What exactly is devotion to a Saint?

[DAML72]

This may seem like a dumb question, but I’m a new convert and I’m still not sure what having a devotion to a particular Saint means. I feel like I have one to St. Rita - I ask for her intercession a lot, I relate to her life, I have visited her shrine a few times - even made arrangements to go there for my first confession. But I don’t have a particular prayer that I say, and there really isn’t any regularity to my prayer. I have ADHD, so there isn’t much regularity to anything I do - LOL! Does this disqualify me from having a particular ‘devotion’?

 

[bzkoss236]

This may seem like a dumb question, but I’m a new convert and I’m still not sure what having a devotion to a particular Saint means. I feel like I have one to St. Rita - I ask for her intercession a lot, I relate to her life, I have visited her shrine a few times - even made arrangements to go there for my first confession. But I don’t have a particular prayer that I say, and there really isn’t any regularity to my prayer. I have ADHD, so there isn’t much regularity to anything I do - LOL! Does this disqualify me from having a particular ‘devotion’?

A devotion is just focusing on the life of a particular Saint (usually one you relate with) to look to them for inspiration, help, prayers, and look to their life in example of how to live in Christ to help bring us closer to Christ.

So it sounds like you’ve already got it going on.

 

[BluesPicker]

This may seem like a dumb question, but I’m a new convert and I’m still not sure what having a devotion to a particular Saint means. I feel like I have one to St. Rita - I ask for her intercession a lot, I relate to her life, I have visited her shrine a few times - even made arrangements to go there for my first confession. But I don’t have a particular prayer that I say, and there really isn’t any regularity to my prayer. I have ADHD, so there isn’t much regularity to anything I do - LOL! Does this disqualify me from having a particular ‘devotion’?

You are doing just fine. Meditating on the life of a saint is a form of prayer & a spiritual exercise and asking for her intercession are all forms of devotion. You have to listen to the Holy Spirit who calls you along to conform your life to the Way of the Lord.

 

[tequirk]

I agree, you are on the right path. As long as you stay up with praying to St. Rita, reading about her and telling others about her I would say you have a devotion. Saints are reflections of Jesus. They are meant for Him to be glorified in different lights so that each of us, created uniquely in His divine image, can more closely imitate Him. There are thousands of Saints you can pick from. I would encourage you to do some research on the internet and find out if there are additional Saints who might be suitable for your intentions, and which ones you can relate to and would most like to imitate. As St. Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1) Thanks for reading.

Yours in Jesus through Mary,

Tom

P.S. - My favorite Saint is the Blessed Mother. You can’t go wrong with her. :getholy:

 

[DAML72]

I agree, you are on the right path. As long as you stay up with praying to St. Rita, reading about her and telling others about her I would say you have a devotion. Saints are reflections of Jesus. They are meant for Him to be glorified in different lights so that each of us, created uniquely in His divine image, can more closely imitate Him. There are thousands of Saints you can pick from. I would encourage you to do some research on the internet and find out if there are additional Saints who might be suitable for your intentions, and which ones you can relate to and would most like to imitate. As St. Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1) Thanks for reading.

Yours in Jesus through Mary,

Tom

P.S. - My favorite Saint is the Blessed Mother. You can’t go wrong with her. :getholy:

Thank you! Thanks to all who have answered!

I do have a few saints that I pray to, and there are many more I would like to learn about - so much to do, so little time! And I am also very close to the Blessed Mother and try to pray the Rosary every day - which is why I took ‘Maria del Rosario’ as my confirmation name. But St. Rita is very just special to me for many reasons - she is a great example for the particular things I am going through in my life, and has never let me down!