The Catholic Church teaches that saints, canonised or otherwise, are not simply role models or exemplars. They are the great cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12: 1) "on whose constant intercession in your (God's) presence we rely for unfailing help." (Euch Prayer III) Our God is the God of the living (Mk 12: 27) and the saints are alive to him and in him. Together with us in the liturgy we sing the "Holy, holy" as the Church spans the divide in space and time to be united in giving God praise. In this way we can be confident that the saints are close to us and assist us in our prayers. They are not distant to us but call us on so that we may join them in the heavenly courts to sing forever of the marvellous love and mercy of the God revealed to us in Christ Jesus.
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