One of the best-ever explanations of the Catholic doctrine of the communion of saints written for a popular audience. Patrick Madrid explains in a clear, easy-to-follow style why Catholics pray to and honor Mary and the saints. Using the Bible and the testimony of the early Church Fathers, he provides a concise overview of the biblical and historical foundations of this often misunderstood Catholic doctrine. He also walks you through the standard anti-Catholic arguments against praying to Mary and the saints and demonstrates from the Bible why these arguments are themselves unbiblical.
Chapters:
1. What Is the Communion of Saints?
2. Classical Protestant Objections
3. “Me and Jesus” Christianity Isn’t Biblical
4. The “One Mediator” Argument and other Objections
5. Praying for the Souls in Purgatory
6. The Testimony of the Early Church
7. The Veneration of Relics
8. Statues and Images
9. Does Honoring Mary and the Saints Offend God?
Appendix: The Council of Trent’s Decree on the Saints and Their Images
