For the past few posts we have all been discussing the Saints. I realized after the last few comments that some may not know the Saints or their place in the Catholic faith, though I am sure for many this is common knowledge.
So who are the Saints really?
When Catholics refer to the Saints, most commonly they are referring to those individuals who led extraordinary lives in Christ, which in turn have been examined and recognized formally by the Vatican in a process called canonization. The Saints are people who in one form or another sacrificed themselves for their faith and love of God. Some examples would be St. Francis of Assisi or St. Vincent de Paul.
However, Saints can also refer to others. As referenced by Richard P. McBrien in his book Catholicism, the term Saints can be applied to four groups of people. 1) those under the grace of Christ be they living or dead 2) those having received the grace of Christ have gone to eternal life 3) holy figures, such as those in the bible, who stand out as examples of sanctity and 4) those whom the Church formally recognizes (i.e. - those whom we spoke of above).
In essence and according to the Catechism of the Church the "communion (or group) of Saints, refers not only to the sancti (Holy people within the Church), but also the Church herself.
Why do Catholics pray to the Saints?
To say that Catholics pray to the Saints the way that one would pray to God the father or Christ is not correct. Rather Catholics have what is called the Intercession of Saints. Most basically this means that the Saints that have died and passed on into eternal life are closest to God through their being and their holy merits from their mortal life. Being that they are closer to the presence of God, Catholics will "pray to them" asking them for help in interceding with God and acting as a mediator on our behalf. The Saints also do this constant intercession without being asked.
I was once asked by a friend why I would choose to converse with a Saint versus going straight to God, since God is also always listening. My response was that there are times when it is hard to ask for help, even though there may be people around waiting to offer it up. I have friends and relatives whom I feel such a close connection to that I can tell them anything and at anytime without feeling anxious. Asking a Saint to intercede for you may be the same thing. There are Catholics that feel naturally drawn and comfortable with certain Saints and others that have passed on, in this way it is natural to communicate with someone whom you might have such a close bond.
Another reason that people ask for particular Saint's intercession is that some Saints have patronages. For instance Aloysius wrote asking Our Lady of Prompt Succour (a Saint) for intercession concerning safety from the hurricane. Well Our Lady of Prompt Succour is the patron Saint of New Orleans, and thusly asking her to pray on behalf of those needing protection from the hurricanes is fitting to her position.
I'm sure that we could go much more in depth into the theology of the Saints, but hopefully for those who do not know anything of the Saints, this will give some background information and a starting point from which to begin.
The two books I referenced are Catechism of the Catholic Church from Doubleday Press, and Catholicism by Richard P. McBrien, Harper San Franciso, 1989.
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