Q. 1193. {332} Does the first Commandment forbid us to pray to the saints?  A. The first Commandment does not forbid us to pray to the saints.

Q. 1194.  Why does the first commandment not forbid us to pray to the Saints?  A. The first commandment does not forbid us to pray to the Saints, because if we are allowed to ask the prayers of our fellow-creatures upon earth we should be allowed also to ask the prayers of our fellow-creatures in heaven.  Moreover, the Saints must have an interest in our welfare, because whatever tends to make us good, tends also to the glory of God.

Q. 1195. {333} What do we mean by praying to the saints?  A. By praying to the saints we mean the asking of their help and prayers.

Q. 1196.  Do we not slight God Himself by addressing our prayers to saints?  A. We do not slight God Himself by addressing our prayers to saints, but, on the contrary, show a greater respect for His majesty and sanctity, acknowledging, by our prayers to the saints, that we are unworthy to address Him for ourselves, and that we, therefore, ask His holy friends to obtain for us what we ourselves are not worthy to ask.

Q. 1197. {334} How do we know that the saints hear us?  A. We know that the saints hear us, because they are with God, who makes our prayers known to them.

Q. 1198. {335} Why do we believe that the saints will help us?  A. We believe that the saints will help us because both they and we are members of the same Church, and they love us as their brethren.

Q. 1199. {336} How are the saints and we members of the same Church?  A. The saints and we are members of the same Church, because the Church in heaven and the Church on earth are one and the same Church, and all its members are in communion with one another.

Q. 1200. {337} What is the communion of the members of the Church called?  A. The communion of the members of the Church is called the Communion of Saints.

Q. 1201. {338} What does the communion of saints mean?  A. The communion of saints means the union which exists between the members of the Church on earth with one another, and with the blessed in Heaven, and with the suffering souls in Purgatory.

Q. 1202. {339} What benefits are derived from the communion of saints?  A. The following benefits are derived from the communion of saints:  the faithful on earth assist one another by their prayers and good works, and they are aided by the intercession of the saints in Heaven, while both the saints in Heaven and the faithful on earth help the souls in Purgatory.

Q. 1203.  How can we best honor the Saints, and where shall we learn their virtues?  A. We can best honor the Saints by imitating their virtues, and we shall learn their virtues from the written accounts of their lives.  Among the Saints we shall find models for every age, condition or state of life.

Q. 1204. {340} Does the first Commandment forbid us to honor relics?  A. The first Commandment does not forbid us to honor relics, because relics are the bodies of the saints or objects directly connected with them or with our Lord.