THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

RCIARCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

POPE FRANCIS: “IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, CALL ON THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS”

PPs

UNDERSTANDING CATHOLIC DEVOTION TO THE SAINTS

& THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Church of St Francis Xavier, PJ

4 & 5 Oct. 2014

•Do Catholics pray to saints?•Why pray to Saints? Is it not better

to pray to God direct?• Is prayer to saints / Mary biblical?•Should people pray to Mary and

dead saints?•Wouldn't God be angry with us for

praying to saints instead of directly to Him? 

•“Why do you pray to the saints when God forbids us to worship anyone but Him?

RCIA – JOURNEY – QUEST-IONS!

• Isn't sainthood man-made? •How does the Church choose

saints?•When did the Church start honoring

saints?•What is a patron saint?•How do we know they become

saints in heaven and that they are recognized as saints by God? 

•  Why do Catholics have statues?• Doesn't the First Commandment

forbid the use of "graven images"?• Is keeping statues or pictures of

saints idolatry?

CATHOLIC DEVOTIONTO SAINTS

9.15 am: Talk 1 – “Unity & “Communion of Saints” (1)

10.30 am - Tea Break

11.00 am: Talk 2 - “Unity & “Communion of Saints” (2)

12.00 pm - Reflection & Sharing

12.30 pm - Lunch

1.30 pm - Praise & Worship

2.00 pm: Talk 3 – Worship & Devotion to SaintsWho is a Saint? Called to be Saints?

3.30 pm - Tea Break

4.00 pm: Talk 4 – Saints & Statues/Relics

5.00 pm: End

“The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today.

They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were "put in charge of many things."

Their intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2683)