Expert: Fr. Michael - 3/31/2009

Question
Hello Father,
You hear about people burying St. Joseph in their yards when they sell their homes. My question is, is it a sin to pray/ask help from a Saint when the commandment says honor no other God but me? Thank you

Answer
You certainly must know that Catholics do not honor the Saints as God.  Never has the Church taught that the Saints are God.  We venerate the Saints as the saved, in accordance with the last book of the New Testament, the Apocalypse of St. John.

Although the practice that you describe is known, one must always be careful not to practice sacrilege.  St. Joseph is much more to be looked to for a most special example of chastity, of devotion to the Holy Chief, and of marital fidelity.  These are examples that are especially important to this age of promiscuity, irreligion, and adultery.