4 Good Reasons to Have Devotion to the Saints

At a recent Catholic conference, a young college student stopped by the exhibit booth sponsored by the St. Josemaria Institute. Intrigued by the institute’s mission, he asked: “Why should we have devotion to a saint? Shouldn’t our devotion be to God alone?” It led to a fruitful conversation about the saints and Catholic devotion that we hope others will engage in too.

Although not an exhaustive list, here are four good reasons to have devotion to the saints:

1. TO FOLLOW CHRIST

To ask for intercession from a saint clarifies Jesus Christ’s role as the Redeemer and unique mediator between God and man. The saint can only intercede in and through Christ. Their closeness to Christ in Heaven and the purity of their beatific vision is the basis for their daring to go to Him on our behalf.

2. TO FOLLOW SACRED SCRIPTURE

The Gospels show us several examples of people bringing their prayers and petitions for others to Jesus:

• The Centurion’s intercession (Matthew 8:13);
• The Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:28);
• Father of the Epileptic Boy (Matthew 17: 15-18);
• Father of the Possessed Boy (Mark 9: 17-29);
• Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:49-55)

3. TO FOLLOW CHURCH DOCTRINE

To strengthen the unity of the communion of saints, God has established strong relationships among the Church triumphant, the Church militant, and the Church penitent.  We rely on each other, as brothers and sisters in the faith.

Pluralism and diversity among the many saints of various time periods, cultures, states of life, and circumstances demonstrate the universal call to holiness.  We find encouragement and reassurance that God calls us to Himself along any and every path we find ourselves walking on earth.

4. TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Identifying one’s own specific desire for divine help is part of the struggle for personal sanctity. Finding a spiritual brother or sister—a friend in Heaven—who shares our specific need, and who has proven the efficacy to seeking and finding God through that circumstance, can provide guidance and hope. St. Josemaria is known as the ‘saint of the ordinary’ and many of us living ordinary lives have discovered great encouragement by learning from his teachings, following the holy examples of his earthly life, and seeking his intercession before God in Heaven.

Read a related article: Even Saints Have Their Own Saints