Catholic Focus: Through Their Intercession

Matthew Harrison

October 29, 2007
The month of November is just around the corner. In the Catholic tradition, it's a month that we remember the souls in purgatory and the saints.
In my own life it's rare for a day to pass without appealing to the saints. St. Anthony often gets a call as it has become ritual for me to misplace my wristwatch. St. Joseph may get a nod for some help with the task at hand. And like all little kids, I'm always running to my -- or Our -- Mother when problems arise!
It's wonderful to consider that there is a communion of saints who "have our backs"!
In Tuesday's episode of Catholic Focus Archbishop Thomas Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto, joins me in studio to discuss the faithful's love for devotions to the saints and the veneration of their relics. More specifically we talk about the role of devotions in our lives, spiritual dangers of devotions and relics, the Archbishop's receiving of the pallium last June, devotion to the Sacred Heart, why we pray to the saints and not just directly to God, and as well we take a peak at a Toronto visit of St. Anthony's relics from Padua, Italy. Of course Our Lady plays prominently as well, as we discuss Marian devotion and talk with Redemptorist Fr. Michael Brehl about the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotion, a devotion that the Redemptorists promote throughout the world.
One moment in the episode that stands out for me comes near the end of the interview with Archbishop Collins. He says devotions should move our hearts to action. For example, consider the Rosary. Traditionally, a point of meditation for the second Joyful mystery, the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, is charity towards others. When I consider this point, in addition to the benefits of the prayers, I dispose myself to want to imitate this virtue. It is a welcomed reminder to not just be devoted to a devotion, but to be devoted to the transformation of myself by my partaking in the devotion.
I hope that with a little intercession from our saintly friends, you too may have an 'a-ha' moment viewing this episode!
Catholic Focus: Through Their Intercession airs Tuesday, October 30th at 7pm and 11pm ET, with an encore presentation Saturday, November 3rd at the same times.