Not to sound like a JW, but these are all man-made celebrations. I am sure my wife puts our name on gifts, but I have not bought a “present” in 20 years or more.
As for feeding the poor and visiting people in jail, it is a bit harder to do that in secret, since, well, you are right there. But yes, almsgiving can be done in secret and should.
As for giving thanks for someone doing nice, sure. But this is more of common courtesy than anything. I shouldn’t act cold to a person who holds a door for me. But if I hold the door for someone, and they fail to say thank you, I don’t chase after them and say “YOU’RE WELCOME!” Nice things should be done in the same manner as any other giving, they are done without an expectation.
As for the Catholic saints, I think acknowledging them seems a bit extreme.
I guess the next question is, how do you know these people are in heaven? Because of the miracle that follows? So if I pray to Martin Luther, and a miracle proceeds, then we can affirm Luther is in Heaven (as well as other protestants)? And then we can make him a Catholic Saint?
So, when someone here on earth does something nice for you, it is OK to acknowledge that, and to say thank you, or show your appreciation in some other way. But it isn’t OK, to say thank you to a Saint? After all, they are alive in Christ, just like we are on earth.
So what is wrong with acknowledging them for what they ahve done for us?
I believe I explained part of the process earlier for canonization of a Saint, but I will give a very brief, skimming the top of the surface type of explaination.
When a cause of sainthood is opened, it involves alot of preliminary groundwork to be done. A group is formed to investigate the life of the person being considered. This will involve every single aspect of the person’s life, from birth to death. Reviewing how they lived their life, interviewing people who knew the individual (if still alive), reviewing diaries, journals, etc. etc. Literally no stone is unturned.
Once this preliminary information is gathered, it is forwarded to the Vatican for review by the officials there. There is someone called a postulator that argues for the cause, and there is an opposing postulator arguing against it. Similar to lawyers in court. All of the doucments are gone over with a fine tooth comb. I should mention here, that the document submitted will include statements from people who have a less than favorable view of the proposed saint. ( i.e. The Abp. Fulton Sheen cause currently being considered contains statements and documents supplied by people that didn’t like him for one reason or another.)
Now, as far as miracles, if a person died as a Martyr for the faith, then no miracles are required. If the person dies of natural causes, one miracle is required for beatificaton (call them blessed), and then a second miracle is required for canonization (sainthood). Keep in mind, that the church does it’s very best to confirm if something really is a miracle or not. There are teams of people with varied expertise that investigate these things, and they are not taken lightly at all. In fact, most of the people that work on “miracles” are trying to disprove them, more than prove them. The last thing the Church needs is to declare something a miracle, only to find out later that it was a hoax.
Now, once at least one miracle has been verified, and all of the life information is reviewed, it goes before the cardinals for a vote. If approved, the person is called “blessed”, or beatified. The investigation still continues, digging deeper and deeper into the person’s life, and if another miracle is verified., then the cause for canonization advances for posssible sainthood.
Now, how do we know these people are in heaven? If these peoples lives have been put under a microscope numerous times, by many people, and they have intereceded for us through prayer, and a miracle has been attributed to their intercession, it sure seems to me that they would be in heaven, and in close proximity to the throne, don’t you? After all, if they were in hell, do you think God would answer their prayer, and grant a miracle?
Anyone who is in heaven is a saint, or they wouldn’t be there. Just because they haven’t been investigated and declared a saint doesn’t mean they aren’t. There is always the possibility that M Luther is in heaven. If he is, he’s a saint. He just hasn’t been publically declared a saint by the Church. If the Lutheran’s want to declare him a saint, that’s up to them, and their criteria.
Check out this site, it helps clarify what I’ve said, and will give you some more information as well.
religionfacts.com/christianity/practices/honoring_saints/canonization.htm