Podemos prestar culto aos Santos?
Autor: Lectio Divina da Paróquia Santa Cruz | Publicado: 2011-11-14T11:23:00-03:00

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O culto dos Santos e a estima de suas relíquias são contestadas pelos protestantes; eles julgam haver nisto graves desvios doutrinários, que atribuem à Tradição católica. Mas essa prática é plenamente justificada pela Tradição cristã mais antiga, apoiada na Bíblia, desde o Antigo Testamento.  
Com a certeza de que os Santos já estão no Céu, a Igreja, sempre assistida pelo Espírito Santo (cf Jo 16, 12-13), já nos seus primeiros tempos, começou a prestar veneração particular àqueles falecidos que tiveram uma vida confessando Jesus Cristo, especialmente pelo martírio.
O culto de veneração (não de adoração) dos Santos foi até o século XVI prática tranqüila e óbvia entre os cristãos. Note bem, durante dezesseis séculos não houve contestação a esta prática. O Concílio de Trento (1545-1563) confirmou a validade e importância deste culto, ao mesmo tempo que ensinou a evitar abusos e mal-entendidos muitas vezes enraizados na religiosidade popular. Também o Concílio do Vaticano II (1963-65) reiterou esta doutrina, mostrando o aspecto cristocêntrico e teocêntrico do culto aos santos.
A comunhão entre os membros do povo de Deus não é extinta com a morte; ao contrário, o amor fraterno é liberto de falhas devidas ao pecado na outra vida, o que faz esta união mais forte.
Deus, que gera esta comunhão, proporciona aos Santos no céu o conhecimento de nossas necessidades para que eles possam interceder por nós, como intercederiam se estivessem na Terra. Santa Terezinha do Menino Jesus, dizia que “passaria a sua vida na Terra”; isto é, viveria o Céu intercedendo pelos da Terra.
São Domingos de Gusmão, fundador dos Dominicanos, ao morrer dizia a seus frades que no Céu ele lhes seria mais útil do que na Terra. Uma das orações eucarísticas da santa Missa diz que “os Santos intercedem no Céu por nós diante de Deus, sem cessar.” Que maravilha!
Esta intercessão leva-nos mais a fundo dentro do plano de Deus, porque promove a glória de Deus e o louvor de Jesus Cristo, uma vez que os Santos são “obras-primas” de Cristo, que nos levam, por suas preces e seus exemplos, a reconhecer melhor a grandeza da nossa Redenção.
O culto aos Santos tem ao menos três sentidos profundos:1 – dá glória a Deus, de quem os Santos são obras primas de sua graça; são Santos pela graça de Deus.2 – suplicam a eles a sua intercessão por nós e pela Igreja;3 – mostram-nos os Santos como modelos de vida a serem imitados uma vez que amaram e serviram a Deus perfeitamente.
É entranhada na teologia católica a devoção aos Santos. Ela surge de uma perfeita compreensão do plano salvífico de Deus, especialmente quando se refere à Virgem Maria, Mãe de Deus e Mãe dos homens (cf. Jo 19,25-27).