331 Q. Does the First Commandment forbid the honoring of the saints?  A. The First Commandment does not forbid the honoring of the saints, but rather approves of it; because by honoring the saints, who are the chosen friends of God, we honor God Himself.

Think of the many helps God gives us to save our souls:  an angel to be always with us upon earth; a saint always praying for us in Heaven, and besides these all the graces, the Sacraments, the Masses, the prayers, etc.  If then we lose our soul, surely we cannot say, God did not give us sufficient help.  “Invocation” means calling upon them to help us.  Everyone is pleased when his friends are honored.  Who is not glad to hear his parents praised or see them respected?  By praying to the saints, instead of dishonoring God—­as Protestants say we do—­we really honor Him more than by praying directly to Himself We show that we believe in His great dignity, His awful majesty and our own nothingness.  If a poor person wanted to obtain a favor from the President of the United States, would he go directly to the President himself?  No.  He would find someone who had influence with the President, and ask him to obtain the favor.  Why, the very persons that say we should not use the influence of saints do themselves use the influence of others to obtain favors.  They never go to an enemy of the one from whom they desire the favor, but to some of his friends, knowing that a person will often grant a favor for a friend’s sake that he would not grant for the sake of others.  Now we do exactly the same when we pray to the saints.  They are the special friends of God.  They fasted, prayed, preached, labored, or suffered death for His honor and glory.  He showed them great favors while they were upon earth.  He performed miracles at their request.  Will He deny them now, when they are always present with Him in Heaven—­where they could not possibly sin?  He loves to grant them favors; and, as they do not need any for themselves, He grants them for others through their intercession.  Again men are honored by the praises of their fellowman.  A great general is honored by having all his countrymen praise him; so, too, God wants His saints honored, for their great spiritual deeds, by the praise of the children of the Church.  God is not annoyed by being asked for favors.  Nothing can trouble Him, for all is done by an act of His will.  He loses nothing by giving, for He is infinite.  By praying to the saints for help we confess that we are too unworthy to present ourselves to God and address Him—­to come before His awful Majesty, and that we will wait here in the humble attitude of prayer while you, holy saints, His dearest friends, go into His presence and ask for us the favors and graces we require.

332 Q. Does the First Commandment forbid us to pray to the saints?  A. The First Commandment does not forbid us to pray to the saints.

We do not pray to them as to God.  We never say to them, “Give us this or that,” but always, “Obtain it for us.”  In all the litanies you cannot find one petition where we say, even to the Blessed Virgin:  “Have mercy on us,” but, “Pray for us,” or, “Intercede for us.”