Saint Worship?
Catholics do not worship the saints. "Worship" once meant giving honor, and Scripture uses it of honoring people. Theology distinguishes *latria*, the adoration due to God alone, from *dulia*, the honor due to the saints, and *hyperdulia*, the higher honor due to Mary. Scripture commands honoring others, and the chief way we honor the saints is by imitating them.
In three points
- The English and Hebrew words for worship once covered honor shown to people
- Latria is for God alone, and dulia and hyperdulia are honor for creatures
- The Bible repeatedly commands honoring parents, elders, rulers and holy people
- Catholics do not worship or even honor statues, which help us remember
- Imitation is the biblical form of honoring the saints
What "worship" meant
"Worship" comes from Old English weorthscipe, being worthy of honor. For centuries it simply meant showing honor. British subjects still address magistrates as "Your Worship," as Americans say "Your Honor," without treating them as gods. Today the word is mostly narrowed to the supreme honor due to God, which causes confusion.
Early Christian theologians distinguished latria, honor due to God alone, from dulia, honor due to human beings, especially the saints, which Scripture shows is due them (Matthew 10:41). Mary, who bore God in the flesh, receives hyperdulia: greater in degree than dulia, but as she is a creature, fundamentally different from latria. Catholics also say: we adore God and honor his saints. The Church insists that adoration be given to God alone.
Worship in the Bible
The Hebrew shakhah is used of people. In Joseph's dreams his brothers' sheaves, and the sun, moon and stars, "worship" him (Genesis 37:7-9). Jacob says Judah's brothers will "worship" him (Genesis 49:2-27, especially 49:8). Moses "worshiped" his father-in-law Jethro and kissed him (Exodus 18:7). None of these is the adoration given to God.
Honoring others is biblical
- Honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12), repeated often (Leviticus 19:3; Deuteronomy 5:16; Matthew 15:4; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2-3).
- Honor the elderly (Leviticus 19:32) and religious leaders such as the high priest (Exodus 28:2).
- Give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7); honor masters (Ephesians 6:5; 1 Timothy 6:1); honor all people and the emperor (1 Peter 2:17).
- Presbyters who rule well deserve double honor (1 Timothy 5:17), and whoever receives a righteous man receives a righteous man's reward (Matthew 10:41).
If the living, who can still fall into sin, may be honored, so may the saints, who ended their lives in holiness.
Statue worship?
Catholics do not worship statues, or even honor them. Kneeling before a statue is no more praying to it than kneeling with a Bible is worshiping the book. Images recall the person, as a photograph recalls one's mother. God commanded golden cherubim over the mercy seat (Exodus 25:18-20) and inspired David's plan for the Temple's cherubim (1 Chronicles 28:18-19), which Solomon built.
Imitation
The most important way to honor the saints is to imitate their relationship with God. Paul urges, "be imitators of me" (1 Corinthians 4:16-17), and Hebrews tells us to imitate the faith of our leaders (Hebrews 13:7). Hebrews 11 presents the Old Testament saints for imitation, concluding that, surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, we should run the race set before us (12:1).
Key Scripture
- Matthew 10:41
- Genesis 37:7-9
- Genesis 49:2-27
- Genesis 49:8
- Exodus 18:7
- Exodus 20:12
- Leviticus 19:3
- Deuteronomy 5:16
- Matthew 15:4
- Luke 18:20
- Ephesians 6:2-3
- Leviticus 19:32
- Exodus 28:2
- Romans 13:7
- Ephesians 6:5
- 1 Timothy 6:1
- 1 Peter 2:17
- 1 Timothy 5:17
- Exodus 25:18-20
- 1 Chronicles 28:18-19
- 1 Corinthians 4:16-17
- Hebrews 13:7
Read online with linked Scripture: catholic.id/tracts/saint-worship/