Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com
What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration
Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
The Sacraments
Relationships and Marriage situations
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
back
Specific Practices
Church Internals
Church History


Alan wrote:

Hi, guys —

I am a 44-year-old married man who lives in Scotland with my wife and two children. I am also a practicing Catholic who recently joined the Church.

  • Why do we, as Catholics, pray to Saints and where are the Scriptural references to this teaching in the Bible?

Thanks,

Alan

  { Why do Catholics pray to the Saints and where are the Scriptural references for this teaching? }

Mike replied:

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the question. This is a common question; it's even in our searchable knowledge base:

https://www.AskACatholic.com/SiteSearch

There are a lot of quick answers there, so give it a try.

I searched the knowledge base for you and found these web postings that should help:

Here are some Scripture verses that support this Catholic teaching. It's important to remember that not all Catholic teachings can be found explicitly in the Bible. The Catholic Church came before the Bible, not the other way around. We know teachings that are not explicitly found in the Bible are true because Jesus promised us that His Teachings would be passed down from generation to generation. (Luke 10:16)

Intercessory prayer to the Saints.
Tobit 12:12
Angel presents Tobit and Sarah's prayer to God.
Romans 15:30
Join me by your prayers to God on my behalf.
2 Corinthians 1:10-11
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Colossians 4:3
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Ephesians 6:18-19
Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all God's holy people, and pray for me to be given an opportunity to open my mouth and fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.
1 Thessalonians 5:25
Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
2 Thessalonians 1:11
We always pray for you.
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, brothers, pray for us.
Philemon 1:6
I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.
Revelation 5:8
Angel offers prayers of the holy ones to God.

Interested in what the very first Christians thought, taught, and died for?
Check out what they said on this topic.
 

Are the saints dead? Is praying to them necromancy as Deuteronomy 18:10 says?

Wisdom 3:1-6
The souls of the just are in the hand of God.
Mark 9:4
Jesus seen conversing with Elijah and Moses.
Mark 12:26-27
He is the God of the living, not of the dead.
Luke 16:19-30
Departed rich man intercedes for brothers.
Luke 23:43
To the thief on the Cross: "This day you will be with me in paradise".
Hebrews 12:1
We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.
Revelation 6:9-11
Martyrs under the altar want earthly vindication.
Revelation 20:4
Saw the souls of those that had been beheaded.

Interested in what the very first Christians thought, taught, and died for?
Check out what they said on this topic.
 

Veneration of the Saints.

Daniel 8:17
Daniel fell prostrate in terror before Gabriel.
Tobit 12:16
Tobiah and Tobit fall to the ground before Raphael.
Matthew 18:10
The angels in Heaven are always before the face of God.

We venerate angels because of their great dignity, which comes from their union with God. Saints are also in united with God. Veneration or honor is not worship.
Catholics worship [God|Jesus] alone.
 
Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, take their faith as your model.
1 Thessalonians 1:5-8
You become imitators of us and of the Lord to all believers.

We believe we are called to "become imitators . . . of the Lord".
This is what Saints are for Catholics and all mankind: Examples of holiness to live by.
 
1 John 3:2
We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Here is a list of Catholic Scripture verses that defend Catholic doctrines.

https://www.AskACatholic.com/ScripturePassages

If this doesn't answer your question, please follow-up with us and

Welcome To The Family!!!

Mike

Alan replied:

Hi Mike,

Thanks a lot, this information will help me answer the questions posed to me.

Thanks,

Alan

John replied:

Hi Mike,

Under your Scripture passages for the Veneration of Saints, I wouldn't be too hasty to use
Old Testament Scriptures in which they appear to worship angels.

First off, in the Old Testament a specific reference to the Angel of the Lord is a reference to a pre-incarnate Christ. Any good Protestant familiar with the Bible will tear you shreds.

I'd recommend a book by Patrick Madrid called:

Any Friend of God's Is a Friend of Mine: A Biblical and Historical Explanation of the Catholic Doctrine of the Communion of Saints

Madrid's book not only has scriptural support, but lays out an easy to understand explanation of the Communion of Saints and how it works.

Hope this helps,

John

Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.