I received a very interesting response in the form of a question/objection to the blog I wrote concerning the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta which took place just this past Sunday. A person who identifies himself as a life-long Protestant politely observes and resolutely objects to the Catholic devotion of the Saints as an improper form of worship of human beings.
Let me first welcome the writer and thank him for the opportunity he allows me to clarify the teaching of the Church regarding the practice of honoring the Saints.
It is important to make a fundamental distinction between what the Church refers to as latria, that is, the worship rightly due and offered to Almighty God and dulia, the recognition and honor given to the excellent virtue of a human being.
Certainly, there is nothing inappropriate to the adoration of God when proper honor and attention is given to those persons who excelled in giving witness to the Grace of God by the often heroic virtue with which they lived their lives. Even in the secular world. we honor and recognize those who have achieved excellence in academics, science, sports and the like.
When Catholics properly honor the Saints, we honor the God who loved them and the God Whom they loved and with Whom they shared their lives so intimately and beautifully. St. Thomas Aquinas rightly observed that homage which a person has to God's holy ones does not end with the Saint themselves, but always and ultimately reaches to God through their witness.
This is the true spirit with which the Church traditionally has reverenced the Saints. They are marvelous examples to us of lives touched by the redeeming Grace of the Lord Jesus.
Very simply stated, Catholics do not adore or worship the Saints (including Mary, the Virgin Mother of God).
As far as the intercessions Catholics make to the Saints, the Church believes that, on account of their attainment of eternal bliss in the company of Almighty God and the Angels in Heaven, the Lord has granted Saints the privilege of interceding for those of us on earth who are attempting to follow in their example in the pursuit of personal sanctity. This spirit of unity is at the heart of the Church's teaching regarding the Mystical Body of Christ as the Church militant (the Church on earth), the Church Suffering (the Poor Souls in Purgatory) and the Church Glorious (the Saints in Heaven).
It is true that many Catholics unintentionally give scandal when they improperly venerate the Saints. Sometimes, our overzealous devotion of the Saints causes us to overlook their humanity and make them so perfect that we can never hope to achieve their excellence of Christian witness. Sometimes, too, there are those who suggest that the Saints attained their sanctity on their own merits and strength of will alone, apart from the redemptive Grace of Christ. And there are many cases of superstitious practices and beliefs with regard to seeking the intercession of the Saints for protection as well as many other needs.
The key to understanding the Church's proper devotion to the Saints is this: they were like us, sinful and fallible souls, who did their best in surrendering themselves to the Mercy of Christ and giving witness to this Divine Love by the quality of the lives they led. They inspire us, encourage us and assist us as we seek to enhance our relationship with Our Heavenly Father.
May the Church's teaching and practice with regard to the veneration of the Saints always give greater honor and glory to God Who loves us so very much.
No comments:
Post a Comment