How do you approach a saint?

[Usbek_de_Perse]

I mean, how do you approach a canonized saint? This is a new issue for me. I’m Episcopalian (now) and while I understand and agree with praying through saints, I don’t do it much. Ave Maria sometimes, but I just don’t think I know the Blessed Virgin.

So, canonized just this weekend, along comes a saint that I can really relate to, the Jesuit father, St. Jacques Berthieu. St. Jacques was a missionary in Madagascar. I’ve been a missionary in Madagascar (though not in a Christian religion). I know the place. I can picture the dusty village where he was martyred, though I have never been there. I know the first church he saw when he arrived there. Also he is a Jesuit. I like Jesuits.

So I have taken to praying to him. But should I be very open, almost in dialogue with him, or should I be careful to only approach him reverently? I mean, he is a saint, but a priest before that, so he is used to all kinds of treatment, and all kinds of people.

Is there something I should do as I approach him? Something I should avoid?

 

[TheDoctor]

How do you approach a saint?

Hi mom.

I mean, how do you approach a canonized saint?

Oh, sorry.

…should I be very open, almost in dialogue with him, or should I be careful to only approach him reverently? I mean, he is a saint, but a priest before that, so he is used to all kinds of treatment, and all kinds of people.

Is there something I should do as I approach him? Something I should avoid?

Talk to him as if he was standing in the room next to you. One of the joys of praying to the Saints is that I can see them as holy, but real people, who struggled with the same things we all struggle with. From what I have read of them, I don’t see any Saint who would take offense at being asked to intercede with the Lord for any of us, more so now that they are with Him in Heaven.

 

[Mintaka]

Heh, heh… Sounds like the good Fr. Berthieu was approaching you before you ever knew him…

But yeah, talk to him and listen in the way that seems reasonable to you. He’s a senior colleague who’s “graduated” from this world, so of course there’s respect. But he’s also your brother and friend, who obviously takes an interest in you. He’s a saint; you’re a saint in training. You’re both together in Christ. Don’t hesitate to talk to him.

 

[JohnAlexander]

Saints are just regular people, like you and I.

Remember that a saint in heaven has a different point of view than we do on earth. They have infinite time. Even if a billion people came to them with a request they would have no problem with finding time to try and do something for anyone who asks. They will never get stressed out.

Also they have a perspective of someone who just got a pardon from a life sentence. People who are recently pardoned have a very generous outlook, especially to those who are in the same predicament they just escaped from.

Approach a Saint as you would approach a brother that you have grown up with your whole life.

 

[pablope]

I mean, how do you approach a canonized saint? This is a new issue for me. I’m Episcopalian (now) and while I understand and agree with praying through saints, I don’t do it much. Ave Maria sometimes, but I just don’t think I know the Blessed Virgin.

So, canonized just this weekend, along comes a saint that I can really relate to, the Jesuit father, St. Jacques Berthieu. St. Jacques was a missionary in Madagascar. I’ve been a missionary in Madagascar (though not in a Christian religion). I know the place. I can picture the dusty village where he was martyred, though I have never been there. I know the first church he saw when he arrived there. Also he is a Jesuit. I like Jesuits.

So I have taken to praying to him. But should I be very open, almost in dialogue with him, or should I be careful to only approach him reverently? I mean, he is a saint, but a priest before that, so he is used to all kinds of treatment, and all kinds of people.

Is there something I should do as I approach him? Something I should avoid?

Through prayers…the normative way for catholics with requests for intercession is through the 9 day novena.

Check the internet…there should be a site dedicated to him, that worked for his canonization…and have made a novena for those wanting to ask for his intercession.