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Summary
- In the New Testament “saints” means all believers: Paul writes to those “called to be saints” in Rome and Corinth (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2).
- The Reformation confessions allow the memory of the saints but forbid praying to them, citing Christ as the one mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).
- The Augsburg Confession, the Thirty-Nine Articles, the Westminster Confession and the 1689 Baptist Confession all reject the invocation of saints.
- Lutheran and Anglican calendars still commemorate Christians such as Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, the Wesleys, Bonhoeffer and Bach, and keep All Saints’ Day.
- Catholic canonization declares a person a saint in heaven after a process of four titles and, except for martyrs, two confirmed miracles.
- Both traditions confess “the communion of saints”; they differ over whether the living may ask the prayers of those in heaven.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- Scripture quotations from the English Standard Version: Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 11; 5:1; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:5.
- “Saint,” Wikipedia, sections on terminology and New Testament usage (citing Strong’s hagios and standard reference works). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint
- Augsburg Confession (1530), article 21, “Of the Worship of the Saints,” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/article-xxi/
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession, article 21, “Of the Invocation of Saints,” Book of Concord. https://bookofconcord.org/defense/of-the-invocation-of-saints/
- Church of England, Articles of Religion, article 22, “Of Purgatory.” https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/book-common-prayer/articles-religion
- Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapters 21.2 and 26.1, Orthodox Presbyterian Church. https://www.opc.org/wcf.html
- Second London Baptist Confession (1689), chapter 22.2. https://www.the1689confession.com/1689/chapter-22
- Church of England, Common Worship, “The Calendar.” https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/calendar
- “Calendar of saints (Lutheran),” Wikipedia (Lutheran Service Book, 2006; Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006; ELCA commemorations). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saints_(Lutheran)
- The Episcopal Church, The Book of Common Prayer (1979), “The Calendar of the Church Year.” https://www.bcponline.org/General/calendar.html
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 828, 946 and 956. https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM ; https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2B.HTM
- “Dicastery for the Causes of Saints: the path to canonization,” Vatican News, 22 July 2025. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-07/dicastery-for-the-causes-of-saints.html
- Orthodox Church in America, “The Glorification of Saints.” https://www.oca.org/fs/glorification-of-saints
