by Alonzo L. Gaskill

While it is commonly the case that many outside of Mormonism have strange ideas about who we are, and what exactly we believe and do – particularly in our temples – nevertheless, Latter-day Saints occasionally also have misconceptions about the beliefs and practices of other faiths. A prime example of this would be how some lay Mormons view the Roman Catholic practice of petitioning saints. While some in the LDS and Protestant communities see this practice as heretical, context is important for understanding what these acts of piety mean, and what the Catholic Church officially teaches on this matter.

It should be noted at the onset that misunderstandings about the relationship between Catholic saints and prayer have arisen, in part, because popular practice and the Church’s official position have not always been the same. Beyond the skewed media portrayals of Catholic worship, some members of that faith have themselves misunderstood the role of saints in prayer, and thus have erred in their personal practice of that divinely instituted rite.

It is true that around the fifth century the Catholic Church encouraged the veneration of relics among new converts in order to help them “solidify their faith.” But by the The Second Council of Nicaea (AD787), the church stressed that Jesus is the only one “worthy” of “worship and adoration.” By the late Middle Ages petitioning saints for help became somewhat popular, as the Church taught that they dwelt in heaven in close proximity to God – and thus have direct access to him. Thus began the Catholic practice of appealing to saints in an effort to get God to heed a specific request.

In an effort to correct potentially skewed understandings of the role of saints within the Church, during the Second Vatican Council the Church shifted the emphasis from “the saints as miracle workers to the saints as models.” Of course, old traditions die slowly. However, the Roman Catholic Church’s position has been, and remains to this day, that saints’ lives are simply examples to us that holiness is an achievable goal for any Christian who seeks it. Thus, saints are not to be worshiped, but rather emulated in their examples and achievements – and particularly in their devotion to God. Therefore, assumptions that Roman Catholics somehow worship saints, or look to them as their primary objects of devotion, are skewed.

What specifically does a mainstream western Catholic intend when he petitions a saint during prayer? Is the petitioner expecting answers to his prayers from that saint? Since prayer is an act of worship, is he intending to worship the saint being petitioned? Of this practice, one Catholic author wrote:

We ask fellow Christians on earth to pray for us, why shouldn’t we ask those who are in heaven to pray for us, too? The “Hail Mary” is our way of asking Mary to pray with us as a senior prayer partner. You mustn’t imagine that we are praying to Mary and the saints instead of God. We are asking them to pray for us, and with us as prayer partners. If you had a prayer partner named Richard and you sent him an email asking him to pray for your father who has had an operation, we wouldn’t say you are praying to Richard instead of to God. …Asking saints in heaven to help was part of the ancient Hebrew tradition.
The parable of Lazarus and the rich man indicates that Jesus accepted the idea that people in heaven could intercede for those on earth (Luke 16:22-28).

In support of this, notice the language of the popular Catholic prayer – the “Hail Mary” – which states: “Holy Mary…pray for us sinners…” Clearly Mary is being asked to add her prayers to ours. However, as just noted, she is not being “prayed to” in the sense that one would pray to God.

According to Catholic thought, one should not worship or give adoration to anyone or anything other than God. However, the saints deserve our respect and veneration for who they are and how they lived their lives. But respect and veneration is decidedly different than worship. Saints are seen as having the power to “bend God’s ear” on our behalf because they have been exalted, and now dwell in his presence. But Catholics do not perceive themselves as “praying” to these saints – nor do they believe that answered prayers, miracles, or forgiveness of sins comes from saints. Rather, they come from God – although a saint may have interceded to help secure this blessing for the mortal requesting it. As the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) taught, “it is fitting to love the saints who are our brothers and sisters in Christ,” but any devotion directed to them “is ultimately directed toward God.”

So what does all of this have to do with LDS Temple worship? In the Holy Temple Latter-day Saints participate in an ordinance known as the “True Order of Prayer.” Of this sacred ordinance or rite the Encyclopedia of Mormonism states:

In the temples of the Church throughout the world, frequent prayers are offered for those who are sick, bereaved, or in need. The names of those afflicted may be placed upon a temple prayer roll by request of family or friends. This practice derives from abundant scriptural counsels regarding unity in prayer – “Be agreed as touching all things ye shall ask” (D&C 27:18) – and the conviction that the modern temple, as anciently, is a house of prayer (D&C 109:8). United prayer…is the fulfillment of a divine admonition: “If ye are not one ye are not mine” (D&C 38:27).

In other worlds, in LDS temples – day in and day out – members of the Church are invited to pray for individuals they do not necessarily know. And, if so inclined, they may place their own names – or the name of a loved one – on the Temple prayer roll, thereby “petitioning” others to exercise their faith (and add their prayers) to those of the person in need. All of this is done in the hopes that the combined prayers of the temple patrons and the person who has a need will “bend” God’s ear, thereby provoking the blessing so earnestly desired. Thus, placing one’s name upon the prayer rolls of the temples is like seeking “prayer partners” to help you petition God for His intervention on your behalf. In this regard, what Catholics do when they petition saints, and what Mormons do when they practice the “true order of prayer,” is very similar.

Though much more could be said about saints and their role in the Catholic faith, this much Latter-day Saints should know: Roman Catholics do not perceive (nor intend) their petitions to saints to be any more than the seeking of a “prayer partner” – someone who is faithful and righteous, who can add his faith and prayers to those of the person in need. Catholics do not worship the saints, do not place them above God, nor do they seek to replace their devotion to Christ with them. Just like Mormons, Catholics are also instructed by their leaders to pray only to God. Certainly, in both traditions, some may choose to do otherwise. But such an act would be contrary to the official teachings and counsel of the two faiths.

Alonzo Gaskill is a professor of Religion at Brigham Young University and has taught World Religions for the past five years. He is the author of the new, highly-acclaimed book, Know Your Religions: A Comparative Look at Mormonism and Catholicism, just published by Millennial Press ($14.95), available at Deseret Book and byubookstore.com.