On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
Why do Catholics pray to saints instead of to God?
First, let’s straighten out that common misperception. Catholics pray to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We pray with saints, just as we might talk with a trusted friend whose advice we value on a particular issue. 
For example, mothers of children who are away from Catholicism sometimes ask for intervention and assistance from St. Monica, who prayed for seventeen years for the conversion of one of her sons, who went on to be St. Augustine. These same mothers may also ask friends who are in the same situation to pray for them.
Here’s some daunting news: We’re all called to be saints! This is from the Catechism: “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. All are called to holiness.”
Thousands of people have been canonized in the Church’s history, because they were martyrs or exhibited heroic virtues in one way or another (in some cases, simply living a good life focused on the Lord). Not all were priests or women religious. However, very few of them—180 or so—are honored with celebrations—optional memorials, obligatory memorials, feasts or solemnities—as part of our Masses. The saints honored with these celebrations vary by region of the world.
To become a saint today, the candidate’s local bishop conducts an investigation into the person’s life and writings to determine whether the person was a faithful follower and a martyr or someone who shows heroic virtue. If a Vatican panel agrees, the person is proclaimed “venerable” by the pope. To be beatified, unless the person was martyred, evidence of a miracle that took place based on a specific petition to the person after his or her death must be shown. Evidence of another miracle generally is required before canonization, the final step in the process to sainthood.
Submit your own questions to returning@melanierigney.com; they may be addressed in a future post. Thanks, and God bless.
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