What is the purpose of saints in Catholic Church?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerThe Catholic Church uses the word "saint" to refer to anyone who is in heaven, thus the angels we know about, by name, like St. Gabriel and St. Michael. Also, when the Church officially announces that someone is in heaven (this is called "canonization") then they are declared a saint. Canonization is an exercise of the Holy Father's infallible magisterium. Why? Primarily for two reasons: 1) these are people who lived the Gospel to the full and did exactly what Our Blessed Lord asked them to - be you perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, and 2) so that we have friends in heaven with our best interests at heart, who will pray for us - sort of cheering us on in this race that St. Paul described we are running.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

956 The intercession of the saints. "Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness . . . [T]hey do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus . . . so by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped." (Lumen Gentium 49; cf. 1 Tim 2:5

Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life. (St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers)

I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth. (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, The Final Conversations, tr. John Clarke {Washington: ICS [Institute of Carmelite Studies], 1977}, 102.

957 Communion with the saints. "It is not merely by the title of example that we cherish the memory of those in heaven; we seek, rather, that by this devotion to the exercise of fraternal charity the union of the whole Church in the spirit may be strengthened. Exactly as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself" (Lumen Gentium 50; cf. Eph 4:1-6):

We worship Christ as God's Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord's disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples! (Martyrium Polycarpi, 17: Apostolic Fathers II/3, 396)

2683 The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, (Cf. Heb 12:1) 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." (Cf. Mt 25:21) 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.

And, of course, there is always the question: Why not? Catholic believe in the Communion of the Saints: the unity and co-operation of all the members of the Church, both on earth (the Church Militant), in purgatory (the Church Suffering), and in heaven (the Church Triumphant). Unlike most protestants, Catholics believe that we are all alive in Christ, and that those in heaven (the definition of a "saint") are much more alive than we are on earth. Not only are they alive, but they are much closer to God.

In addition, Catholics use the word "pray" differently than protestants. Catholics use the word more in the old meaning: to entreat or implore, an example in the dictionary is "pray be careful". The use in common say in the English court system. Protestants tend to reserve the word to worship God, but that is not its meaning. Thus when a person prays to Mary, they are simply giving her the honor that Jesus gave her as His Mother, and He in turn gave her to us in the person of St. John, at the cross, when He said, "Behold your mother." So we are asking Mary to intercede with God for us, just as anyone would ask another person to pray for them, for instance if they were ill.

We ask the saints to intercede for us, as well. They can do nothing on their own, only what God permits them or allows them to do. But just as you can help your brother here on earth, when you are in heaven, you are still going to be concerned about him and love him, and you will help him all you are able. So, in turn, your brother can pray to you (if you are in heaven) and ask you to assist him. Thus it is with the saints who are our older brothers and sisters in the faith who are now with God.

Modern protestants use the word "pray" in a manner synonymous with "worship", this is not the meaning of the word. In English, one could say, pray to entreat, to ask, etc. From Dictionary.net:

pray, or (by ellipsis) Pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go. [1913 Webster]

I pray, sir. why am I beaten? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition. [1913 Webster]

Catholics believe that the saints are alive in heaven, and much more holy than we are, here on earth. Further, they believe, that, just as you would ask a friend to pray for you, the Saints are our friends, and we can ask them to pray for us as well.

The purpose of saints are to set example to God's followers and to do good deeds. Also to spread the Good News of God.