Some people ask "why say prayers to saints? Shouldn't all our prayers be to God?" Praying to the saints is praying to God, in a fundamental way. We're praying to those who can ask God to help us in our various needs in accordance with His will.

When you ask someone to pray for you are you worshiping that person? Of course not! It's the same when we ask the saints to pray for us! In our prayers to saints we ask them to "put in a good word" for us with God in Heaven. They are not the focus of our worship, God is.

In this regard, it is worth noting that many compilations of prayers to saints also include prayers by them as well, to our Lord. The important thing to remember is that all these prayers have the same Divine destination, for our salvation. 

The authors of the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium ("light of the nations") noted that it was important that we "suppliantly invoke" the saints and "have recourse to their prayers, their power and help in obtaining benefits from God through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer and Saviour."

For example, in one well known prayer to St. Joseph we ask him to"assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord." In the saints we have as advocates members of what is called the Church triumphant (those already in heaven.) We on earth are part of the Church militant. 

In addition, with the Church suffering (those in purgatory) we all make up what is known as the Communion of Saints, part of one glorious mystical body of Christ in His Church. We are truly all in this together!

 Note that the saints had their weaknesses and struggles just we do. But they also had a tremendous devotion to God. They became canonized (that is to say, officially recognized) as Catholic Saints after their deaths. This was usually done after a lengthy review of both the holiness of their lives and miracles associated with them.

What is comforting is that with the saints we have so many members of our Church in heaven to look out for us! Do you ever feel some days like you need all the help you can get? You can ask one of many patron saints for their assistance. They've been "put in charge" of various causes, occupations, (and even countries!), though popular traditions or by the Church. These saints are considered our protectors as well as our intercessors. (From http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/prayers-to-saints.html)

Let us honor the ones who have lived and loved deeply, who found the source of their inner strength from you, the Divine Beloved . . . (add names of any individuals you want to honor)

 Let us honor the light-filled ones, who enkindled our spirits with their teachings and the spark of their beliefs . . .

 Let us honor the risk-takers, who faced their fears and took action, who sought justice even though they had to pay a price for it . . .

 Let us honor the vulnerable ones who allowed us to care for them, to be with them in their time of need . . .

 Let us honor the faith-filled ones who brought us to the Holy One, who led us, by their words and example, into deeper relationship with God. . . .

 Let us honor the brave ones who walked through their struggles with hope, who taught us how to trust and have confidence during our times of sorrow and difficulty. . . .

Let us honor the great lovers of life, whose humor and enthusiasm lifted our spirits and brought us joy. . . .

Let us honor the nurturers, who birthed us... spiritually, who gave us sustenance by their caring presence. . . .

Sacred One, Giver and Sustainer of life,

thank you for the holy ones whom we have known . . .

May our lives model their virtues,

May our hearts resonate with their goodness. Amen.

This prayer by Joyce Rupp has been adapted from her "Remembering Our Spiritual Ancestors" in her book Out of the Ordinary