Who are the Roman Catholic Saints?
The Roman Catholic Church venerates saints, viewing them as holy individuals who lived exemplary lives of faith and are now in heaven with God. Over the years, the Church has canonized numerous saints, recognizing them for their virtues and often attributing specific patronages based on their life, work, or the miracles associated with them. The saints are also regarded as protectors or intercessors in specific areas of life, ranging from health concerns to professional domains.
One of the most notable practices involving saints in the Catholic tradition is the offering of prayers to them. Catholics believe that saints, being in close communion with God, can intercede on behalf of individuals here on earth. This intercessory role is seen as a form of spiritual support, where saints present the prayers of the faithful to God.
In the Bible, this practice is called ‘necromancy,’ a ritual that seeks to communicate with the dead and is strictly forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
The scriptures also emphasize the belief in the sole mediatorship of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). The intercessory role attributed to saints is therefore seen as an infringement upon the unique mediatory role of Christ.
Over the years the Roman Catholic Church has canonized many saints, each claiming special protective powers, such as:
- St.Christopher – Saint for protection
- St Francis of Assisi – Saint of animals
- St.Elmo – Saint of pelvic and abdominal pain
- Saint Drogo: patron saint of Unattractive People
- Saint Genesius of Rome: patron Saint of Comedians
- Saint Fiacre: patron Saint of People with STDs
- Saint Isidore of Seville: patron Saint of the Internet
- Saint Barbara: patron Saint of Fireworks
- St. Bibiana (St. Viviana) – Patron saint of hangovers.
- St. Columbanus – Patron saint of motorcyclists.
- St. Expeditus – Patron saint of procrastinators and urgent causes.
- St. Gertrude of Nivelles – Patron saint of cats and those who suffer from fear of mice.
- St. Rita of Cascia – Patron saint of impossible causes and difficult marriages.
While it must be acknowledged that many saints have led lives of remarkable faith and virtue. The supposed supernatural phenomena or miracles performed by said saints should be scrutinized as they appear to contradict with the teachings of the Scripture. Thereby, there is a strong cases that such phenomenon are better typically attributed to deceptive forces rather than divine intervention.
The veneration of saints and the practice of seeking their intercession hold significant places in Roman Catholic devotion, these practices.
However, the practice is outside the scope of biblical teachings. The Scriptures advocate for direct prayer to God through Jesus Christ, the sufficiency of Christ’s mediation and the ultimate authority of the Scriptures in guiding one’s faith and practice.