View on Saints

Roman Catholicism vs. Protestantism (Lutheran & Methodism)

Kaitlyn Krinock

Background on Saints
Catholic Definition

A saint should be looked at as the

standard model for humans

Knows that he is a sinner

Knows of both the bad news (sin) and
the good news (salvation)

Can be described as a realist

Recognizes and understands the truth

Protestant Definition

A saint is considered higher than

anyone else in the world

A saint is someone whom they believe,

with certainty, is in Heaven with God

Saints are also referred to as holy

ones

Roman Catholicism Views

Believe that a saint is anyone in Heaven

Denotes a person who has been formally canonized (officially and

authoritatively declared a saint)

Teaches that the Church does not make or create saints, but rather
recognizes them

Believe in praying with saints, not to them

Believe that saints led holy lives and are close to God in heaven, therefore
their prayers are especially effective

God alone deserves the highest form of worship

Latria supreme worship

Saints receive a lesser form of worship

Examples of Catholic Saints

St. Patrick born in Roman Britain but captured by Irish pirates and taken
to Ireland as a slave. He escaped slavery after he had a dream from God that
explained to him how to escape. He eventually was able to make his way
back to Britain because of his dream from God.

St. Valentine third-century Roman saint that is associated with courtly

love. Very little is reliably known about him.

St. Sebastian Joined the Roman Army in 283 AD. While serving as a
guard, he convinced many people to convert to Christianity. He is often
invoked as a protector against the plague because there are records that say
he defended Rome against the plague in 680.

Saint Sebastian by
Peter Paul Rubens in
1604

Saint Valentine baptizing

Saint Lucilla by Jacopo
Bassano

Modern stained glass

depiction of Saint
Patrick, Cathedral of
Christ the Light in
Oakland, California

Lutheran Views

Believes that by remembering saints it will encourage others to emulate

their faith and good works

Give thanks to God for giving faithful servants to his Church

Through the remembrance, believers faith is strengthened because of the

mercy that God extended to his saints

Believes that the saints should be held to be examples of faith and holy
living

Examples: Martin Luther, Saint Simon, Saint Jude, Saint Lawrence

Methodism Views

Do not pray to saints

Honors and admires them

Some congregations observe All Saints Day

Saint is granted to those who had direct relations with Jesus Christ or who
are mentioned in the Bible

There is no system whereby people are designated to sainthood

Do not believe they serve as mediators to God

Believes that anyone who leads an exemplary Christian life is capable of

achieving sainthood

Examples: Matthew, Paul, Mark, John, Luke

Similarities
Views on Saints

Roman Catholicism

Lutheran and Methodism

Recognize saints

Believes in the possibility that anyone has the possibility to become a saint

Acknowledge All Saints Day

Differences in Views
Views on Saints

Roman Catholicism

Lutheran
Do not pray to saints

Believes in praying
with saints

Methodism

Do not pray to saints

Do not believe praying to No system where people are

them is anymore effective elected to sainthood

Believes that saints are Believes that their main

purpose is to positively
mediators which makes
influence our lives
their prayers more
effective
Believes that we should
aim to imitate their
lifestyle

Do not believe they serve as

mediators to God

Therefore, do not believe

their prayers are more
effective

References

Editors of Catholic Online (n.d.). Popular Saints. Retrieved from Catholic Online: http://www.catholic.org/saints/popular.php
Editors of Resurrection People (n.d.). Saints of the Week! Retrieved from Resurrection People:
://www.resurrectionpeople.org/saints.html

http

Editors of ShepherdoftheLakes.net. (2015, June 26). Q&A: Why Don't Lutherans Pray to Mary? Retrieved from Shepherd of the Lakes:
http://www.shepherdofthelakes.net/news-1/2015/6/26/qa-why-dont-lutherans-pray-to-mary
Iovino, Rev. Joe. (2015, November). Do Methodists believe in saints? Retrieved from Interpreter Magazine:
http://www.interpretermagazine.org/departments/do-united-methodists-believe-in-saints
Kreeft, Peter (n.d.). What is a Saint? Retrieved from Catholic Education Resource Center:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/what-is-a-saint.html
The People of the Lutheran Church. (n.d.). Commemorations. Retrieved from The Lutheran Church:
http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=506
The People of The United Methodist Church. (n.d.). Do United Methodists believe in saints? Retrieved from United Methodist Church:
http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/do-united-methodists-believe-in-saints
Turner, L. L. (n.d.). Religious Differences of Catholicism and Methodism . Retrieved from People of Our Everyday Life:
http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/religious-differences-catholicism-methodism-7459.html