Is DEVOTION the same as WORSHIP?

[dje101]

Hi all,

I was wondering if a devotion to a saint is the same as worshiping a saint? Coming from a protestant background, I have found the idea of praying to the saints to be idolatrous, but since posting a thread on the topic have found the logic in the doctrine. However, I personally see a difference between asking a saint to pray for me and having a devotion to that saint. That seems to be a bit…I don’t know, I guess “much” would be the right word for it. After all, the apostles were devoted to Christ, all disciples are devoted to Christ. Why would (and why should) we have a devotion to a saint when they themselves had a devotion to Jesus?

 

[svid2]

The two are absolutely different, although people sometimes speak of them as if they are interchangeable. They are not.

Worship is reserved for God alone. The Trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That’s it.

Devotion is a far lesser form of attachment. We can be devoted to many things, including people. We can be (and should be) devoted to our families. We are often devoted to our jobs, or a political cause, or some hobby. But these things must never get in the way of our relationship with God, or else that constitutes idolatry, which, very simply, is the worship of anything besides God.

Devotions should, actually, HELP us worship God. Devotion to a saint should be a part of our lives that helps keep us from the near occasion of sin, and keeps our thoughts on Heaven and God’s will.

Most devotion to saints simply involves our asking them to pray for us. We often ask each other for prayers; why not ask those in Heaven? They won’t forget, and they don’t get distracted in prayer.

Adoration, by the way, is the same as worship, even though people often misuse the term (“I adore your new outfit” or “That baby is so adorable!”).

 

[smithm29]

We shouldn’t be confused about the fact that devotion to the saints is more than just asking them to pray for us. We also show them honor and praise them for their holiness, just as we do the saints on earth. It’s true that the apostles had a devotion to Jesus- but they also had a devotion to each other, which is evident in their writings. There is a communion of saints that we profess each week, and if we are devoted to the saints here with us in the flesh, why would that stop with their death? When you talk to your neighbor, do you limit yourself to asking her to pray for you?

 

[NeedImprovement]

Hi all,

I was wondering if a devotion to a saint is the same as worshiping a saint? …

A more precise word, instead of devotion to a Saint, would be* veneration *of a Saint … makes it less likely for one to become confused the deeper one goes into definitions (and it can easily become confusing without proper elucidation).

According to Father John Hardon, s.j.'s Modern Catholic Dictionary , as svid2 says, worship is also called adoration - when it is Divine worship. However, the entire definition of worship encompasses something greater than the definition our Protestant brethren commonly attribute to it . Veneration of the saints, according to Father Hardon is, in a sense , also worship, but it is not Divine worship.

Here are excerpts of the two definitions below from the same Dictionary .You can access Father Hardon’s dictionary at this link .

DEVOTION

“The disposition of will to do promptly what concerns the worship and service of God. Although devotion is primarily a disposition or attitude of the will, acts of the will that proceed from such disposition are also expressions of devotion. Essential to devotion is readiness to do whatever gives honor to God, whether in public or private prayer (worship) or in doing the will of God (service). A person who is thus disposed is said to be devoted. His devotedness is ultimately rooted in a great love for God which in spiritual theology is often called devotion. (Etym. Latin devotio, state, act, or expression of being devoted; from devovere, to vow.)”

**WORSHIP. **

“Acknowledgment of another’s worth, dignity, or superior position. In religion, worship is given either to God, and then it is adoration, or to the angels and saints, and it is called veneration. Divine worship actually includes three principal acts, namely adoration (or the recognition of God’s infinite perfection), prayer or the asking for divine help, and sacrifice or the offering of something precious to God. Worship as veneration also has three principal forms, whereby the angels and saints are honored for their sanctity, asked to intercede before the divine Majesty, and imitated in their love and service of God. (Etym. Old English weorthscipe, honor, dignity, reverence: weorth, worth +ship.)”

 

[ProVobis]

Strictly a matter of translation into the English language, which appears to be a very convenient vehicle used to attack Catholic theology.

The Latin “colo, colere, colui, coltus” (used with Mary) can be translated as “to bestow care upon, to guard, protect, honor, revere, worship, cherish, love.” The Vatican itself uses “worship” in the English translation (apparently not realizing the heavy ramifications) although careful analysis of the Italian translation would lead one to select the word “honor” instead of “worship” in today’s world.

 

[JRKH]

Hi all,

I was wondering if a devotion to a saint is the same as worshiping a saint? Coming from a protestant background, I have found the idea of praying to the saints to be idolatrous, but since posting a thread on the topic have found the logic in the doctrine. However, I personally see a difference between asking a saint to pray for me and having a devotion to that saint. That seems to be a bit…I don’t know, I guess “much” would be the right word for it. After all, the apostles were devoted to Christ, all disciples are devoted to Christ. Why would (and why should) we have a devotion to a saint when they themselves had a devotion to Jesus?

dj,
You ask good questions.
Realizing that others have given good answers to the specific OP question, I’d like to address something a bit more general…

Nothing in Catholic teaching requires that you pray to a saint, ask for their intercession or have any special devotion to any them.
The one possible exception in this, as regards devotion, is the Blessed Mother, whom we hold in very high regard. But even here, there is not doctrine that requires one to make petition to Mary or to ask her intercession.
If you feel mor comfortable praying directly to Christ or the Father, by all means do so. This is perfectly acceptable.

Of course as someone else pointed out we do, as a community, invoke the BVM and the communion of saints during mass, but in private devotion/prayer this is not required.

So - in short, if you feel “uncomfortable” having a special devotion to a saint, then don’t do it. If later on you find saint who particularly touches you and you find yourself attracted to that saint’s spirituality, courage, conversion, acts of charity, piety or other attribute(s) you may find yourself reading up on, studying and even “talking with” this saint. You might term this “admiration” while someone else might describe it as devotion.

Peace
James

 

[Ignatius]

I was wondering if a devotion to a saint is the same as worshiping a saint?

Are you devoted to your wife and children? Of course. Do you worship them?
No, of course not.

 

[laszlo]

Worship is totally subduing ourselves to the object whom we worship: God. Only does mistake it with the devotion (giving high esteem) who never understood what the total submission means.