Saintly Devotions

[allenr74]

Hello,

Unfortunately, as a child attending CCD in the '80s, I feel I wasn’t given a proper foundation in the richness of our Catholic faith (especially since I grew up in NYC). Thankfully, since living in NC for the past 5 years, our parish is phenomenal when it comes to teaching and exploring the richness of the faith. This includes learning about the saints.

I think I understand having a devotion to a saint or saints. I feel particularly drawn to Mary as well as St. Joseph (as a husband and father).

My question (and it might seem quite silly) is how many saintly devotions are too many? Do any of you have more than one or 2? Do you only ask for saintly intercessions after researching a particular problem or state in your life that you’re attempting to get through?

Thank you.

 

[Hatikvah]

I don’t think that you can have “too many” to the point where it’s bad for your health or spiritual welfare. It’s like having friends who are just older, wiser, and already in Heaven. Yes, we can develop relationships with specific saints: they are people, too, and they have had the experiences of life just as we have.

Be wary of giving reverence to saints over God. Remember that you have an obligation to worship God as well. Praying to saints, although it is a solid practice, does not fulfill your obligations to God!

It may get to be too many when this impairs on your relationship with other saints (if that’s possible; common sense advice, but when you forget names it might be bad). Treat them with respect, much as you would respect your parents.

I ask for intercessions at random times. If I were to encounter a crying child, I may say “Saint (name), pray for them.” Sometimes, as I know he had many miracles even after his death, I will ask Saint Padre Pio to pray for the ill and dying.

God bless.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

If you have so many that you can’t keep track of them anymore, then it’s probably too many. Other than that, you’re good. I have devotion to probably 3 saints in particular, including the Blessed Virgin Mary. My strongest devotion is to the Blessed Virgin. If I or someone I know is ill, then I’ll pray to St. Raphael the Archangel and the Blessed Virgin under the title of “Our Lady of Lourdes”. Other than that, I pray to the same saints year round.

 

[allenr74]

Thank you, all, for your replies.

How do you know which saints to ask for intercessions and assistance?

 

[Hatikvah]

Thank you, all, for your replies.

How do you know which saints to ask for intercessions and assistance?

You can actually ask any saint for his/her intercession or assistance in any matter. The Virgin Mary is obviously a popular one, and she’s not under one patronage of any sort, but there are saints for almost anything if you know them.

If you were a pencil maker (yes, I am typing that correctly), St. Thomas Aquinas is your saint if you need assistance with anything on the job. I don’t know why he is the saint of pencil makers, but obviously there was a need for one.

However, many saints are given their patronages from events in their lives, places they visited, places they were born in or died in, and so on. St. Peter is the saint of fishermen: he was one! Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the patron saint of the Jesuits because he founded the Jesuits (along with other now-saints, like St. Francis Xavier).

But, just like your earthly friends and family, you can ask them for their intercession or assistance even when it is not an area of their patronage or, say, “expertise.”

 

[wrodrigounb]

Hello brothers and sisters, God bless u all.
I don’t know if that is the right area to divulgate an app. Sorry if it’s not here.

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There is a PREMIUM version with no ads and:

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