All Christians are called to be Saints.
Saints hold a special place in the Catholic Church.
The word Saint refers to one who is holy, deriving from the Latin “Sanctus”. To grow in holiness means to increasingly become more like God, which requires childlikeness with complete trust and faith in our Lord, the antithesis of pride.
Saints are persons in heaven, whether officially canonized or not, who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation.
The process of looking into their cause for canonization can’t begin until 5 years after they’ve died, but the Pope can wave this requirement.
Stages:
- SERVANT OF GOD – Diocesan Phase. Religious order or Bishop of the diocese where they died, can petition for start of the cause. They are then under investigation and documents, testimonies, reputation of sanctity, and if they are a martyr are collected.
- VENERABLE – For after the collection is presented for study and review, the person’s heroic virtue is formally recognized and declared by the Pope.
- BLESSED – Beatification: 1 miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or offering of life.
- SAINT – Canonization: 2nd miracle, but it may be waived by the Pope. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr’s beatification, but 1 is required before canonization. It must be attributed to the intercession of the Blessed. The Pope makes the final decision of declaration.
Catholics believe Saints can intercede for them, praying to God on their behalf stemming from the Communion of Saints, a spiritual solidarity between the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the Saints in heaven.
“Canonical procedure for causes of Saints,” and “Saints in the Catholic Church,” Vatican Information Service of the Holy See Press Office: https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
2 Chronicles 6:41; ‘Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
and let your Saints rejoice in your goodness.’
Raphael Reveals His Identity
Tobit 12:15; ‘I am Ra’phael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the Saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Lord.”
Song of Trust and Security in God
Psalms 16:3; ‘As for the Saints in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.”
Exhortation to Patience and Trust
Psalms 37:28; ‘For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his Saints.”
The Glory of God’s Reign
Psalm 97:10; ‘The LORD loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his Saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.’
Psalm 148:14; ‘ He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his Saints,’
Daniel 7:17-18; These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the Saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever.’
Matthew 27:52; ‘the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the Saints who had fallen asleep were raised,’
Romans 1:7; ‘To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be Saints:’
Corinthians 1, 1:2; ‘To the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be Saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:’
Corinthians 1, 6:2; ‘Do you not know that the Saints will judge the world?’
Corinthians 1, 6:9-10; ‘Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the
greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.’
Ephesians, 1:15-16; ‘For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the Saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Thessalonians 1, 3:13; ‘so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his Saints.’
Thessalonians 2, 1:9-10; ‘They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his Saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.’
Philemon 5; ‘because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the Saints,’
For God’s Glory.
