My devotion to saint

[seekeroG]

Hi,

Have questions to ask regarding devotion to saints, please give me some advice as I am really quite lost here.

I am currently wearing a patron saint medal only and nothing else because this make me close to this saint. But my friend asked me why do I only wear saint medals and not crucifix. Did I did wrong?

I have also always been praying to saint and ask them to intercede for me to Jesus. I am always praying to saints and never to Jesus. Is this way of praying wrong?

One more funny thing is that when I do personal prayers to my patron saint I can pray very well but when I am praying to Jesus, I am somehow always tougue tied and loss of words. This is worrying. Is it because I do not have the holy spirit in me? (I am attending RCIA next year )

Please advice… Thanks!

 

[ValiantDomain]

Jesus wants to hear from you too.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi,

Have questions to ask regarding devotion to saints, please give me some advice as I am really quite lost here.

I am currently wearing a patron saint medal only and nothing else because this make me close to this saint.

I hope you are also wearing clothing. There is no obligation on the part of Catholics to wear a crucifix, medal, scapular or any other outward sign of personal devotion. These sacramentals are reminders of the grace they signify. Jesus is not in competition with his saints (or with his mother). I question the motives of people who make such criticisms. If this person is not your confessor or spiritual director, ignore him. Such people do much harm by foisting their own personal prejudices upon others.

 

[wcknight]

There is nothing wrong with praying to a saint asking for help or assistance. They are close friends to the Almighty. However they are not God, and as such do not warrant our worship.

Saints are the heroes of the Church. They usually led holy lives and are worthy of being imitated. They can certainly help us, and some seem to have their own specialties. BUT they have no power or authority outside of God. If you feel more at ease talking to a particular saint that is fine, just remember that all honor and glory belongs to God.

It may be healthier to not be too dependant on any one saint. And I would think being able to talk to the Lord more comfortably would be better. But I doubt the Lord is jealous of this saint. Just remember it was Jesus who suffered and died for us, and not His friends.

 

[vince2paul]

Hi,

Have questions to ask regarding devotion to saints, please give me some advice as I am really quite lost here.

I am currently wearing a patron saint medal only and nothing else because this make me close to this saint. But my friend asked me why do I only wear saint medals and not crucifix. Did I did wrong?

Nope, I always wear Tau, and I don’t own crucifix. After all, these objects are to help us in our prayer life, but they are just ways of praying, not the purpose. Our purpose is to pray to God, which only needs ourselves. Just don’t get superstitious with these items.

I have also always been praying to saint and ask them to intercede for me to Jesus. I am always praying to saints and never to Jesus. Is this way of praying wrong?

It’s not wrong, but it’s incomplete, because these saints will intercede for you to Jesus. So it’s secondary, the primary relationship is between you and Jesus.

It’s not very appropriate but it’s like this.
Let say I wanna talk to a friend, A. I could either talk to A directly OR I could ask another friend to help me pass the message to A. Either way is good, but of course it will be better if I talk directly to A.

One more funny thing is that when I do personal prayers to my patron saint I can pray very well but when I am praying to Jesus, I am somehow always tougue tied and loss of words. This is worrying. Is it because I do not have the holy spirit in me? (I am attending RCIA next year )

So you have to start to learn to speak to Jesus directly. After all, it’s quite similar, except that Jesus is in higher position that the saints and He could grant our wishes. Don’t make Jesus less important than the saints, for sure the saints won’t be pleased to know this. They might be embarrassed

 

[seekeroG]

Jesus wants to hear from you too.

Yup thats what set me thinking too… Thanks for your advice

 

[seekeroG]

I hope you are also wearing clothing. There is no obligation on the part of Catholics to wear a crucifix, medal, scapular or any other outward sign of personal devotion. These sacramentals are reminders of the grace they signify. Jesus is not in competition with his saints (or with his mother). I question the motives of people who make such criticisms. If this person is not your confessor or spiritual director, ignore him. Such people do much harm by foisting their own personal prejudices upon others.

Thanks, now I understand on the sacramental’s part. I heard that those sacramentalswill also get your prepared to recieve grace from God too right?

I think my friend that told me this could be just worried that I am too devoted to saints and neglect the most important of all our Lord Jesus Christ. He means good I believe.

I agree Jesus is more interested in our salvation then competition with his saints too.

 

[seekeroG]

There is nothing wrong with praying to a saint asking for help or assistance. They are close friends to the Almighty. However they are not God, and as such do not warrant our worship.

Saints are the heroes of the Church. They usually led holy lives and are worthy of being imitated. They can certainly help us, and some seem to have their own specialties. BUT they have no power or authority outside of God. If you feel more at ease talking to a particular saint that is fine, just remember that all honor and glory belongs to God.

It may be healthier to not be too dependant on any one saint. And I would think being able to talk to the Lord more comfortably would be better. But I doubt the Lord is jealous of this saint. Just remember it was Jesus who suffered and died for us, and not His friends.

Yes, Thanks I see your point there.

I do not know why but when I am praying to Jesus I am just tougue tied and I will be loss of words.

I think I might be too tense up praying to Jesus. He is the Son of God. I am afraid I might say the wrong things. There is no sense of presence when I am praying to Jesus as compared to saints. How to improve on that?? Help me

Is praying to our Blessed Mother going to help?

 

[seekeroG]

Nope, I always wear Tau, and I don’t own crucifix. After all, these objects are to help us in our prayer life, but they are just ways of praying, not the purpose. Our purpose is to pray to God, which only needs ourselves. Just don’t get superstitious with these items.

It’s not wrong, but it’s incomplete, because these saints will intercede for you to Jesus. So it’s secondary, the primary relationship is between you and Jesus.

It’s not very appropriate but it’s like this.
Let say I wanna talk to a friend, A. I could either talk to A directly OR I could ask another friend to help me pass the message to A. Either way is good, but of course it will be better if I talk directly to A.

So you have to start to learn to speak to Jesus directly. After all, it’s quite similar, except that Jesus is in higher position that the saints and He could grant our wishes. Don’t make Jesus less important than the saints, for sure the saints won’t be pleased to know this. They might be embarrassed

Thanks, I have a better understanding now. Is praying to our Blessed Mother same as praying to saints?

We can only ask Mary to intercede?

Sorry to ask all these, I am really young in the faith.

 

[vince2paul]

Thanks, I have a better understanding now. Is praying to our Blessed Mother same as praying to saints?

We can only ask Mary to intercede?

Sorry to ask all these, I am really young in the faith.

Ack! my mistake. Our Blessed Mother has a higher position than the saints. Yupe, I believe we can only ask her to intercede for us.
heh… you are better than me

From Wikipedia: [Veneration]

In Catholic and Orthodox theology, veneration is a type of honor distinct from the worship due to God alone. Church theologians have long adopted the terms latria for the sacrificial worship due to God alone, and dulia for the veneration given to saints and icons. Catholic theology also includes the term hyperdulia for the type of veneration specifically paid to Mary, mother of Jesus, in Catholic tradition.

 

[Della]

I do not know why but when I am praying to Jesus I am just tougue tied and I will be loss of words.

I think I might be too tense up praying to Jesus. He is the Son of God. I am afraid I might say the wrong things. There is no sense of presence when I am praying to Jesus as compared to saints. How to improve on that?? Help me

I think you have to focus more on Jesus being the Son of Man than the Son of God, if that truth makes it hard for you to talk to him. Remember, Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. He went through all the things we do and was tempted in every way as we are. He completely understands human needs, fears, wants, faults, weaknesses, etc. Just talk to him as if he were an older brother who knows how to help you and loves you just for who you are.

Is praying to our Blessed Mother going to help?

Praying to Mary is always good, but don’t substitute Mary for Jesus as you are your favorite saint. She’d love to hear from you, too, and help you, but she wants you to have a good relationship with her Son above everything else. So, begin just talking to Jesus as I said above, and see if it doesn’t help you get closer to him.

 

[Della]

I do not know why but when I am praying to Jesus I am just tougue tied and I will be loss of words.

I think I might be too tense up praying to Jesus. He is the Son of God. I am afraid I might say the wrong things. There is no sense of presence when I am praying to Jesus as compared to saints. How to improve on that?? Help me

I think you have to focus more on Jesus being the Son of Man than the Son of God, if that truth makes it hard for you to talk to him. Remember, Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. He went through all the things we do and was tempted in every way as we are. He completely understands human needs, fears, wants, faults, weaknesses, etc. Just talk to him as if he were an older brother who knows how to help you and loves you just for who you are.

Is praying to our Blessed Mother going to help?

Praying to Mary is always good, but don’t substitute Mary for Jesus as you are with your favorite saint. She’d love to hear from you, too, and help you, but she wants you to have a good relationship with her Son above everything else. So, begin just talking to Jesus as I said above, and see if it doesn’t help you get closer to him.

 

[wcknight]

Most times, I don’t have a real preference in who my prayers are addressed to. I would say most times they are addressed to Jesus, God the Father or even the Holy Spirit. For special requests they are addressed to Mary for her intercession usually in the form of a Rosary or just a simple Hail Mary.

For protection I might say a prayer for my GA to watch over me or my kids/wife. I don’t usually address a particular saint, although with failing eyesight and feebleness in forgetting where I put things, I may ask St Anthony for a bit of help.

Years ago, when I was much much younger, I addressed almost all my prayers to Mary, feeling that as a mother she would understand the needs of her children. At some point I felt a bit guilty leaving out Our Lord, and so have addressed many more prayers directly to Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

I really don’t think it makes that much of a difference. I seriously doubt Jesus is the least bit jealous of His mother getting more attention. Besides, He is probably glad she gets bothered a lot more often than He is. PLUS Mary has a huge army of angels to assist her, while Jesus is “only” God Almighty.

 

[LilyM]

Remember there’s no such thing as saying the ‘wrong thing’ to Jesus - not unless you’re swearing at him or something!

Any words addressed to him with love and from the heart will be fine.

One method I use is to find a nice picture of him and pray in front of it while looking at it. For you it might be best to have one of the infant Jesus, to remind you that he did indeed come to us as true Man, as well as true God.

 

[Andruschak]

Hi,

Have questions to ask regarding devotion to saints, please give me some advice as I am really quite lost here.

I am currently wearing a patron saint medal only and nothing else because this make me close to this saint. But my friend asked me why do I only wear saint medals and not crucifix. Did I did wrong?

I have also always been praying to saint and ask them to intercede for me to Jesus. I am always praying to saints and never to Jesus. Is this way of praying wrong?

One more funny thing is that when I do personal prayers to my patron saint I can pray very well but when I am praying to Jesus, I am somehow always tougue tied and loss of words. This is worrying. Is it because I do not have the holy spirit in me? (I am attending RCIA next year )

Please advice… Thanks!

Devotion to Mary is also devotion to her son. Now, do you wear The Brown Scapular? Many of the scapulars at this website…

rosescapular.com/scaporder.htm

include a saint. At the very bottom of the page is the brown scapular with the picture of Saint Francis of Assissi. This comes with Crucifix AND Blessed Medal AND small medal of Saint Francis. You also dedicate yoursef to Mother Mary, That is the scapular I currently wear, along with the Green Scapular for Conversions of Heathan Pagans like me

Please check out this website. Much of the information on indulgences is out of date, but the idea of the use of sacrementals to focus your mind on faith is not

 

[seekeroG]

Thanks guys for all those valuable advice, So nice to see so many helpful people here in this forum

Think I will still pray more to the my patron saints but will seek my saint’s help to also guide and lead me to Jesus.

Say if I am praying to St. Michael regarding temptations, can I also seek his help in those issues that he is not patron in?

Thanks

 

[annb]

Say if I am praying to St. Michael regarding temptations, can I also seek his help in those issues that he is not patron in?

Thanks

Yes

In response to the OP, I would say that maybe your friend brought up a good idea. I know that by wearing a crusifix, it helps remind me to think of Jesus and to pray to him.

One thing someone told me in regard to developing a relationship with Jesus is to just talk to him like a friend. Don’t be afraid to tell Him anything. He already knows it anyway. You can tell him about your day or give him thanks or just say Hi, I love you. This is also where memorized (or read) prayers come in handy. Don’t worry too much, if your heart is in the right place, God will hear your prayers! They don’t even have to be spoken…if you can’t come up with the words, just ask Jesus to know what is in your heart and spend some quiet time thinking about Him. There are many ways to pray.

I think it’s a great idea to ask the saints for help with prayer too.

 

[CSN]

I hope you are also wearing clothing. There is no obligation on the part of Catholics to wear a crucifix, medal, scapular or any other outward sign of personal devotion. These sacramentals are reminders of the grace they signify. Jesus is not in competition with his saints (or with his mother). I question the motives of people who make such criticisms. If this person is not your confessor or spiritual director, ignore him. Such people do much harm by foisting their own personal prejudices upon others.

comon people, that is gold, and no one mentioned it

 

[seekeroG]

Yes

In response to the OP, I would say that maybe your friend brought up a good idea. I know that by wearing a crusifix, it helps remind me to think of Jesus and to pray to him.

One thing someone told me in regard to developing a relationship with Jesus is to just talk to him like a friend. Don’t be afraid to tell Him anything. He already knows it anyway. You can tell him about your day or give him thanks or just say Hi, I love you. This is also where memorized (or read) prayers come in handy. Don’t worry too much, if your heart is in the right place, God will hear your prayers! They don’t even have to be spoken…if you can’t come up with the words, just ask Jesus to know what is in your heart and spend some quiet time thinking about Him. There are many ways to pray.

I think it’s a great idea to ask the saints for help with prayer too.

Thanks so much for your advice.

It is most helpful. I will follow those ways of praying to strengthen my relationship with Jesus.

I believe my patron saint is also praying for me on this issue too.

 

[LilyM]

comon people, that is gold, and no one mentioned it

Well, greatness is greatest when allied with humility :yup:

We just didnt want you to get a big head.

very funny nonetheless