Prayer Saints: How to Pray with the Saints for Intercession
Throughout Christian history, many believers have found
strength, guidance, and comfort by turning to the holy intercessors known as the saints.
This practice—often described as praying with the saints or
asking for the intercession of the saints—is not about worshiping these holy men and women. It is about acknowledging the communion of
the Church and asking those who are closer to God to pray alongside us.
In this article, we explore what that means, how it has developed,
and practical ways to engage in this spiritual discipline with
reverence and discernment.
Understanding the Concept of Intercession
What intercession means in Christian life
Intercession is the act of praying on behalf of another. In the
Christian sense, it is grounded in the belief that the Church is
united as the communion of saints, a bond that spans
time and space. When believers ask for the prayers of the saints, they are invoking a
example and a witness to faith who have gone before us and who, in God’s mercy,
continue to participate in the life of the Church.
Scriptural and traditional foundations
The practice has roots in both Scripture and tradition. The
New Testament offers a pattern of intercession—Apostolic prayers,
interceding for others, and a sense that faithful people are
connected in prayer across the generations. The Church’s early
Fathers and doctors often spoke of the saints as models of holiness
and as companions who accompany us in prayer. The concept grew into a
well-established practice in Catholic, Orthodox, and some Anglican
circles, while being understood differently in various Protestant
communities.
Key doctrinal clarifications
Worship is due to God alone; veneration or honor of the saints is a separate act.
The intercession of the saints does not replace prayer to God, but it is a request to have the saints join us in praying to God on our behalf.
Invocations to the saints are best understood as asking for their prayers, not commands or guarantees.
The communion of saints includes the faithful on earth, in purgatory, and in heaven, united in Christ.
Historical Roots and Theological Foundations
The practice of seeking the prayers of the saints grew from early Christian devotion to the martyrs and saints who offered witness to the Gospel under persecution and in daily life. Over centuries, theologians like St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and others articulated a careful distinction between worship (which is due to God) and veneration of the saints, as well as the reality that the saints stand before God, praying for us.
A brief historical trajectory
In the early Church, the veneration of martyrs and the remembrance of holy people formed a natural part of Christian worship. By the Middle Ages, the practice expanded as the Church’s geographical reach broadened and devotion to particular saints grew in intensity. The Litany of the Saints and the celebration of feast days helped organize public devotion. The Reformation era prompted clarifications about the distinctions between worship and intercession, leading many traditions to reaffirm the value of the saints as exemplars and intercessors while maintaining the primacy of Christ as the one Mediator.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church and similar doctrinal summaries in other traditions emphasize that the saints intercede for us and that Christians on earth may
seek their prayers. This teaching rests on the unity of the body of Christ and the belief that the faithful who have gone before us
remain alive in God’s presence and continue to offer spiritual aid.
Who Are the Saints in Intercessory Prayer?
The term saints covers a wide range of holy people—martyrs,
bishops, monastics, doctors of the Church, reformers, and lay faithful—whose
lives exemplified faith, courage, and fidelity to God. In practice,
many choose to prayerfully invoke specific saints who are associated with a
particular need or vocation.
Apostolic saints: Those who bore witness in the earliest Church.
Church Doctors: Theologians whose writings illuminate faith and doctrine.
Martyrs and confessors: Those who offered witness through sacrifice or steadfastness.
Civic and family saints: Figures like St. Monica (mother of Augustine) or St. Joseph (patron of families and workers).
Patron saints: Chosen for protection or help in areas such as travel, healing, or education.
For those who practice this form of prayer, selecting a saint to accompany prayer
can be a personal and meaningful process. You might choose a saint who
faced similar life circumstances, who is associated with your intention, or who offers a spiritual example you admire.
Traditions across Christian streams
In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the veneration of saints and their intercession is a central part of spiritual life. In many Anglican communities, intercession with the saints is recognized in historical memory and liturgical practice, though it is framed differently in each jurisdiction. Some Protestant denominations emphasize direct prayer to God through Jesus Christ and may not emphasize intercessory prayer to the saints to the same extent. Regardless of tradition, the underlying principle remains: the saints are honored as models of faith and, for many believers, as faithful companions in prayer.
Practical Ways to Pray with the Saints
If you want to engage in this spiritual practice, you can approach it in a thoughtful, steady way. Below are approachable methods that have helped generations of believers cultivate a sense of solidarity with holy people while staying rooted in prayer directed to God.
Foundational steps to begin
Ground your prayer in relationship with God. Begin with praise, thanksgiving, and the Lord’s Prayer to orient your heart toward God’s will.
Choose a saint or saints who resonate with your needs, calling, or curiosity. Research their life, writings, and patronages to learn from their example.
Ask for the intercession of the saints—not as a substitute for prayer to God, but as an aid that accompanies your petitions.
Hold a posture of discernment. Listen for the movement of the Spirit in your heart as you petition and reflect.
End with a direct prayer to God. The saints’ intercession is a bridge; the conversation to God remains the essential aim.
Novena—nine days of focused prayer to a specific saint or intention, often with a concluding petition.
Prayer cards and novenas—short, structured prayers that can be revisited regularly.
Litany of the Saints—a call-and-response prayer that lists saints and asks for their intercession.
Rosary with intercessory focus—the decades can be prayed for particular intentions, invoking the saints as part of the meditation.
Written intentions—journal your needs and reflect on how the saints’ examples illuminate your path.
Prayers and Practices: Novenas, Litany, and the Rosary
The practice of praying with the saints often involves specific forms of prayer that have become timeless aids for devotion. Each format offers a different rhythm and focus, allowing believers to tailor their spiritual life to their circumstances.
Novenas
A novena typically consists of praying a chosen prayer for nine consecutive days (or nine weeks in some traditions) with a specific intention. Historically, novenas have been linked to the Church’s reminder that God’s timing often aligns with persistence in prayer. When a novena concludes, many people offer a final petition to God, sometimes within the context of a Mass or a communal service.
Litany of the Saints
The Litany of the Saints is a catechetical and devotional form that invites the support of all the saints in heaven. It typically enumerates diverse saints—apostles, martyrs, doctors, and local patrons—and asks for their intercession in the life of the Church and the world.
Rosary and its intercessory focus
While the Rosary is primarily Marian devotion, many people incorporate petitions to saints into their contemplation. You can reflect on the mysteries with an eye toward the saints’ examples—combining the memory of Christ’s life with the lives of the saints who witnessed and taught the Gospel through their own actions.
Choosing a Saint to Pray With
The selection of a patron saint or a saint with a particular charism can be deeply personal. Whether you are seeking guidance for family life, academic pursuits, healing, or perseverance in trial, certain saints have become known for those areas of care.
Practical criteria for choosing a saint
Personal connection—a saint whose life or story resonates with your experiences or aspirations.
Patronage—saints associated with the area of your need (e.g., St. Monica for family prayer, St. Joseph for work and family, St. Anthony for finding things).
Availability—some saints have feast days that fit your calendar or remind you to pray at particular times.
Writings and legacy—the writings or life of a saint might offer practical guidance that you can apply in daily life.
Examples of widely venerated saints for intercession
St. Jude Thaddeus—patron of hopeless causes and desperate situations.
St. Monica—patron of impossible family conversions and perseverance in prayer.
St. Francis of Assisi—patron of animals, ecology, and simple living.
St. Therese of Lisieux—patron of missions and spiritual childhood (the “little way”).
St. Anthony of Padua—patron of lost items and hopeful petitions for knowledge.
St. Joseph—patron of families, workers, and a model of paternal care.
Remember that the saints’ intercession is a supplement to one’s direct prayer to God. The process can deepen your faith by offering a broader witness of holiness, but it should never replace a sincere, personal conversation with God.
As with any spiritual practice, there are common questions and potential misunderstandings. Here are some concise answers to help maintain clarity and fidelity to the faith.
Do saints take the place of Christ in intercession?
No. The saints serve as intercessors who bring our prayers before God. Christ remains the only Mediator in the fullest sense, and prayers to the saints are directed to God through Jesus Christ, not as a substitute for Him.
Is praying to saints the same as worship?
It is not. Worship is owed to God alone. Veneration of the saints is honoring their holy lives. The saints themselves would point believers toward God; the practice of asking for their prayers should always lead back to God in prayer.
Can non-Catholics or non-Orthodox participate?
Many Christians participate in some form of intercessory prayers that involve the saints’s example or memory, but theological nuances differ. If you are part of a different tradition, you may want to discuss with spiritual leaders in your community how this practice can be reconciled with your tradition’s teachings.
Tips for a Deep and Respectful Practice
To ensure that the practice remains meaningful and sincere, consider these tips:
Keep the focus on God. Always begin and end your prayer with God, recognizing that intercession is a bridge, not a substitute for direct prayer.
Study the saints’ lives. Read about their virtues, struggles, and how they responded to God’s call.
Let devotion lead to virtue. Let the saints’ examples inspire your own daily renewal, patience, charity, and compassion.
Use trusted resources. Rely on approved prayer books, liturgical texts, and catechetical materials that explain the saints in their proper place.
Practice discernment. If a particular practice feels merely sentimental or superstitious, pause and consult a knowledgeable spiritual director or priest.
Conclusion: The Lifelong Practice of Seeking Intercession
The practice of engaging with the saints through intercessory prayer is a rich and enduring facet of Christian spirituality. It invites believers into a broader sense of communion with those who have gone before us, celebrates the examples of holiness, and strengthens a faith that is not solitary but communal—rooted in the body of Christ across time. By learning how to pray with the saints, you invite a living conversation that can deepen trust in God, foster perseverance in virtue, and nurture a more expansive sense of Christian friendship.
Whether you are new to this form of devotion or you are revisiting it after years of practice, approach it with humility, gratitude, and a desire to grow closer to God. The intercession of the saints is not a magical shortcut but a doorway into a more intimate life of prayer—an invitation to follow Christ more faithfully, with the saints as companions along the journey.
