is Venerable Bishop Fredrick Baraga.

He was a Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Marquette in Michigan. We'll talk about him in another blog dedicated to his work in the church.

However, speaking of miracles, There was a person who was suffering greatly. They had a large (and probably cancerous) tumor on their liver. They couldn't walk without a cane, and their health was waning quickly. The patient asked to visit the tomb of Bishop Baraga where they prayed for the Bishop's intercessions. The current Bishop at that time took out a relic of Bishop Baraga's, a stole, and touched it to the patient's stomach and prayed with him, asking Bishop Baraga to pray as well.

Shortly after, the patient was found to be free of the tumor, and had enough strength to no longer need the cane, all the pain was gone. The cane the patient used is still standing next to Bishop Baraga's tomb as testimony. This was a claim backed up by multiple doctors who had been dealing with the patient. It was investigated and deemed a true miracle by the church. (and the church is quite thorough. Not everything is deemed miraculous. It must pass many tests.)

God performed the miracle... but we faithful in Christ of the Catholic Church believe it was in direct response to the intercessions of Bishop Baraga.

So in essence, we merely ask the saint, who we believe is enjoying the glory of Heaven because of their good works on earth, to pray for us and with us... we do not worship them. We may thank them if our prayers are heard and a miracle happens for praying for us... but wouldn't you thank a friend who reached out to give you comfort in hard times?

Saints do not desire worship. Just as in life when everything was about God, so it is for them in their eternal heavenly life. It's about God, and praying for miracles that will help open people's eyes to God's love and mercy. I'm sure they like to be thanked for their prayers, but they don't desire praise... they do not believe in being worshiped.

I'm sure people will still say, "Say what you will. Saint's can't perform miracles". 

"Peter said (to a crippled beggar who had come seeking alms) 'I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, Rise and walk.' Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong." (Acts 3:6-7)

Peter and John performed a miracle after Christ sent them into the world to continue God's work. The miracle came from God... but he did it through them. They were the vessel for his miracle, and they did it in Christ's name.

That is how we feel saints work. We believe saints are alive in heaven with our savior. They have God's sympathetic ear, and pray on our behalf. It's not much apart from when people ask friends to keep them or someone they care about in their prayers during tough times.

So to finish this post: Catholics do not worship saints.

::QUESTION FROM A GUEST::

I got this question on my old blog, but I was never able to answer it because I lost the login password and email. lol

"I get Catholics don't believe saints have to wait till judgement day...(which is the belief of the church I use to attend. I'm in the process of becoming a Catholic)... can I pray to my great aunt? I was very close to my great aunt. She was my grandma because my grandma (her sister) passed before I was born. She was a very God fearing woman. She lived her life giving to charities, reading the bible, going to church (she was Catholic)... she never spoke ill of anyone. She use to go to confession weekly even though I couldn't think of anything she'd have to confess. So I think she could be in heaven. Can I ask for her to intercede for me, or can I only ask approved saints."

Of course you can. That is how many saints have become saints. The faithful ask for their intercessions because they knew of that person in life and that person's righteous devotion, So they believe that person must be in heaven as a saint, and they ask for intercessions. God performs a miracle through that saint's intercession... it's investigated by the church, and if the required miracles are all proven to pass each test... eventually that saint is canonized. 

However, many saints go unnoticed by the church. For example: I believe firmly that my father is in heaven. I've never seen someone with such zeal for Christ... but what would the Catholic church know of this man from a small town few have ever heard of? If he is in heaven (which I believe he is), not being recognized by the church does not make him less of a saint.

So if you believe your great aunt is in heaven, feel free to ask her to pray on your behalf. But remember, that does not supersede your own personal responsibility to pray directly to God yourself. We ask the saints to pray for us, AND WITH us.

- God Bless -

I say Amen

FURTHER READING:

Praying to the Saints