28. RCIA The Saints

28. The Saints

What is a saint?

Broadly speaking, saints are those who follow Christ and live their lives according to his teaching. Therefore the Pentecostal/ Evangelical churches are correct when they say that we are all saints. However, in Catholicism we usually the term more narrowly to refer to those especially holy men, women and children who lived lives of 'heroic virtue' and because of this have already entered heaven.

The word saint means 'holy', and holy comes from the same root as the word 'whole'. You are a more whole person the more holy you are, because you are more the way that you were created to be.

In the early days of the church exceptionally holy people would be venerated by their local church and community who were familiar with their good deeds. Eventually in the tenth century the church created the process of canonisation by which they could be recognised and venerated as saints globally. It merely means that their names have been written in the canon of saints and that their stories have been investigated and confirmed. Obviously saints such as St Peter and St Paul, the rest of the Apostles didn't go through this process, it was unnecessary as they were already globally recognised.

Canonisation

In 1983 St John Paul 2nd made a lot of changes to the procedure but basically it begins following the death of someone regarded as holy. Remember the title is recognition of a souls place in heaven, so it is necessary to be dead first. The local Bishop investigates the life (and often their writings or martyrdom), and the orthodoxy of their doctrine I .e was it always in line with church teaching? Then, if approved, a panel of theologians at the Vatican will evaluate the candidate and, if approved by them and the Cardinals of the 'congregation for the causes of saints', the Pope will declare them to be 'Venerable'.

The next step is Beatification. This requires the evidence of one miracle (except in the case of martyrs). This is seen as evidence of their presence in Heaven and therefore they are in a position to intercede for us. The miracle must have taken place after their death, and as a result of a specific petition to them alone. When this is satisfied the Pope will declare them 'Blessed', i.e beatified. At this stage they may be venerated.

The final step requires one more miracle - this time martyrs are included. It doesn't have to be a physical healing although it usually is. If it is, it must be a sudden change, from sickness to health in a few days. It must be permanent not merely a respite, and it must be inexplicable, medicine must not have expected it or be able to explain it. Following this the Pope will declare that this person's name is to be included in the Canon i.e canonised declared a saint.

NB: The church doesn't make the saint - it recognises what God has done in this person’s life, and that this soul is in heaven.

We know that from the very earliest days of Christianity, people were giving honour and asking intercession from those that had died, so it has been a tradition in the church from the very beginning.

Praying Through Saints.

As we know that Saints are in Heaven it makes sense that their prayers for us are more powerful that the prayers of Joe Bloggs next door. Not that we can't ask Joe Bloggs to pray for us too. Also we can often feel more comfortable praying through a saint who we feel has some experience or empathy with our problem. Hence patron saint of...... Patron saints have been chosen as protectors or guardians over areas of life such as occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, or special causes. Patron saints are usually because their own story overlaps in some way. Francis due Sales was a writer, so he is the patron saint of journalists. There is even a patron saint of television - St Clare of Assisi (friend of St Frances of Assisi). The reason being that one Christmas when she was too I'll to leave her bed she saw and heard Christmas Mass even though it was taking place some miles away.

We also now have a patron saint of the Internet. St Isidore of Seville. He lived around 601. He wrote a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of the Goths, and a history of the word, amongst other things. He became the leading candidate for being patron of computer users and the internet in 1999.

A patron saint will help us when we follow the example of that saints life and ask for their intercession. Catholics are generally required to name their children after a saint who will then be a special intercessor for them, and at your confirmation you will choose a saints name - a saint whose story speaks deeply to you, and that you feel you can relate to.

Feast Days.

There is an official calendar of feast days on which a particular saint is celebrated, usually by having a special Mass said on that day during which their name is included in the prayers. These are the ones who have an important message for the church as a whole. Religious orders, locations and individuals are free to celebrate the feast days of those not on the universal calendar but who are important to them, and most days of the year have at least three to choose from. In many Catholic countries the feast day of your name saint is often celebrated similarly or even more so than your birthday.

You may make an extra effort to attend Mass on that day, have a special meal, and if you have a statue or image of that saint you may keep a candle burning before it as a mark of recognition.

Images & Statues

It is common and regarded in the catechism as a 'good' thing to surround your home with holy images. This includes statues and pictures of those saints who inspire us, or remind us of something special, in the same way that photographs of loved ones or posters of those we admire do. It is not idolatry because we don't worship them any more than we do the photographs. It is also common practice for Catholics to keep a small picture of a saint on them I.e in their wallet or handbag, and most catholic prayer books, breveries, and bibles are full of pictures of saints, whose words and lives we are reminded of when we see them.

Dropped Saints?

In 1969 the church took a long look at all the saints on the calendar to examine their historical evidence, and level of holiness. Because in the early days you became a saint basically by popular approval, this meant that many of the stories were based on legend or that there was very little real evidence of their existence. Therefore they were dropped from the universal calendar. However this does not mean that they were 'un sainted', they may still be honoured by an individual or a locality.

The Church triumphant.

The saints are members of our Catholic family who have gone before us to their reward. They are known as the church triumphant, whereas we on earth are the church militant - still fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The vast majority of recognised saints suffered greatly in their earthly lives, often through poor health and poverty. They gave up wealth and glory on earth for the eternal treasure of heaven.

According to James 5:16 the prayers of the holy are very powerful. Also remember that saints like the angels don't sleep. When you entrust them with your concerns they can pray without ceasing.

Luke 15:7

Those in heaven are fully aware of what goes on down here and rejoice with us.

Luke 20:38

Saints are alive, not dead. They listen, they speak, and they pray.

Rev 5:8

The saints offer our prayers to God in the form of incense.

Make friends with a Saint!