Most Americans are exposed to Roman mythology at some point during our educations. We know about Jupiter and Juno, Neptune, Pluto, etc. What most Americans don't know, however, is that the big-name gods were not the focus of the devotion of the common people. They were reserved for important people, such as emperors and senators. In their homes, Romans worshiped minor deities called Lares. "Lares were the spirits of one's dead ancestors and there was a cupboard in the home which housed their statuettes and from which they worked to make sure the family prospered. Daily prayers and offerings were made to the Lares throughout the year but elaborate rituals were enacted on special days such as a birthday, wedding, anniversary or departure or return from a journey. When a family moved permanently from one house to another, the Lares and the Panes would move with them." These family spirits had the time and devotion to give to each household when the gods were too busy with things like wars and coronations.
Does this sound familiar?
The Church of Rome promotes praying to saints, often in home shrines, not as mediators to God, she says, but as mediators to the Mediator, Jesus Christ. Why not pray directly to Him? *Shrug* Is He too busy? We need to speak to His secretary? Is it really not matter of trust? I feel no need to pray to saints, because I am confident that Jesus is glad to receive my prayers: "This is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us" (I John 5:14).
But I digress.
My point here is simply this: As much as Rome talks about the Bible in the explanation linked above, the real basis of saint worship is the hold-over of a custom from pagan Rome.
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