The New Saint Joseph Baltimore
Lesson 17
Honoring the Saints, Relics, and Images
Jesus and the Apostles honored Moses and Elijah, two saints who had lived before them.
We read in the Holy Bible:
About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him."
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
Explanation
Moses and Elijah, friends of God
Moses and Elijah lived on earth long before God sent His Son to save us from sin. They lived good lives. They were Gods friends Our Lord talked with them on the mountain. The disciples Peter, James and John saw it all. They were amazed. Our Lord appeared in all His Glory. And Moses and Elijah appeared in all there Glory as saints, or special friends of God.
The saints are God’s friends
The saints were once people on earth like us. They knew the joys and the sufferings of earth. But they never forgot God. They loved Him and they tried always to do His will. Often this was very difficult, but they never hesitated. They knew the road to heaven and they stayed on it.
We honor God’s friends
God wants us to honor His friends. He wants us to pray to them and to imitate there holy lives.
Many of our Churches, schools and other buildings are named after saints. Statues and paintings of them are placed in these buildings. The stained glass windows of many Churches show scenes from the lives of God’s saints. And we often carry about us holy pictures. We have them in our prayer books we set them up at home.
Let us pray often to the saints of God and try to be close to God, as they were. Let us honor and respect there images and there relics. Relics of saints are part of there body, or of their clothing, or some object, preserved and honored by the Church.
Practice: Imitate the saints, not always there outward actions, but the love of God and other virtue in there hearts.
CATECHISM
94. Does the first commandment forbid us to honor the saints in heaven?
The first commandment does not forbid us to honor the saints in heaven, as long as we do not give them the honor that belongs to God alone.
95. When we pray to the saints what do we ask them to do?
When we pray to the saints we ask them to offer their prayers to God for us.
96. Do we pray to the crucifix or to the images of Christ and of the saints?
We do not pray to the crucifix or the images of Christ and of the saints, but to the persons of whom they remind us.
Discussion Questions
1. Who are the saints?
2. Where are they now?
3. In what ways do we honor them?
True or False
1. The saints can help us.
2. We pray to the crucifix and to statues.
3. We honor the saints as much as we honor God.
Fill in the Blanks
1. The saints are God’s special……………….
2. They can help us by their………………… to God.
3. The saints are in…………….
Other Readings
1. St. Johns
Class Liturgical Action
Recite the “Benedictus,” the song of Zecharia in praise of his son, St. John
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