While updating our Facebook page the other day I started to think about saints. Roman Catholics, as well as the Orthodox and Episcopalians, believe in them but many Christians do not. There is confusion and debates over why Catholics pray to saints. Some think it is because we revere them above other people or that we pray to them instead of Jesus or God the Father, cutting God out to ask for interventions and an answer to our prayers. None of that is true. Instead a saint is used more as a conduit to increase prayers to God for an intention. Catholics do not worship saints but acknowledge them as people that lived an exemplary life that was Christ-like. I will take a wonderful woman, Mother Teresa, as an example. She was born into a wealthy family yet she gave it all up to work with the poorest of the poor in India. What she accomplished on earth was magnificent as far as being a humanitarian and a woman of peace. She was the epitome of love. Catholics believe that Mother Teresa was Christ-like and the definition of a saint while here on earth and that she is now in heaven.
Ten years ago this month I lost my young, beautiful, niece to cancer. She, too, led a Christ-like life while here and I believe that she is in heaven. She is a saint in the eyes of the Catholic church if she is in heaven. All souls that are in heaven are saints. Her family and friends think of her often and love her and because she is close to God will ask her to watch over them and guide them. She will pray for them and, as God hears all prayers, he will hear her prayers as well as those that have reached out to
her. In this way God is hearing prayers from multiple sources. You may have heard of the Communion of Saints? Well, the Communion of saints is made up of ALL the souls that are in heaven. When one person (or lots of people) on earth prays with the Communion of saints just think of how many prayers God is hearing. It is a multitude praying for the same intention.
How many people have you told, or have told you, that someone they loved was an "angel" watching over them? You pray for your loved ones and they pray for you. It is the same with those recognized as saints. We pray for specific reasons to them and they, in turn, pray for you. Again, just like my niece, the saint is praying to God for you and you are praying to God so he is hearing double the prayers.
That brings me to Mother Mary. It is the same for our Queen of heaven and earth. Catholics pray to her and ask for her prayers for special intentions or blessings. She prays for us and together our prayers are heard by God. You ask your friends to pray for special intentions so why not ask our Mother in heaven to do so as well? Surely Jesus will listen to His Mother.
As far as statues and photos are concerned I have many of them of my niece in my house. They are reminders of a beautiful soul that blessed my life for a short time. I don't sit and pray to her picture. I don't need a picture to pray for her or to ask her to pray for me but it is nice to have her face around me. The same with a depiction of a saint - Catholics do not pray to a statue or picture. They are simply reminders of someone that they love or admire. It's a visual reminder for them to live their own lives as Christ would have them do. It is not the same as the golden calf referred to in the Bible. Those stories are referring to pagan gods. There is a vast difference between a reminder of someone and falling to your knees and worshipping a pagan god. I hope this lends some clarity to that issue.
So here's the thing. You do not have to believe in saints to say prayers that some of them wrote. They were inspired to write them, after all, and were followers of our beloved Jesus. All of them are poignant and uplifting and you do not have to be a Catholic to appreciate and say them. One of my favorites is one by St. Therese of Lisieux:
"May today there be peace within
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith
May you use those gifts that you have received
and pass on the love that has been given to you
May you be confident knowing that you are a child of God
Let this presence settle into your bones
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love
It is there for each and every one of us."
Beautiful and to the point regardless of your belief in her as a saint. May you find the peace within.
Enjoy your weekend and God bless.
Mare
Ten years ago this month I lost my young, beautiful, niece to cancer. She, too, led a Christ-like life while here and I believe that she is in heaven. She is a saint in the eyes of the Catholic church if she is in heaven. All souls that are in heaven are saints. Her family and friends think of her often and love her and because she is close to God will ask her to watch over them and guide them. She will pray for them and, as God hears all prayers, he will hear her prayers as well as those that have reached out to
her. In this way God is hearing prayers from multiple sources. You may have heard of the Communion of Saints? Well, the Communion of saints is made up of ALL the souls that are in heaven. When one person (or lots of people) on earth prays with the Communion of saints just think of how many prayers God is hearing. It is a multitude praying for the same intention.
How many people have you told, or have told you, that someone they loved was an "angel" watching over them? You pray for your loved ones and they pray for you. It is the same with those recognized as saints. We pray for specific reasons to them and they, in turn, pray for you. Again, just like my niece, the saint is praying to God for you and you are praying to God so he is hearing double the prayers.
That brings me to Mother Mary. It is the same for our Queen of heaven and earth. Catholics pray to her and ask for her prayers for special intentions or blessings. She prays for us and together our prayers are heard by God. You ask your friends to pray for special intentions so why not ask our Mother in heaven to do so as well? Surely Jesus will listen to His Mother.
As far as statues and photos are concerned I have many of them of my niece in my house. They are reminders of a beautiful soul that blessed my life for a short time. I don't sit and pray to her picture. I don't need a picture to pray for her or to ask her to pray for me but it is nice to have her face around me. The same with a depiction of a saint - Catholics do not pray to a statue or picture. They are simply reminders of someone that they love or admire. It's a visual reminder for them to live their own lives as Christ would have them do. It is not the same as the golden calf referred to in the Bible. Those stories are referring to pagan gods. There is a vast difference between a reminder of someone and falling to your knees and worshipping a pagan god. I hope this lends some clarity to that issue.
So here's the thing. You do not have to believe in saints to say prayers that some of them wrote. They were inspired to write them, after all, and were followers of our beloved Jesus. All of them are poignant and uplifting and you do not have to be a Catholic to appreciate and say them. One of my favorites is one by St. Therese of Lisieux:
"May today there be peace within
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith
May you use those gifts that you have received
and pass on the love that has been given to you
May you be confident knowing that you are a child of God
Let this presence settle into your bones
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love
It is there for each and every one of us."
Beautiful and to the point regardless of your belief in her as a saint. May you find the peace within.
Enjoy your weekend and God bless.
Mare
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