What is a Saint in Christianity?
A saint is a person who is recognized by members of a religious faith as having an exceptional degree of holiness, sanctity, and virtue. In Christianity, the term “saint” refers to any person whom God has chosen to be in special communion with Him. A saint is not just a person who has achieved a great amount of virtue in their life, but someone who has a beloved relationship with God, one who has been set apart and called to a higher purpose.
In Christianity, saints are those persons who have gone to be with the Lord – those whose souls are in heaven. Some churches recognize those individuals who remain on Earth as saints, too. Gentle individuals known worldwide as “So-Called Saints” make up a large part of the Christian faith. The saints are not angelic figures, but rather human beings who live with the example of Christ through sanctification and holiness.
The Church of England holds the belief that all of us are called to be saints by baptism. Those who live out their baptism in faith and holiness are seen as willing to accept the social responsibility of being a saint. By merely being baptized to become a Christian, everyone has the potential to be a saint.
Although some saints come to the fore of everybody’s consciousness at large, there are many significant saints that are not as well known. Nonetheless, they are some of the most important figures in Christianity. Such saints are part of the Great Cloud of Witnesses, a term used to describe the innumerable amount of saints who, despite being dead and silent, still form part of the living, unseen Church.
Experts in the field suggest that saints are a special cohort of holy people, set aside by God and blessed by the Church. Supernatural gifts and signs have sometimes been associated with their presence, which serves as evidence of their role and relationship with God.
Those on Earth can look for inspiration and guidance in the lives of the saints. Many lay claim and signify to saintly examples as a source of personal strength, courage and hope. Indeed, for many ordinary individuals, the lives of the saints render hope in the midst of trials, tribulations and tragedies of earthly life.
Saints are generally looked at as moral models, who have demonstrated sacrifice and commitment to living a life of virtue. It is through their faith, humility and courage that they can offer a role-modeling of spiritual commitment. The sublime acts of a saint are intended to pour out love, mercy and insight to all who meet or read of them, that others may be similarly inspired.
The Holiness of a Saint
A saint must have qualities of holiness, piety and morality which is certainly an example of sanctity. These signs of holiness are believed to be evidence of a special relationship with God, which could impose several difficult obligations and risks in the service of humanity.
Most Christians believe that the holiness of a saint is the will of God. To be a saint simply means accepting and being ready to live, and sometimes die, for the will of God. The key to holiness is not a matter of a great “heroic” action as some may think; it is rather a question of living every moment within the communion of the divine presence.
Holiness is understood in Christian circles as something special, something holy, a worth of respect and humility that is close to perfection and passes through the servant-hearted life of Jesus Christ. It becomes a sign, an exhortation, a life to follow and imitate, a way to feel and experience. Becoming a saint means to testify to the power of holiness and to the liberative love it is capable of expressing.
Qualifications of a Saint
To be validly proclaimed a saint by the Church, a miraculous element must be firmly established and documented, such as bodily incorruptibility, the levitation of a dead body, or a hope-inspiring story in a time of trial or adversity.
In certain cases, a certain number of verified miracles can qualify a future saint. In other cases, especially if one died a martyr, a single miracle can suffice. Verification of this miraculous element often requires extensive historical research, including interviews with relatives and friends of the candidate, information from the Church and in some cases signatures of hundreds of witnesses.
The Process of Becoming a Saint
In the Catholic Church, a process known as canonization has to be followed before one can be formally declared a saint. This process involves a thorough assessment of the person’s life and death that must be officially documented.
The process of canonization can take many years. In some cases, it can take centuries before an individual can be officially proclaimed a saint, as time is necessary to authenticate information and carefully verify all relevant facts.
Once the procedure has been completed and approved, Church leaders formally announce the new saint. Canonization ceremonies are public events that take place in various parts of the world, inviting believers to join in complying with the will of God.
The Role of a Saint in the Church
The saints are seen as true intercessors, or mystics, that can help individuals collaborate with the Church to strengthen its unity and empower its mission. They serve as divine examples of how ordinary people living ordinary lives can be extraordinary in their holiness and dedication to their faith.
The saint becomes an invaluable source of identity, solidarity, and brotherhood with fellow believers. They serve as idealized models for contemporary Christians, offering tremendous inspiration for those faithful souls attempting to follow the path of narrative faith. It is for this reason that martyred saints are particularly revered and valued as models of courage in the face of persecution and martyrdom.
The Impact of a Saint on the Faith Community
The reason why saints have such a great impact on the Church is because they are tangible and visible reminders of God’s presence that foster a sense of community, unity and identity. Believers look to the saints as models and mentors of faith, who can provide comfort and hope to the faithful.
Furthermore, a saint is a figure who emphasizes the idea of life after death. By recounting a saint’s heroic deeds or miraculous life, it reminds people that a saint’s death is not the end but the beginning of a glorious eternity.
Lastly, a saint’s living on is deeply transformed into establishing a moral and spiritual authority, in addition to having a great influence on art, music, and literature, as well as providing historic linkage across different Christian traditions.
The Power of Miracles
A miracle is a superhuman deed performed by a saint for the purpose of confirming their divine nature and holiness. It is a propagation of faith that serves to legitimize the saint’s presence in the Church.
In the Christian view, miracles usually involve the power of God and are symbolic of his value and promise to humankind. Miraculous events are seen as proof of God’s interventions in the world, and are often reported as examples of his inner workings.
A saint’s miraculous deeds also serve to deepen the collective faith and devotion of the Church. Believers can look to their saints as desired mediators of God’s will, whose acts of mercy and compassion draw believers closer to God and provide a sense of hope and security.
The Canonization of Saints
Canonization is the official and rigorous process by which a person is accepted into the canon, or official list, of saints. This includes approval by the pope and a thorough investigation by the Church authorities into the candidate’s moral life and character, as well as the authenticity of the miraculous element or events that are associated with the candidate.
The objective of this procedure is to determine if the individual lived a life of exemplary faith and devotion, worthy of taking the status of a saint. During the process, the candidates become venerable and after a certain period of time may be beatified and later formally canonized.
The final approval of a new saint is usually done during a formal ceremony, after which the individual’s day is chosen for celebration and worship. Special liturgical prayers and chants honor the occasion, confirming the candidate’s public position as a saint in the Church.
Intercession for Saints
In Christianity, intercession is a faithful prayer on behalf of others. Believers offer this kind of prayer when they want to show support and compassion for someone going through a difficult situation, where help can only be provided by Divine intervention. Praying to the saints is seen as a way of entreating them to ask God to intercede on behalf of the believer.
In a spiritual context, the saints in Heaven can intercede for believers on Earth and humans are known to thank them in return. Through this mutual space of prayer, the saints assist in helping mankind become closer to God.
By praying to a saint, one has the opportunity to request that the Church elevate the cause of their suffering, and more importantly, to have faith in its resolution. When a saint’s intercession is requested, Catholics know that he or she is a faithful friend in Heaven who has gone through a similar plight.
The Worship of Saints
A saint is also a figure of whom public worship and veneration is encouraged as a sign of devotion and honor. Even when no relics of the saint can be found, worship is nonetheless an essential tenet of a saint’s being.
In the Catholic Church, there are two types of worship: latria and dulia. Latria is the worship offered to God and is the highest form of veneration. Dulia, on the other hand, is the veneration and respect given to saints and other holy persons, due to the relationship they have with the Lord.
The worship of saints is an essential part of Catholic culture, expressed through rituals, ceremonies and votive prayer. Every saint has an official prayer or hymn associated with him or her that is used in liturgical celebration, in order to call upon the spiritual assistance of the canonized saint.
