WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT SAINTS (Scriptures cited are from the New American Bible) 1. All Who Are Born Of God Through Faith In Jesus, Are Called "Holy or Saints. Please, note that the word used in Greek is [aègiov or Hagios] meaning holy, saint, set apart. The Catholic translation uses the word holy. Romans 1:7 to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephes. 4:11-12 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Acts 9:13 But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. Acts 9:32 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. Acts 9:41 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. Acts 26:10 and I did so in Jerusalem. I imprisoned many of the holy ones with the authorization I received from the chief priests, and when they were to be put to death I cast my vote against them. Romans 8:27 And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Romans 15:25-26 Now, however, I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the holy ones. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make some contribution for the poor among the holy ones in Jerusalem; Romans 15:31 that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Judea, and that my ministry for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the holy ones, 1
Romans 16:2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a benefactor to many and to me as well. Romans 16:15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the holy ones who are with them. 1 Cor. 6:1 How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the holy ones? 2 Cor. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: Ephes. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are (in Ephesus) faithful in Christ Jesus: 2. Believers Have Direct Access To The Throne Of God Through Christ Jesus, And Do Not Need Another Intercessor But Him, Jesus, Our High Priest. 1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, John 16:23 On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Acts 4:14-20 Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply. 15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, 16 "What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name." 18 So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. 20 It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard." 3. The Bible Condemns The Practice Of Communicating With The Dead. Deut. 14:1 2
"You are children of the LORD, your God. You shall not gash yourselves nor shave the hair above your foreheads for the dead. Deut. 18:10-12 Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, 11 or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. 12 Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the LORD, and because of such abominations the LORD, your God, is driving these nations out of your way. 4. The Bible Condemns The Cult To Images. Idolatry Is An Abomination To The Lord. Exodus 20:1-6 Then God delivered all these commandments: 2 "I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. 3 You shall not have other gods besides me. 4 You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; 5 you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; 6 but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments. Leviticus 19:4 "Do not turn aside to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I, the LORD, am your God. Deut. 4:15-16 "You saw no form at all on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire. Be strictly on your guard, therefore, 16 not to degrade yourselves by fashioning an idol to represent any figure, whether it be the form of a man or a woman, Deut. 7:5 "But this is how you must deal with them: Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, chop down their sacred poles, and destroy their idols by fire. Deut. 7:25 The images of their gods you shall destroy by fire. Do not covet the silver or gold on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD, your God. Deut. 27:15 'Cursed be the man who makes a carved or molten idol--an abomination to the LORD, the product of a craftsman's hands--and sets it up in secret!' And all the people shall answer, 'Amen!' Psalm 78:58 They enraged him with their high places; with their idols they goaded him. Psalm 97:7 All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things; all gods bow down before you. 3
Isaiah 10:10 Just as my hand reached out to idolatrous kingdoms that had more images than Jerusalem and Samaria, Isaiah 30:22 And you shall consider unclean your silver-plated idols and your gold-covered images; You shall throw them away like filthy rags to which you say, "Begone!" Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD, this is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 1 John 5:21 Children, be on your guard against idols. 1 Cor. 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. 5. Let Us Be Obedient To the Word of God Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men. John 8:31-32 Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 4
WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES ABOUT SAINTS According to the teaching of the Catholic Church, saints are persons chosen by the church to be honored after their death, for their heroic virtues and exemplary life. They have gone through a process of beatification and canonization. They in turn could help the persons on earth with their powerful intercession. The Catechism Of The Catholic Church Recommends That We Pray To Them And Ask Them To Intercede For Us And For All The World. [956, 2683] 956 The intercession of the saints. "Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.... They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped." 495 Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life. 496 I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth. 497 ARTICLE 3 GUIDES FOR PRAYER A cloud of witnesses 2683 The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, 41 especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were "put in charge of many things." 42 Their intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world. 5
How Is Someone Made A Saint? Although in the Early Church, there was no formal process for declaring a person to be a Saint, for many Centuries now the Church has had a formal process by which she investigates the lives of those who died "in the odour of sanctity" and decides whether they should be first beatified and then canonized. The following article, found at: http://www.catholic-pages.com/saints/process.asp explains exactly how a person becomes a saint. Canonization Process VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1997 (VIS) - Today the Holy See Press Office made public the following note on canonical procedure for causes of beatification and canonization: "1. Canon norms regarding the procedure to be followed for causes of saints are contained in the Apostolic Constitution 'Divinus Perfectionis Magister,' promulgated by John Paul II on January 25, 1983. "2. To begin a cause it is necessary for at least 5 years to have passed since the death of the candidate. This is to allow greater balance and objectivity in evaluating the case and to let the emotions of the moment dissipate. "3. The bishop of the diocese in which the person whose beatification is being requested died is responsible for beginning the investigation. The promoter group ('Actor Causae'): diocese, parish, religious congregation, association, asks the bishop through the postulator for the opening of the investigation. The bishop, once the 'nulla osta' of the Holy See is obtained, forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount concrete facts on the exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic, that is, the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, and others specific to his state in life. In addition, all documents regarding the candidate must be gathered. At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God. "4. Once the diocesan investigation is finished, the acts and documentation are passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The public copy used for further work is put together here. The postulator, resident in Rome, follows the preparation of the 'Positio', or summary of the documentation that proves the heroic exercise of virtue, under the direction of 6
a relator of the Congregation. The 'Positio' undergoes an examination (theological) by nine theologians who give their vote. If the majority of the theologians are in favour, the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation. They hold meetings twice a month. If their judgment is favourable, the prefect of the congregation presents the results of the entire course of the cause to the Holy Father, who gives his approval and authorizes the congregation to draft the relative decree. The public reading and promulgation of the decree follows. "5. For the beatification of a confessor a miracle attributed to the Servant of God, verified after his death, is necessary. The required miracle must be proven through the appropriate canonical investigation, following a procedure analogous to that for heroic virtues. This one too is concluded with the relative decree. Once the two decrees are promulgated (regarding the heroic virtues and the miracle) the Holy Father decides on beatification, which is the concession of public worship, limited to a particular sphere. With beatification the candidate receives the title of Blessed. "6. For canonization another miracle is needed, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his beatification. The methods for ascertainment of the affirmed miracle are the same as those followed for beatification. Canonization is understood as the concession of public worship in the Universal Church. Pontifical infallibility is involved. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint." 7