If you’ve ever walked into a Catholic church, you’ve probably seen statues or stained-glass windows of saints—St. Peter, St. Therese, St. Francis, maybe even St. Joseph holding the child Jesus. And if you’ve spent time around practicing Catholics, you may have even heard prayers that mention the saints.
So, does this mean Catholics pray to saints? And if so, why?
Let’s clear up the confusion.
What Do Catholics Actually Believe?
The short answer: Catholics don’t pray to saints in the way we pray to God—but we do ask the saints to pray for us.
Think of it this way: Have you ever asked a friend to pray for you? Maybe before a big exam, a job interview, or when a loved one was sick? That’s exactly what we do when we “pray” to the saints. We’re asking them to intercede for us before God—just like we’d ask a friend here on earth to do the same.
Isn’t Jesus the Only Mediator?
You might be wondering, But doesn’t the Bible say that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man? (1 Timothy 2:5).
Absolutely! Jesus is our one and only Savior, and all grace comes through Him alone. But that doesn’t mean we can’t ask others to pray for us.
In fact, right before that verse, St. Paul tells us to pray for one another:
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:1)
If we can intercede for each other here on earth, why wouldn’t the saints—who are alive in Christ (Luke 20:38) and closer to God than we are—be able to do the same?
What Does the Bible Say About Asking Saints for Help?
Far from forbidding it, Scripture actually gives us glimpses of the saints in heaven praying for us:
- Revelation 5:8 – The saints in heaven offer our prayers to God, symbolized as golden bowls full of incense.
- Revelation 8:3-4 – An angel presents the prayers of the saints before the throne of God.
- Hebrews 12:1 – We are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” the saints who have gone before us.
Just like the saints on earth pray for us, the saints in heaven do too!
Why Bother Asking Saints to Pray for Us?
You might be thinking, If I can just pray to God directly, why involve the saints?
Good question! And yes—we should absolutely pray to God directly. But asking the saints for prayers is an extra gift, not a replacement for praying to Jesus.
Here’s why it’s a good idea:
- The prayers of the righteous are powerful. (James 5:16) The saints are already in heaven, perfectly united with God, and their prayers are incredibly effective.
- God loves to work through His people. Just as He uses us to bring others to Him, He allows the saints to intercede for us as well.
- The saints are role models. Each saint lived a unique life of holiness, and turning to them can inspire us to grow in our own faith.
Welcoming 2024 and 2025’s Newest Catholic Saints!
So, Do Catholics Worship Saints?
No way! Worship is for God alone.
Catholics honor the saints (just like we honor great role models in our lives), but we worship only God. If someone ever confuses the two, it’s important to make that distinction clear.
How Can You Start Asking Saints for Help?
If you’ve never asked a saint to pray for you before, here are a few simple ways to start:
- Learn about a saint whose life inspires you—maybe St. Joseph, St. Therese, or St. Padre Pio.
- Ask for their intercession with a short prayer: “St. Francis, please pray for me as I seek to trust God more in my life.”
- Pray the Litany of the Saints, a powerful prayer asking many saints to intercede for us.
- Celebrate their feast days! The Church has special days to remember each saint and ask for their prayers.
So, do Catholics pray to saints? Not in the same way we pray to God, but we do ask for their intercession. The saints are part of the family of God, cheering us on and praying for us as we journey toward heaven.
And the best part? One day, we’re called to join them.
Additional Resources
Find more on the saints here on our blog: Who Are the Most Popular Catholic Saints?, Welcoming 2024 and 2025’s Newest Catholic Saints, Your Favorite Saints’ Favorite Saints, How Do You Become A Saint? Cannonization 101, What is a Catholic Saint?, 25 Patron Saints of Really Random Things.
Check out our YouTube channel for videos on the saints, like the one below.
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