Saints

Catholics are often asked why they pray to Mary and other saints, if it's not in the Bible? We are regularly labeled as pagans or idolaters and are not considered Christian by some individuals, even though Christians were Catholic for 1500 years before the Reformation, and the Church is older than any American Evangelical Church denomination.

These kinds of questions are loaded. I could just as easily ask similar ones, such as, "Where does the Bible say to only follow the Bible (Sola Scriptura)?" or "Where does it say to have altar calls?" or "Where does it say that speaking in tongues is required for salvation?" or "Where does it say that the Rapture is a thing?" or "Where does it say that during the Rapture that your dental fillings and polka-dotted boxers will be strewn all over the place?" Not everything we practice or believe in is verbatim in the Bible, and Protestants are just as guilty of this. While we follow 2,000 years of scripture, tradition, and magisterial teaching, Protestants have their own scriptural interpretations and traditions. The Bible is not The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy or the Encyclopedia Britannica or even Wikipedia. There are some things we cannot find in the Bible because they are not scripture because they are theological treatises, prayers and rubrics used during liturgy, or catechetical documents.

Another thing we are accused of is following the traditions of men. Yet Protestants do this exact thing by following their specific denomination's theology, taken from their founders or various major Reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and others. Many times, the objections against Catholic beliefs and practices are regurgitated slanders from several generations back, from "Pastor Jim Bob." We do follow the traditions of men 2 Thessalonians 2:15, our spiritual fathers, the Apostles and their Successors 1 Corinthians 4:15.

This isn't about bashing Protestants, as many of my friends and family are from Protestant traditions, and I have no ill will against them or anyone. However, this is a Catholic Apologetics blog with Paranormal Themes, so I have to point out the objections and explain why what we believe is both scripture-based, rooted in scriptural reasoning, and historically reaching back to the earliest centuries.

We are, in fact, incessantly challenged about these questions, to our annoyance or chagrin. Even those who are well-versed in the faith will not necessarily change another person's perspective or objections to Catholic beliefs. I'm not trying to twist your arm and convince you of Catholicism this is just a friendly and fun blog for everyone but it gives insights into the Bible, the Catholic Faith, and the strange and unknown from an orthodox perspective. 

Let us start with Jesus when he is being tested by the Pharisees and Sadducees about death and marriage (Matthew 22:29-30). Jesus says that when we die, we become like the angels in Heaven. He is, of course, referring to the fact that in Heaven there is no marriage. But if we take his words literally, we can reason that we assume the attributes and abilities of angels. Angels are messengers of God, protectors, and intercessors, as they always behold God and offer the prayers of the saints as incense to the throne of God. In Psalm 91:11, Matthew 18:10, and Hebrews 1:14, we can read about Guardian Angels, and in Revelation 8:3-4 about the angels offering the prayers of the saints to God. These saints can be the Church Triumphant (those in Heaven), the Church Suffering (those in Purgatory), and the Church Militant (those who are undergoing sanctification and theosis).

The second thing we will focus on is the concept that the dead are aware of the living and what occurs in the world. We find that the righteous martyrs call on God for justice against their persecutors and murderers in Revelation 6:9-11. These souls are actively aware that the forces of the Antichrist have not yet received their punishment. Other passages mention a great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1, also pointing to the dead having an awareness of earthly matters and the Communion of Saints. Lastly, during the Transfiguration of Christ, Matthew 17:1–13, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36, Jesus speaks to Moses and Elijah. Moses is dead, and Elijah was assumed into Heaven and is believed to be one of the Two Witnesses in Revelation, the other being Enoch, who was also assumed into Heaven. Catholics believe Mary was assumed into Heaven after death (the Dormition) or that she forwent death and was simply assumed. The specifics of Mary's death, or whether she died, are not dogmatically defined; it's just a dogma and deposit of the faith that she was assumed into Heaven, but most Catholics believe she died in perfect imitation of Christ. One historical document that much tradition is taken from is The Protovangelium of Saint James attributed to the Apostle James the Lesser. 

The Mother of God, and even her spouse Saint Joseph, require not only an article of their own but several, in fact. However, I try to keep these blog entries brief, even the very long ones. It's my goal to give you as much information in as short and precise an explanation as I am capable of.

As a third point we will focus on the historical basis of the veneration and intercession of the saints. When the early Christians were persecuted, and they were hiding in the catacombs, many of the martyrs were commemorated through veneration of their relics and inscriptions on their tombs, petitioning them to intercede on their behalf by writing, "Pray for us." This inscription is commonly found on the backs of medals and other icons and images of the saints. The Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp is a good historical document on this subject. We can read about the supernatural powers of relics in the Old Testament, 2 Kings 13:20-21, when a dead man is lowered into the sepulcher of the Prophet Elisha, who was the successor of Elijah, or Elias, as he is called among Eastern Christians. God uses intermediaries throughout Scripture and the Church Age through angels, saints, and relics, and even sacramental objects like the Ark of the Covenant. There has also been many archeological discoveries tracing the veneration and intercession of the Saints to the first century. 

Archaeologists Say This Tiny Amulet Is the Oldest Evidence of Christianity Found North of the Alps

PROOF That Early Christians Prayed to the Saints??

Early Church Fathers & Invoking Saints (vs. Jordan Cooper)

What the Early Church Believed: The Intercession of the Saints

When Catholics and Orthodox Christians pray to the saints, they do not worship the saints, because worship, as we understand the word today in our modern-day vocabulary, belongs strictly to God. The word "pray" means to speak, and yes, in old books and prayers, the word "worship" is used for the saints, but this "worship" is not synonymous with adoration; it means veneration or commemoration, like Americans would commemorate the Fathers of our Nation or our veterans and fallen heroes. The Church splits "worship" into three categories: Latria, which means adoration, which is only reserved for God, and Dulia, which is honor, commemoration, or veneration, which is reserved for the martyrs and saints, and Hyperdulia, which is a step above or a place of prominence, which is reserved for Mary, the Mother of God. 

Lastly, we will answer the question "doesn't the Bible forbid speaking to the dead (necromancy)?" Yes the Bible forbids necromancy Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, and tattooing yourself for the dead Leviticus 19:28 an ancient pagan practice. However, necromancy is a form of divination involving occult rituals and spells with the goal of obtaining forbidden or hidden knowledge, or for frivolous reasons of curiosity or entertainment through mediums and fortune-telling. Asking for the prayers of the saints, the souls of Purgatory, or our deceased loved ones is not necromancy, because it does not involve seeking hidden knowledge or power, but is instead asking those closest to God—the angels and saints—to pray for us and to protect us from danger, harm, misfortune, or even evil spirits. Some also claim praying for the dead is a part of necromancy, but this is clearly not the case, because the Bible even mentions that if this was not authentic, then it would be a foolish gesture 2 Maccabees 12:43-46.

Many times, we ourselves are part of a conversation, or may overhear a conversation, which involves a person or people discussing their belief that their loved ones are watching over them and protecting or guiding them, and this is not unlike the ancient Christian belief of the Intercession of Saints.