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Why are saints in the Catholic and Orthodox Church important?

Hey, im doing a religion assingment and one of the topics is saints. why and how are they important in catholic and orthodox churches and what are some of their similarities and differences?

Why are heroes important?
Why is family important?
Why is friendship important?
Why is community important?
Why is talking to each other important?
Why is praying for each other important?
Why is Church important?

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

Asking others to pray for you whether your loved ones on Earth or your loved ones in heaven is always optional.

And I have not even began to discuss saints as role models who said "Yes!" to God.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.shtml#946

Here is a 2003 statement by Evangelical and Catholic Christians together on "The Communion of Saints"

http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=459

With love in Christ.

	Fontanini 7" Religious Wooden Jesus Crucifix Wall Cross #0283 Sale Price: $17.72
	The sculptured GENUINE Fontanini corpus figure affixed to a real cross of wood with a light gloss tone is a wonderful way to express devotion. The lovely symbol of art is a great representation of the Cucifix of Christ upon the cross...

	Expandable wired Olive wood religious bracelet with Silver tone Crucifix *** packed as a gift with special Certificate of Authenticity and origin and a FREE Lord's Prayer gift card Sale Price: $15.99

	Wooden Tau Cross Necklace ( 1.5 inches Tau and 2 x 13 inches neckalce ) Sale Price: $14.50
	Wooden Tau Cross neckalce with long thread neckalce. Very popular after St. Anthony and St. Francis use.

	Divine Liturgy in English in Byzantine Chant List Price: $27.49 Sale Price: $18.49 Used From: $24.97
	Cappella Romana's highly anticipated two-CD release of the Divine Liturgy in English set to Byzantine Chant. A male ensemble led by Alexander Lingas chants the service's hymns, psalms, and responses in a resonant natural acoustic according to the most authoritative Byzantine traditions, including works adapted from Petros Peloponnesios (+1778), Nileus Kamarados (+1922) and St...

	The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom List Price: $18.98

Catholic Christianity $17.95 For the first time in 400 years the Catholic Church has authorized an official universal catechism which instantly became an international best-seller, the Catechism of the Catholic Church . Using this official Catechism, the highly-regarded author and professor Peter Kreeft presents a complete compendium of all the major beliefs of Catholicism written in his readable and concise style. Since the Catechism of the Catholic Church was written for the express purpose of grounding and fostering catechisms based on it for local needs and ordinary readers, Kreeft does just that, offering a thorough summary of Catholic doctrine, morality, and worship in a popular format with less technical language. He presents a systematic, organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental Catholic teachings in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Church's Tradition. This book is the most thorough, complete and popular catechetical summary of Catholic belief in print that is based on the universal Catechism. "In Catholic Christianity , Peter Kreeft has taken the core of the Catechism's teaching and has represented it in his pithy and winning style. The result is the best entree to the Catechism yet-and therefore the best entree to the Catholic faith." "Karl Keating Author, What Catholics Really Believe "Peter Kreeft's work is: 1) unfailingly brilliant 2) intellectually agile 3) astonishingly perspicacious 4) gloriously orthodox 5) Chestertonian-ly aphoristic. Buy and read this book, and be instructed and delighted." "Thomas Howard Author, On Being Catholic "As an apologist who speaks at many seminars and conferences across the country I am often asked what book I would recommend for an adult catechetics class. I always find myself recommending three our four books rather than one. No longer. This is the ONE book I've been looking for! Dr. Kreeft gives a summation of our Catholic Faith based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church that is filled with bite-sized morsels of truth and producing a veritable feast of faith!" "Tim Staples Radio Host and Apologist Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., a Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, is a regular contributor to several Catholic publications, and is the best-selling author of over 25 books including Prayer for Beginners, Back to Virtue, A Refutation of Moral Relativism, Heaven the Heart's Deepest Longing, and Fundamentals of the Faith . '

The Courage to Be Catholic $15.95 Bestselling author George Weigel (Witness to Hope: A Biography of John Paul II) argues that the path to genuine Catholic reform does not lie in accommodating the truth to the spirit of the age, but in a renewed commitment to living the fullness of the Catholic faith. Weigel situates the current crisis of sexual abuse and episcopal malfeasance in the context of recent Catholic history. With unflinching honesty, he analyzes the Church's failure to embrace the great spiritual promise of Vatican II, resulting in the steady surrender to liberal culture. Weigel exposes the patterns of dissent entrenched in seminaries, among priests, and the bishops who failed their flocks. He then gives a solid agenda for true reform and holiness.

On Being Catholic $14.95 In his first full-length book since converting to Roman Catholicism over ten years ago, Thomas Howard presents his wonderful, refreshing insights on the "glad tidings" of the deeper meaning of Catholic piety, dogma, spirituality, vision and practice, rendered in his unique style of prose for which he is well-known. The book's chapters take the form of lay meditations on Catholic teaching and practice, opening up in practical and simple terms the richness at work in virtually every detail of Catholic prayer, piety, liturgy and experience. "Tom Howard has done it again. With gentle and compelling wisdom, he shows the Catholic faith for what it is, the grandeur of the biblical gospel and a reflection of the immensity of God's wisdom and grace. On Being Catholic is an apologetic and literary gem." "Scott Hahn, Ph.D. "Would it be brash to say that Thomas Howard is an American counterpart of C.S. Lewis? I think not. Thomas Howard's intelligent, literate and erudite approach to the experience of faith and all of the challenges that faith brings will be enlightening to anyone who takes the Gospel seriously." "Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. "Written with the realistic intelligence of a living faith, this book is a refreshing and renewing document. A beautiful book of great relevance and lasting value . . . so truly Catholic it makes one rejoice greatly." " Most Rev. Christoph Sch...nborn "I heartily recommend this inspiring and insightful presentation on being Catholic, particularly as it centers on the Mass. Howard not only captures the substance of each stage in the Eucharistic liturgy, but ties it effectively to heavenly worship with words that sing of beauty in worship. The whole presentation of Catholic belief is set in a striking and inspiring contrast with the bleakness of contemporary culture." " Rev. Michael Scanlan, T.O.R. Thomas Howard , a Professor of English at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Mass., is the author of numerous books on various Christian themes including Chance or the Dance? and Hallowed Be This House . '

Christian Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition $19.95 A complete overview and history of Catholic spirituality from the Apostles to the present day. Aumann's excellent and interesting survey of the many spiritual traditions in the Catholic Church shows the wonderful variety of saints and spiritualities that are part of our rich Catholic heritage. '

The Joy of Being a Catholic Child $1.5 Explains for children the blessed and unique gifts of their Catholic Faith. Illustrated in full color.

	God Gave Us The Right: Conservative Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Orthodox Jewish Women Grapple with Feminism List Price: $25.95 Sale Price: $19.98 Used From: $12.98
	What does it mean to be a religious conservative, particularly for a woman, in America today? Drawing on two years of ethnographic research in Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities, Christel Manning explores the diversity of views among women who have returned to tradition...

	Popes and Patriarchs: An Orthodox Perspective on Roman Catholic Claims List Price: $14.95 Sale Price: $14.95 Used From: $14.75
	For any dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches to be fruitful, we must first understand our differences. Popes and Patriarchs covers some of the distinctives in theology and worldview that separate the churches of the East from those of the West, focusing primarily on the claims of papal supremacy...