What to say to someone who compares saint veneration with ancient hero cults?

[redbetta]

My classics professor made a comparison between ancient Athenian hero cults and Catholic veneration of saints. He said that the definition of the hero in ancient Greece was a mortal with superhuman powers and his body is said to have possessed power after death. He said that Catholics believe a saint is someone with the power to perform miracles and their bones are said to have power. Now, I know that that is not the definition of a saint and miracles during earthly life are just a bonus in comparison with the way they lived their lives. But, I am not very eloquent in speech, so, what should one say to someone who believes Catholics took relic vernation from the ancient Greeks and that they value the bodies of saints because they believe the bodies possess supernatural powers?

 

[Augusta_Crowley]

These links should give you the answers that you need. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by this, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/contact/contact-us) directly.
**Recommended Reading:
**

• Saint Worship?
• The Intercession of the Saints
• Is Mary’s and the saints’ intercession unbiblical?
• What is the biblical reason Catholics pray to saints for intercession?