Q: Hi, there. First, full disclosure: I am a Jew. This topic came up with two Gentile friends over a holiday weekend. My question: How is Jonathan, King Saul’s oldest son, from our Tanakh [Hebrew Bible] considered a saint by the Catholic Church if he wasn’t a Christian? Many thanks in advance. — Jeff

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:

Shalom! Thanks for your question.

Certainly, some Old Testament figures have been considered saint, by custom if not by canonization.

A church in Venice, Italy, for instance, is dedicated to Moses (Chiesa di San Moisè), and Spanish-language prayer litanies use terms such as San Moisés.

Part of the justification of the esteem paid to Old Testament figures is based on the New Testament.

Moses and Elijah appear at the transfiguration of Jesus, for instance (Matthew 17:1-8).

And Jesus himself says, “Many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).

This indicates that these three OT figures made it to heaven. And anyone in heaven is considered a saint.

That said, I don’t recall Jonathan being mentioned on the same level as Moses and the others, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t in heaven.

Salvation is a gift of God, and he can extend it to anyone. God instituted the sacraments in the New Testament but isn’t limited by them.

The Second Vatican Council in Nostra Aetate, its declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions, said, “As the Church has always held and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of the sins of men and out of infinite love, in order that all may reach salvation” (No. 4.) Notice that word all.

Certainly, if Moses and others in the Old Testament weren’t Christians, that wasn’t their fault. Nevertheless, they could share in the redemptive work of Jesus, who came to save everyone.

“Those also can attain to salvation,” says Vatican II’s dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium, “who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience” (No. 16).

For related reading, see this Catholic Answers post.

I hope some of this helps. Count on my prayers.