The saints, their memory, and intercession
Catholic teaching describes the communion of saints as communion in Christ across the Church on earth and those with him. The faithful honor saints and seek their intercession, while Christ remains the source of their holiness and the sole mediator in the saving sense.
Historical context
Christians remember exemplary witnesses to Christ. The churches disagree over requests for the prayers of departed saints, while all three traditions affirm that Christ is the source of salvation and that worship belongs to God.
Key points
- The Catechism distinguishes communion in holy things from communion among holy persons.
- Honor paid to saints is distinguished from adoration due to God.
Scripture
- Hebrews 12:1-2 — The cloud of witnesses is set beside the command to look to Jesus; the text does not itself prescribe invocation of departed saints.
- 1 Timothy 2:1-5 — The passage calls for intercessory prayer and names Christ as the one mediator; traditions interpret its implications differently.
- Revelation 5:8 — The heavenly elders present prayers in John's vision; its application to requests for saints' intercession is debated.
Primary sources
Catechism §956 says:
The Catholic Catechism explicitly describes the saints as interceding with the Father.
They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us
Passage context and translation
The Catechism quotes Lumen Gentium on the heavenly saints' prayer through Christ, the one mediator; this is Catholic teaching, not a direct biblical quotation.
Before the excerpt
those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness