non-Catholic saints?

  • Thread starter Thread starter anodos
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

anodos

Guest
If people both in heaven and in purgatory can intercede with God on my behalf, can I ask a deceased Protestant to pray for me?
Also, can a non-Catholic become my patron saint, or are patron saints only those who have been canonized by the Church?
 
Hi anodos 🙂

What follows is only my personal opinion.

I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t pray to a non-Catholic who happened to be in purgatory or heaven.In heaven I don’t think that there will be any “non-Catholics” vs “Catholics”; all will be united in the beatific vision.

As for patron saints - I think it would be ok to adopt privately someone to pray to but, if they haven’t been reagrded as saints by the Church there is no guarantee that they are in heaven. For something public like Confirmation I think that you would be expected to take the name of a saint approved by the Church.

Hope that helps.
 
anodos said:
If people both in heaven and in purgatory can intercede with God on my behalf, can I ask a deceased Protestant to pray for me?
Also, can a non-Catholic become my patron saint, or are patron saints only those who have been canonized by the Church?
Click to expand...
Will you please provide scripture for your comment?

bluelake
 
anodos said:
If people both in heaven and in purgatory can intercede with God on my behalf, can I ask a deceased Protestant to pray for me?
Also, can a non-Catholic become my patron saint, or are patron saints only those who have been canonized by the Church?
Click to expand...
Only those declared such by the Church can be your patron saint.
 
anodos said:
If people both in heaven and in purgatory can intercede with God on my behalf, can I ask a deceased Protestant to pray for me?
Also, can a non-Catholic become my patron saint, or are patron saints only those who have been canonized by the Church?
Click to expand...
I know its always good to think the best of people but what makes you so sure where their at?If you were sure they were in either of those places then you could ask for prayers and you could ask if you weren’t sure.But you might be wasting your time.Why take the chance when you are sure of others being in Heaven?
 
bluelake said:
Will you please provide scripture for your comment?

bluelake
Click to expand...
People both in heaven and in purgatory can intercede with God on my behalf

That God hears the prayers of the dead can be found in Rev 6:9-10. Indeed the scriptures tell us they are more alive than we are and as God hears our prayers why would we even begin to think that He does not also hear the prayers of the souls in Heaven.

For further information on this topic and many other things related to Catholicism I invite you to read this link and then make use of the links on the sidebar.

catholic.com/library/Praying_to_the_Saints.asp
 
Brendan_McCabe said:
People both in heaven and in purgatory can intercede with God on my behalf

That God hears the prayers of the dead can be found in Rev 6:9-10. Indeed the scriptures tell us they are more alive than we are and as God hears our prayers why would we even begin to think that He does not also hear the prayers of the souls in Heaven.

For further information on this topic and many other things related to Catholicism I invite you to read this link and then make use of the links on the sidebar.

catholic.com/library/Praying_to_the_Saints.asp
Click to expand...
Good link, thank you!
 
Conversely, if you felt an attraction for a John Wesley, for example, you could take “St John” as your name. Only you and your friends would know the “Protestant connection.”

My middle name is “John” after “St John de Brebeuf.”

Normally, an Eastern Catholic wouldn’t choose a name of a Roman Catholic saint (but it’s been known to happen!).

My parents couldn’t have children and they had a summer cottage near the Martyrs’ Shrine at Midland, Ontario. My mother lit many candles to St John de Brebeuf for child - and I was finally conceived and was born on the day Brebeuf was martyred.

Catholic girls who take the popular name “Ashley” can refer to Bl. Roger Ashley, an English Catholic martyr as well.

Alex
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top