4.16 Which saint shall I pray to? There are so many!
The many saints each show in their own way how great God’s love for us is. During their lives they had complete trust in Jesus, and because of this they became an example for us. Saints pray for us in heaven, and we can ask for their prayer.
Take St. Lidwina of Schiedam, St. Rita of Cascia and St. Anthony of Padua, for example. Each of these saints serves as an example for us, each in his or her own way. Their faith and devotion to God allowed them to put other people’s interests above their own. In this way they demonstrated great love for their neighbour.
What does the “communion of saints” mean?
The “communion of saints” is made up of all men who have placed their hope in Christ and belong to him through Baptism, whether they have already died or are still alive. Because in Christ we are one Body; we live in a communion that encompasses heaven and earth.
The Church is larger and more alive than we think. Among her members are the living and the deceased (whether they are still undergoing a process of purification or are already in the glory of God), individuals known and unknown, great saints and inconspicuous persons. We can help one another even beyond the grave. We can call on our patrons and favorite saints, but also our departed relatives and friends whom we believe are already with God. Conversely, by our intercessory prayer, we can come to the aid of our dear departed who are still undergoing purification. Whatever the individual does or suffers in and for Christ benefits all. Conversely, this unfortunately means also that every sin harms the communion. [Youcat 146]
What is the significance of receiving a name in Baptism?
Through the name that we receive in Baptism God tells us: “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Is 43:1).
In Baptism a person is not dissolved into an anonymous divinity, but rather is affirmed precisely in his individuality. To be baptized by a name signifies that God knows me, he says Yes to me and accepts me forever in my unrepeatable uniqueness. [Youcat 201]
Why should Christians choose the names of saints at Baptism?
There are no better examples than the saints and no better helpers. If my namesake is a saint, I have a friend with God. [Youcat 202]
During the Liturgical Year, the Church invites us to commemorate a host of saints, the ones, that is, who lived charity to the full, who knew how to love and follow Christ in their daily lives. They tell us that it is possible for everyone to take this road... I must say that also for my personal faith many saints, not all, are true stars in the firmament of history... [The] goodness, which they have developed in the faith of the Church, is for me the most reliable apology of Christianity and the sign of where the truth lies. [Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 13 Apr. 2011]
