Saints

Definitions of a Saint

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 @ 12:58 pm

There are many definitions of a Saint. Here you will find six definitions.

Definitions of a saint:

  • An example of holiness that we can follow with confidence.
  • The person who kept on trying when everybody else gave up.
  • ‘Spiritual force-fields’, exerting a powerful attractive influence on followers but also touching the inner lives of others in ways that transform them for the better.
  • A person who has been formally canonized (officially recognized) by the Catholic Church, and is therefore considered to be in Heaven.
  • A saint is always someone through whose life we learn what God is like – and of what we are called to be. Only God ‘makes’ saints. The church merely identifies from time to time a few of these for imitation.
  • Anyone who is in Heaven, whether recognised here on earth, or not (Eastern Orthodox definition)

Do Catholics Pray to Saints?

We pray with saints, not to them.

Qualities of Saints

Breakdown of some of the many qualities of a Saint.

Is Keeping Statues or Pictures of Saints Idolatry?

We carry photos to remind us of people we love, to help us feel that they're close.

How Many Saints Are There?

The Church teaches that it does not, in fact, make anyone a saint. Rather, it recognises a saint.