Questions Catholics are Asked:Why do you pray to idols (statues)?

The short answer:“Catholics do not worship statues. We honor the saints with statues,

just as we honor our national heroes.”

“…We honor the saints with images of them, just as we honor our own families with portrait photos.”

For Catholics, salvation is not an isolated, individual experience. We belong to one another on earth.

Death is simply a reminder that we are journeying toward a wonderful reunion in heaven!

“You have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God,

the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering,

–and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven…”Hebrews 12:22-23

“Firstborn” refers to an older brother. Just as an older brother protects and guides his younger siblings,

so the saints help us in our journey of faith.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin

that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us

while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1

The Catholic tradition of the veneration of the saints is grounded in

our vision of church as a family.

The church has many millions of members, and the vast majority are dead!

Many of our deceased brothers and sisters lived heroic lives of faith.

From heaven they inspire us still:By the example of their lives

In their prayers for usIn statues and other images that remind us of them

By the example of their lives

Saint Peter Claver, for example, dedicated his life to ministering to African slaves in the New World.

In their prayers for us“I urge that supplications, prayers,

intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men,

for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly

and respectful in every way. This is good, and pleasing to God our Savior, who

desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"

1 Tim. 2:1–4

Our older brothers and sisters, the saints, pray for us.

In the Book of Revelation angels and saints offer prayers to God:

“The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp

and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.” Rev 5:8

Those in heaven have no needs. Whose could the prayers be for except

the believers still on earth?

In statues and

other images

that remind

us of them

Why not pray directly to God through Christ?

Of course we should pray directly to God through Christ! But the reconciling love of Christ be given

also to the church. In Christ we all participate in the mediating power of prayer.

Asking the saints to pray for us does not diminish Christ’s unique role any more than

our asking each another for prayers.

This is simply what Christians do.

“Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you

after my death and I shall help you then more effectively

than during my life.”Saint Dominic

“I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.”Saint Therese of Lisieux