OCIA Session 13 Supplement - Mary & the Saints - Communion of saints and Marian devotion

Mary & the Saints - Communion of saints and Marian devotion

Every family has heroes - people whose stories inspire the next generation. The Catholic Church has a family too, and it is filled with heroes of faith. We call them the saints. And at the heart of this family stands Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who is also our spiritual mother. Together, Mary and the saints show us what it looks like to follow Christ faithfully and remind us that we are never alone in our journey.

Let’s begin with Mary. From the moment she said “yes” to God at the Annunciation, she became the model of faith. Luke 1:38 records her response to the angel: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” That simple yes changed the course of history. Mary carried Jesus in her womb, raised Him, and stayed with Him all the way to the cross. Jesus honored her role when He said from the cross to the beloved disciple, “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). In that moment, He gave Mary not only to John but to all of us as our spiritual mother. That is why Catholics turn to her with love and devotion.

Mary is not worshiped - worship belongs to God alone. Instead, we honor her because she points us to Jesus. Think of the wedding at Cana in John 2. When the wine ran out, Mary noticed the need and told Jesus. Then she told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). That is Mary’s role in our lives - she sees our needs and leads us to obey her Son. When we pray the Rosary or ask for her intercession, we are not replacing Jesus but asking His mother to bring us closer to Him.

Now let’s talk about the saints. A saint is simply someone who lived a holy life and is now in heaven with God. Some saints are famous, like St. Peter, St. Francis of Assisi, or St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Others are lesser known, but all of them remind us that holiness is possible in every age and every circumstance. The Letter to the Hebrews gives us this encouragement: “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). The saints are that cloud of witnesses, cheering us on as we run the race of faith.

The communion of saints means we are united with believers in heaven, on earth, and even those being purified in purgatory. The Church is one family that stretches across time and eternity. Revelation 5:8 describes the saints in heaven offering our prayers to God like incense. This is why we ask for their intercession. Just as you would ask a friend on earth to pray for you, you can ask a saint in heaven to pray for you. Their prayers are powerful because they are already with God.

Here’s a humor break: Catholics sometimes get teased for having a patron saint for everything. St. Anthony helps you find lost keys. St. Joseph helps you sell your house. St. Francis loves animals. St. Jude is for hopeless causes. It may sound funny, but it shows the beauty of Catholic life - God’s grace touches every part of our daily lives, and the saints remind us we are never left without help.

Mary and the saints also inspire us to holiness. They were ordinary people with struggles, weaknesses, and failures. Peter denied Jesus three times. Augustine lived a wild youth before his conversion. Thérèse of Lisieux lived a hidden life in a convent. What makes them saints is not perfection but perseverance. They kept turning back to God, and God’s grace transformed them. Their lives say to us: if God could do it in them, He can do it in us too.

Take time this week to reflect: who are the saints that inspire you? Maybe it is Mary, with her quiet strength. Maybe it is a saint known for courage, like St. Joan of Arc, or compassion, like St. Teresa of Calcutta. Read a short biography or prayer from one saint this week and ask for their intercession.

Here’s your practical challenge: pray the Rosary at least once this week, even if just a single decade. As you pray, think about Mary’s words: “Do whatever He tells you.” Ask her to bring you closer to Jesus. Choose one saint and learn about their life. Ask them to pray for you in a specific struggle or need.

In closing, remember this: Mary and the saints are not distant figures from history. They are part of our family in Christ. They love us, pray for us, and encourage us. They show us that holiness is possible in every walk of life. Next time, we will dive into Catholic morality - first looking at the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, God’s blueprint for a holy and joyful life. Until then, walk with Mary, call on the saints, and know that you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who are cheering you toward heaven.