Lay Saints are those Christians in heaven who while on earth were neither priests or nuns. They were average citizens with jobs and families like all of us.
The practice of asking the saints in heaven to intercede on our behalf is one that dates back to the very beginnings of Christendom. We learn about the intercession of the saints in Scripture when we read about the martyrs in heaven in Revelation 6:9-10 who pray to God, asking him to take specific action on earth. In addition, we know according to James 5:16 that the prayers of the righteous are powerful. So if the saints are in heaven, they know what is going on here on earth, they care about us, and their prayers are powerful, why wouldn’t we ask them to pray for us?
Saints are not only helpful for their intercession, but they are also a great source of inspiration. Most recognized saints were priests and nuns, but many of them were regular lay people, accountants, artists, and the like. When we read about their lives we can see ways in which we can become more holy in our everyday activities, from work to family life to spiritual disciplines.
The saints are a great treasure to the Church and this website is intended to help Christians make the most of their prayers and example.
To see our list of lay saint categorized by occupation, click here.