Many people, especially those new to the Catholic faith, ask this question with sincere curiosity. At first glance, seeing candles lit before a statue or hearing prayers to saints might seem like worship. But in truth, the Church makes a clear and sacred distinction: Catholics honor saints, but worship God alone.
In Scripture, worship belongs only to God — “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10). When Catholics pray to a saint, we are not adoring them as divine. Rather, we are asking for their intercession, much like asking a holy friend to pray for us. The saints are members of the Body of Christ who now live in Heaven; they are alive in God’s presence and united with us in the Communion of Saints.
The Church uses specific words to express this difference. The adoration we give to God alone is called latria. The special honor we give to Mary and the saints is called dulia, and in Mary’s case, hyperdulia, since she is the Mother of God. These terms remind us that all reverence for saints ultimately leads back to God, who is the source of all holiness.
When we venerate a saint, we thank God for the grace that worked through that person’s life. The beauty of their virtue points us toward Christ, not away from Him. Just as stained glass lets light shine through its colors, the saints allow God’s light to shine through their lives, helping us see what holiness looks like in the flesh.
So no, Catholics do not worship saints — we honor them as friends in Heaven who encourage us to love God more deeply. Their example strengthens our faith, and their prayers help us on our own journey to holiness.
May we learn to see the saints not as rivals to God’s glory, but as mirrors reflecting His love. And may their prayers help us grow closer to the One they served so faithfully.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
