Q. 1187. Are all sins of presumption and despair equally great? A. All sins of presumption and despair are not equally great. They may be very slight or very great in proportion to the degree in which we deny the justice or mercy of God. Q. 1188. {330} How do we sin against the love of God? A. We sin against the love of God by all sin, but particularly by mortal sin. LESSON THIRTY-FIRST. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT--ON THE HONOR AND INVOCATION OF THE SAINTS. Q. 1189. {331} Does the first Commandment forbid the honoring of the saints? A. The first Commandment does not forbid the honoring of the saints, but rather approves of it; because by honoring the saints, who are the chosen friends of God, we honor God Himself. Q. 1190. What does "invocation" mean? A. Invocation means calling upon another for help or protection, particularly when we are in need or danger. It is used specially with regard to calling upon God or the saints, and hence it means prayer. Q. 1191. How do we show that by honoring the Saints we honor God Himself? A. We honor the Saints because they honor God. Therefore, it is for His sake that we honor them, and hence by honoring them we honor Him. Q. 1192. Give another reason why we honor God by honoring the Saints. A. Another reason why we honor God by honoring the Saints is this: As we honor our country by honoring its heroes, so do we honor our religion by honoring its Saints. By honoring our religion we honor God, who taught it. Therefore, by honoring the Saints we honor God, for love of whom they became religious heroes in their faith. Q. 1193. {332} Does the first Commandment forbid us to pray to the saints? A. The first Commandment does not forbid us to pray to the saints. Q. 1194. Why does the first commandment not forbid us to pray to the Saints? A. The first commandment does not forbid us to pray to the Saints, because if we are allowed to ask the prayers of our fellow-creatures upon earth we should be allowed also to ask the prayers of our fellow-creatures in heaven. Moreover, the Saints must have an interest in our welfare, because whatever tends to make us good, tends also to the glory of God. Q. 1195. {333} What do we mean by praying to the saints? A. By praying to the saints we mean the asking of their help and prayers. Q. 1196. Do we not slight God Himself by addressing our prayers to saints? A. We do not slight God Himself by addressing our prayers to saints, but, on the contrary, show a greater respect for His majesty and sanctity, acknowledging, by our prayers to the saints, that we are unworthy to address Him for ourselves, and that we, therefore, ask His holy friends to obtain for us what we ourselves are not worthy to ask. Q. 1197. {334} How do we know that the saints hear us? A. We know that the saints hear us, because they are with God, who makes our prayers known to them.