The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-14
vENERATloN OF THE SAINTS.


honor that Catholics pay to the
saints, says the Catholic Universe
To emphasize this, they have estab-
lished new division of the Com
mandments. They have separated the
first Commandment into two: "Thou
shalt not have strange Gods before
Me-, and Thou shalt not make to
myself any craven thing, thou shalt
not adore them or serve them"
1t should be plain to anyone that
not to have strange gods, and not to
adore craven things, amounts to the
same thing. The Catholic Church
teaches that supreme honor is to be
paid to God alone, but there is a rela-
tive honor that may be paid to the
saints and to holy things. st. Paul
says: Render to all men their dues:
tribute to whom tribute is due: Gus
tom to whom custom: fear to whom
fear: honor to whom honor" (Romans
HE'D
We honor God because He is the
originator as well as the foundation
of all beings and of all good: Every
best gift and every perfect gift is
from above, coming down from the
Father of light with whom there is
no change nor shadow of alteration"
est. James I:13)
God has made us, not we ourselves.
For this reason no creature can have
any share in supreme honor, and if we
honor a creature at all, it must be
from some entirely different motive,
and in an entirely different manner.
We can honor creatures only on &C
count of what God has been pleased
to bestow on them. The saints are
those of Gods creatures to whom He
has given the best of His goods. He
has given them special graces, He has
made them His favorites Can we
therefore refuse to honor them or can
we refuse for an instant to give
honor to the Blessed Virgin, whom
God raised to the dignity of mother
of His Incarnate Son? If He that is
mighty hath done great things for her
what right have we to refuse to pay
her honor and veneration?
But sometimes non-Catholics will
say, "Honoring the saints and servants
of God is one thing, and praying to
them is another" No one will say
there is anything unlawful or un
reasonable in asking for things from
those in power in the political world
How then can there be anything I'm.
lawful or unreasonable in presenting
our petitions to those who are reign
ing with Christ in heaven?
We find two objections on the part
of Protestants to the Catholic doctrine
and practice of invoking the aid of the
saints. The first is that by so doing
we are interfering with the office of
mediator, which belongs torsour Lord
Jesus Christ alone; the other is that it
is impossible for the saints to hear the
prayers which rise from all parts of
the world. Professionals quote the
words: For there is one God and
one Mediator of God and men, the
Man Christ Jesus" (Tim. II:5.)
1t is perfectly true that He is our
one Mediator. There is no other
name under heaven given to men
whereby we must be saved" (Acts
IV:12.)
But we are to pray for ourselves
and for our neighbors. If we pray for
our brethren we do not therefore or
thereby consider ourselves mediators
in the place of Christ. st. Paul when
he was on earth was constantly pray.
ing for his converts and begging them
to pray for him. 81 beseech you
therefore, brethren, through our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by the charity of
the Holy Ghost, that you help me in
your prayers for me to Cod (Rom
xv:30.)
1t should be perfectly clear from
these quotations that st. Paul never
for moment considered these pray.
ers any interference with our Lords
Office of mediator Since st. Paul
prayed for his converts when he was
here upon this earth, why should he
not pray for them after he received
the crown of justice in heaven?
But the DIRECTORS say it is no use to
pray to the saints, since they can.
not hear our petitions. 1t is true we
cannot understand how they are to
hear us because we cannot form any
idea of spiritual existence, but it is
quite clear that the saints and angels
in heaven know and hear us when
God wills that they should know what
passes upon earth. The scripture
says: There shall be joy before the
angels of God upon one sinner doing
penance."
The Catholic catechism, speaking
on this subject, asks the question
rs it forbidden to give to the angels
and saints divine honor which belongs
to God alone?" The answer is: 1--WE
should pay to the angels and saints
an inferior honor. This is due tc
them as the servants and special
friends of God"
In the Catholic doctrine of the com
munion of saints, the faithful or
earth, the suffering souls in purga
tory and the triumphant blessed In
heaven are so united that we can pray
to them and they can pray for us
through the merits and worship Of
our Lord and mediator Jesus Christ.
There are some other matters tt
which Protestants greatly object
They object to the honor which we
give to relics, crucifxes and holy pic
lures. The honor we give to thos,
holy things is an inferior and relative