1	Saints, Sinners and Intercession We need all the help we can get!
2	Discussion questions How do saints impact our culture? Where do we hear of them or see them outside a religious setting? Contrast the cultural idea of a saint with the religious ideal.
3	The Church Family of God: Family members have a responsibility for one another. Body of Christ: All parts of the body must work together. What one does affects the other members.
4	The Communion of Saints All the members of the Church throughout time, living and deceased Comprised of The faithful on earth The blessed in heaven The souls in purgatory Invoked in the Mass
5	Who is a Saint? A saint is a person who, after having lived a life of virtue, dies in the state of grace and has been granted the reward of eternal life by God. The saints enjoy the beatific vision and unceasingly intercede for those still in earthly life. They also serve as a model and inspiration to us. USCCA glossary
6	Beatific Vision Seeing God to face to face in all his glory An essential aspect of heaven God must reveal himself and give us the capacity to behold him.
7	Souls in Purgatory Those who die in the state of friendship with God but who are not fully purified and perfected are assured of their eternal salvation. They must undergo a purification to obtain the perfection of love and holiness needed to enter heaven, where they have a heart that is totally open to God. They intercede for those still in earthly life but cannot pray for themselves. USCCA p. 154
8	Veneration of Saints Imitation Ask for intercession Honor Patron saints: a model of sanctity and an assurance of his or her intercession before God. Images: Remind us of the saint who radiated Christ’s glory Liturgical feasts: call us to admire and praise the saints as fruits of Christ’s redeeming work
9	Saints, our Guides The saints are our models of prayer. We also ask them to intercede before the Holy Trinity for us and for the whole world. Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. Compendium 564
10	Intercession Intercession consists in asking on behalf of another. It conforms us and unites us to the prayer of Jesus who intercedes with the Father for all, especially sinners. Compendium 554
11	The one mediator For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human who gave himself as a ransom for all. I Timothy 2:5
12	Sharing in Christ’s mediation Christ can share his mediation with others. On earth we ask people to pray for us. Holy people seem nearer to God. Saints continue praying for us in heaven Ultimately only God can answer prayer.
13	Prayer or Superstition? When emphasis is on “doing it right” versus conversion, there is a danger of magic: God must answer this prayer if I fulfill the requirements. True prayer asks for God’s will to be done
14	Examples of Superstition Chain letters: if you send on this e-mail you will receive an answer to your prayer. If you don’t, you will have bad luck. Burying St. Joseph statue, upside down, facing the house, so the house will be sold. Leave 9 copies of the prayer in a church every day of the novena Never fail prayer to St. Therese
15	What about Novenas? Novena = nine days Commemorate the novena of the Apostles between Ascension and Pentecost Act. 1:13-14. Conversion to God’s will while presenting a petition. “If it be your will…” The time is a sign of faithfulness and perseverance
16	Saint with a capital S Canonization: a solemn declaration by the pope that a deceased member of the faithful may be proposed as a model and intercessor to the Christian faithful and venerated as a saint, on the basis of the fact that the person lived a life of heroic virtue or remained faithful to God through martyrdom. USCCA Glossary
17	Process of Canonization The bishop of the diocese where the candidate died opens the process of beatification. The life of the candidate is studied for evidence of heroic virtues. A special biography is written The teachings and writings of the person are examined.
18	Process continued: Servant of God The candidate is called Servant of God. There must be evidence that people believe in the holiness of candidate and pray for his or her intercession. Signatures are collected People witness to answered prayers Information is sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. Theologians examine the evidence.
19	Process continued: Beatification God confirms the holiness of the Servant of God by working miracles through the candidate’s intercession. The pope declares the candidate Blessed. Permission is granted to pray to the person in official liturgy. A feast day is assigned. This permission is usually limited to the diocese, country, or community.
20	Process continued: Saint God works another miracle through the candidate’s intercession. The pope declares the Blessed a Saint. The universal Church may pray to the person in the official liturgy.
21	References Compendium = Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. English translation ©2006 Libreria Editrice Vaticana USCCA = United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. USCCB. 2006