Pentecostal View on Saints
Pentecostals believe that all believers are saints, not just those who have been canonized by the Catholic Church. They emphasize the universal priesthood of all believers, which means that every Christian has direct access to God and can intercede on behalf of others. Pentecostals also prioritize a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. They may pray for the intercession of departed believers, but do not venerate them in the same way that Catholics do.
Catholic View on Saints
Catholics believe in the communion of saints, which includes all members of the Church, both living and deceased. They venerate and honor the saints as role models of Christian faith and intercede for the faithful on their behalf. The process of canonization in the Catholic Church involves a thorough investigation of a person’s life and miracles attributed to their intercession. Once canonized, saints are considered to be in the presence of God and can be invoked for their intercession and prayers.
In summary, the main differences between the Pentecostal and Catholic view on saints lie in the emphasis on the priesthood of all believers and personal relationship with God in Pentecostalism, versus the veneration and intercession of canonized saints in Catholicism. Both perspectives reflect the diverse ways in which Christians honor and seek the intercession of faithful followers who have gone before us.
