We all know that all good things come from God. When a patron saint intercedes for us, are we to thank God, the saint for his or her intercession, both, or only God? (I would think only God, right?)
All good things ultimately come from God but that doesn’t mean that others cannot cooperate in our receiving those things and cannot be thanked for their participation. Every year Americans set aside two days to thank each of their parents for giving them life and making that life good, even though we know that life and the good things in life are ultimately given by God. So why should we not also thank a heavenly intercessor whose prayers obtain for us a special favor or grace?
Acknowledging supernatural intercessors and earthly patrons does not detract from acknowledging God’s goodness. It is just one more facet of the communion of saints and its cooperation with and participation in the very life of the triune God that is made possible by God’s goodness.
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