Why Catholics Pray to Saints

I recently did a couple videos about stupid things Catholics and Protestants say to each other and one particular topic got a LOT of attention which was the idea that Catholics pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints and, as the accusation goes, this is a form of idolatry or divination or some such thing.

And while I made a few quick points in that video, I thought, given how much attention that got, I should give this topic a little more time and nuance here.

To set the stage here, I’m going to repeat what I said in that previous video which is that Catholics do not worship saints, but we do pray to them. And while all worship includes prayer, not all prayer is a form of worship.
In the same way that all singing involves the use of your voice but not all use of your voice is singing.

Prayer just means communication and as Catholics, we communicate with saints and seek their intercession. Now, even if that’s not worship, that’s bad enough in the eyes of many protestants because that is seen as looking for an intermediary other than Jesus or it’s simply communicating with the dead, both of which are forbidden in scripture.

[eliaspedro]

I really like to watch these videos cuz i'm Brazilian and it's very useful and easy to learn English while i'm watching a really good content about catholicism, I want to be a catechist in my parish to and your channel is helping me a lot. Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[Multipurpose_Bagel]

"...I'm not talking about people who fell on the floor because some televangelist blew a kiss at them or something like that..." made me chuckle.

[iamlink]

Struggling with my faith, I was raised Catholic and I've been having the urge to get back to church but struggle with some things and this is one of them. Thank you for this.

[deeds]

Protestant here, thanks for clearing this up

[kerri]

As a Confessional Lutheran, thank you so much for explaining this topic very well. And using scripture, I’ve never heard the scriptures used like that in context to explain. Thanks again

[hygravity]

I want to become a Catholic because god showed me in a dream that Catholics where in the right. It’s kinda hard to believe because I grew up Protestant and was taught Catholics aren’t Christian’s. I finally just prayed to god and he answered me in a dream that was so odd that I knew it was from him. It’s just hard to believe and I can’t deny it anymore. It’s been my own experience

[CKT_in_JC]

This is an amazing video. I watched two videos on the same subject and I can assure you, from what I've seen, your argument is the most comprehensive and clear to understand. The fact that you continue you to tie it all back in to Jesus Christ and scripture is what really convinces me. This is genuinely such a helpful resource! Thank you so much for taking the time to make it!

[DYLANANDRE]

My main question about Catholicism, is that the basis for the Church’s foundation, is the verse from Matthew when Jesus says “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”

If Jesus spoke in not so straightforward terms, why then not believe he meant the fact that he either changed Simon to Peter, because of his authority, or the fact that he called him out of his Sin, to be reborn because of his authority, that is the foundation. Not literally Peter and his beliefs or faith is the rock and foundation… Jesus’ use of the word Rock is found again in his sermon on the mount where he says “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine is like a wise man who has built his house on the rock, ” which indicates that it’s the word of God that is the rock, not Peter himself. That’s what I struggle with is that the interpretation of Matthew 16:18-19 that was agreed upon by a group of people is the basis for the Church who practice things so closely resembling Jewish Law and Greek and Roman traditions, where does Jesus or Paul say that we should pray to the Saints? Where does He say we should pray to Mary? Where does He say that we should make a worship ritual for the relics of His? His chalice, His crown of thorns?

Even the Old Testament states that worship and prayer are to be directed at the one God. It seems as though these practices of praying and worshiping these items and people are hitting the bullseye, just on the wrong target.

Hopefully you can help shed some clarity on this for me.

[Joey_bofa]

I am Catholic and I am struggling understanding some things in the church like this. I was trying to find explanation to back my beliefs. I was wondering these exact same things. This helped a ton to strengthen my catholic faith. Thanks Bud.

[j.p.vanbolhuis]

Praying to saints is soo weird.

It is like sitting on a dinner table with your family, and never adressing your grandfather directly, but always asking other family members to relay your words to your grandfather.
Meanwhile your grandfather is sitting right next to

[sarongirma]

As a Protestant, I greatly appreciate how detailed yet comprehensive your videos are! One question that I’ve thought of regarding the intercession of the saints is to what extent do you perceive omnipresence and/ or omniscience as divine attributes? If my understanding of it is correct (and if not definitely correct me!) a saint is able to intercede for all who pray to them, so theoretically for potentially hundreds or thousands of people at the same time? Would that not ascribe to them the ability to hear/see all or be present in multiple places at the same time? And if that is the case, would that not be a divine characteristic that is being attributed to them? Perhaps there’s an aspect of this I’m not fully understanding, I would love to hear your perspective! Blessings 🤍

[Gav.fficial]

I enjoyed this message! I never really understood why Catholics prayed to saints until I saw this. I've been taught that it's idolatry or a form of putting something before God, basically making someone else a mediator besides Jesus. Now I understand that it's actually like asking a fellow brother or sister in Christ for help, like a prayer request (not forgiveness of sins).

Even though I don't agree with some of the things you say, you do give an honest and humble insight of a lot of information that not many people are willing to share (I see this as a learning process and opportunity). Thankyou!


John 13:34
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

[blitzzkrieg]

Your never fail to inspire, Brian. Always keep it up!

[crusader]

Great video Brian. Well said. God Bless. 🙏🏻

[bahreh.]

Truely Illuminating piece. To my knowledge no body explained the topic better than you. 🎉

[Iun]

as someone who was raised catholic and never really believed, the saints were always my favorite part of the catholic religion, especially asking patron saints for help always made me feel better

[BPP]

Great points. Christ the one Mediator and Head intercedes, therefore the members of His Body participate in His intercession. Thus these members call upon one another for intercession, even calling upon members who have gone to be at Home with their Head, for they remain mutually united in His Body.

[CaseyEMartz]

This comment comes with respect and maybe I can get questions answered from Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ on some of my concerns. I am a Lutheran and I also hold the saints at a very high level of respect and admiration.I have heard Catholics say “praying for intercession is like asking a friend for prayer” and “the saints are alive and not dead” and I understand their argument there. My hesitation of prayer to the saints comes from not the act “on paper” so to speak, but how the act is actually played out. The saints have their own(for lack of a better word) “specialty” . You might pray to one saint for healing, another for strength and patience, another because you can’t find your car keys… and the act of asking the saints for intercession during your prayer to God tends to look as if it’s played out as a Polytheistic style of prayer. ( I know it’s not but it APPEARS that way… especially with all the specialties that these saints are given) but another concern is when you look into prayer journals of many ancient Catholics… numerous of prayers are said to many saints and the majority appear to be to Mary, it gives the appearance that God is given the back burner while Mary and the saints are receiving the glory for answered prayers when it’s in fact God that answers these prayers. Like I said I say this in respect to Catholics but I fear that the argument of “don’t you ask your fellow Christian’s to pray for you?” Doesn’t gut deep enough Into the issues that Protestants tend to see In prayer to the saints… feel free to talk, explain, enlighten if you will… but let’s be respectful.

[Floridiansince]

Brian, this was a great video! I love your icons!

[bellanegrin]

I think you are doing an awesome job here on your channel. Sharing your videos. Thank you.