Saints have always been heroes to me, historically and religiously speaking. Reading about them gives me the inspiration to improve myself and to let my family and friends know that there is more to life than what we have here on earth. I have always enjoyed learning about them: when and how they were called by God; and their heroic and Christian deeds. I am not quite the expert on their lives and accomplishments, nor I am one on Roman Catholicism, but what I do know is that I admire saints for their devotion to God. Actually, I admire everyone who are devoted to God.
There are two main misconceptions about saints. First of all, many non-Catholic and non-Orthodox Christians think that Catholic and Orthodox members worship saints, which makes us look like we are breaking the first Commandment - "Thou shall not have strange gods before Me." But in fact, we do not worship saints. Actually, we pray to them to intercede to the Lord for us because they are in heaven with Him. There is a big difference between worshipping and praying. Worship is defined as an expression of reverence toward a divine being or supernatural power, which strictly pertains to God. Pray, on the other hand, means to ask earnestly for something. Secondly, we venerate saints because of their Christian deeds and actions here on earth. In addition to the misconceptions, some people think that saints were perfect on earth. They were not. They were human beings, just like us. Some of them, in fact, had vices, even though were already called upon to serve the Lord.
Even if this is a short write up, I wish that many people would see the importance of saints in the world. One thing is for sure: they are praying in heaven for us - Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. I will add more to my website when time and words would allow me. God bless all of you!
1998-2008 Ann Brunning
This website is dedicated to my following dearly departed:
Maria Agaloos
Clemencio Cruz Apeles
Barbara Meade
Maria Lena Buhay
The Romanovs
May You Be With God, His Angels & Saints in Eternity - Amen!