In today’s individualistic culture some Christians are so focused on their own salvation (Am I saved?) that they forget what they are saved into: the Church - the Body of Christ. Since Christ has conquered death, this fellowship of Faith includes the saints in heaven, who are alive in the presence of the Lord: “...since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” (Heb.12:1)
While Catholics worship God alone, we do reverence and honor the great heroes of the faith, since St. Paul instructs us to give “honor to whom honor is due.” (Rom. 13:7) Certainly those who have “fought the good fight” and are now living with Christ in glory are worthy of honor. In the Old Testament, the high priests, the ones closest to God’s presence in the temple, were given glory and honor: “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother for glory and beauty.” ( Ex. 28:2) The saints in heaven are now closest to the Lord’s presence and for that reason they are worthy of glory and honor. The Book of Revelation tells us that the saints who died for Christ reign with him in glory: “I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God…they came to life, and reigned with Christ...” (Rev. 20:4) When you admire a beautiful piece of art, you are giving honor, through the object, to the artist who crafted it. When we honor the saints, the masterpieces of God’s grace, we glorify God whose hand redeemed them and sanctified them.
Since the earliest centuries, the Church has not only honored the saints as examples, but also sought their prayers. We ask the saints in heaven to pray for us, just as we ask our family and friends on earth to pray for us. We know the prayers of those in heaven, free from sin and temptation, will be of even greater effect as St. James writes: “The prayer of a righteous man has great power...” (James 5:16) Some are concerned, though, that asking saints for prayers downplays the role of Christ, since St. Paul says: “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (I Tim. 2:5) Yet, if this verse forbids asking saints for prayers, then it also forbids asking friends and church members for prayers. This can’t be what St. Paul intends since four verses earlier he wrote: “I urge that supplications, prayers...be made for all men…” Jesus alone is our savior and it is his death that reconciles us to God the Father. Whenever we, or the saints in heaven, offer prayers in his name, we are part of his mediation: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...we are ambassadors for Christ...” (II Cor. 5:18-19) When you tell someone about God’s love or pray for a friend you are joining in Christ’s work, bringing God to them and their needs to God through Jesus. As Catholics, we trust that the saints in heaven, united to Christ, are in prayer, bringing our needs to the throne of God: “Another angel came and stood at the altar with a gold-en censer and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne.” (Rev. 8:3)
If you want to learn more about these holy men and women who are praying for you now, simply contact your local Catholic Church. Remember: before there were divisions and denominations, before conservatives and liberals, there was simply Catholicism.