Catholic theology
Catholic belief holds that the church exists both on earth and in heaven simultaneously, and thus the Virgin Mary and the saints are alive and part of the living church. Prayers and devotions to Mary and the saints are common practices in Catholic life. These devotions are not worship, since only God is worshiped. The church teaches that the saints "do not cease to intercede with the Father for us. ... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped."
Roman Catholic (term)
American Catholics, who by the year 1900 were 12 million people and had a predominantly Irish clergy, objected to what they considered the "reproachful" terms Popish and Romish and preferred the term Roman Catholic.