Catholic Bible 101

The saints of the Holy Catholic Church lived exemplary lives, giving up the temporary pleasures of earth for the eternal joy of Heaven. Their lives were marked by a sincere wish to imitate the life of Christ.  St. Paul says in Hebrews 13:7 to imitate them.  It is important to understand what "the communion of saints" means to us as Catholics. Most Protestants don't know anything about what it means, but as Catholics, it is a very important component of our faith.  A lot of people think that they are dead and gone, but that would violate the very words of Jesus, who said in Luke 20:38 that "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living".The Catholic Church is a family;  it is not "me and my bible". 

These saints are our family members who have gone before us, and are now part of "The Church Triumphant". They pray for and intercede for us, "The Church Militant", here on earth.  Their lives were not marked by the "health and wealth" gospel preached today by so many TV preachers.  Rather, their lives were marked by just the opposite, as they gave up health and wealth now for the eternal treasure of heaven.

The list of Saints on this page includes some of the more famous saints, but it is by no means inclusive.  Each link takes you to a short biography of the saint, and takes a couple of minutes to read.  It is time well spent if you are looking to be inspired.

And the really good news is that each and every saint is waiting for you to ask him/her to pray for you (Revelation 5:8 & 8:3).  Why should you do this? Because, according to James 5:16, the prayers of a holy person are very powerful. And no one on earth is more holy than someone already in heaven.  Another reason is that saints in heaven don't sleep, and can pray for you every minute of every day. 

Why are the saints so powerful?

John 17:20-23: "I do  not  pray for  these  only, but also for those who believe in me through their  word,  that they may all  be one;   even  as thou,  Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory  which  thou  hast  given  me I have given to them, that they  may  be  one  even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they  may  become  perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. (Here Jesus Himself says that He gives His saints His glory, and He is in them, and they are in Him!)

2 Peter 1:3: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,  by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature." (The saints in heaven are no longer just themselves, but are also partakers of the divine nature of Christ).

Luke 15:7: Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (They are fully aware of what goes on down here, and rejoice in heaven with us!)  

Luke 20:35-36: but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,  for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.  (The saints become EQUAL to the angels, and become sons of God, just like Jesus Christ!)

1 Corinthians 6:17: But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.  (The saints are now ONE SPIRIT with Christ, not separate entities).

Hebrews 13:7:  Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. (And St. Paul tells us to IMITATE their faith).

Ephesians 2:19-20:  Now, therefore, you are no longer visitors and new arrivals. Instead, you are citizens among the saints in the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the Apostles and of the Prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the preeminent cornerstone.  (And we in the Church Militant aspire to one day be one of the saints in heaven as well).

Hebrews 12:1:  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. (They not only surround us daily, but they witness for us as well!).

Luke 20:38: Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him." (And yes, the Saints are ALIVE, not dead, which means that they listen, they talk and they pray).

James 5:16: Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. (And who is more righteous that a saint in heaven who is one spirit with Christ!)

1 John 4:6: We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (And here St. John says that if we do not listen to the saints is NOT of God).

Revelation 5:8: And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints (Here we see that the saints offer our prayers to God in the form of incense).

Meet the Saints

Here is a comprehensive list of saints.

Here is a list of patronages of the saints.

Here is the Calendar of saints.

Even More Saints

Even More Saints Part II