> Catholics believe that all mankind is made in the image of God. The saints are just the ones who turned out best and we authoritatively know made it to heaven
There's a number of problems with that explanation, the three most obvious of which are Ss. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel.
But the cults of saints aren't limited to those saints that were ever part of mankind, so a theological rationalization of such cults that only applies to human saints doesn't address the issue.
There's a number of problems with that explanation, the three most obvious of which are Ss. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel.