Roman Catholic Saints 

Have you ever wondered why Catholic Saints are such an important part of the Roman Catholic faith? What is a saint? How many saints are there? How does somebody get to be a saint? Those questions will be addressed in this article.

What is a saint?
Saints are people who strive to live a life that is faithful and dedicated to Jesus Christ. St. Paul the Apostle, in his letters to the churches, called all believers "saints". Examples: "To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:7) "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:" (Philippians 1:1) "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19)

By the year 100 A.D. people in the infant churches had started identifying individuals who were regarded as stellar examples of what it means to live a live of faith. These individuals were give special recognition after their deaths, and were pointed to as heroes and examples of faithful living. [This Christian tradition followed an ancient Jewish tradition in which prophets and inspired leaders were given special recognition after their deaths, and were honored as examples of faithfulness.] During the time of the Roman persecution of the church in the second century AD many of the martyrs [those who were killed by the Romans for refusing to denounce their faith] were given the status of saints.

A saint is a person who has been identified as being a heroic example of what it means to live the life of Christian faith. St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) is regarded as an example of what it means to live the Christian life in humility, gratitude, and compassion. The son of a wealthy Italian merchant, Francis gave up the wealth, luxury, and comfort of the "good life", embraced poverty, and became a wandering beggar and a friend of the poor and outcast, sharing the love and compassion of Jesus. He is regarded as an example of following Jesus' advice to the rich young man who asked what he needed to do to be saved: "Go and sell all that you have, and give the money to the poor. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:21) St. Dominic (1170 - 1221) has been lifted up as a scholar and theologian, an excellent preacher, and a very holy man dedicated to Christ, an example for those who want to follow Christ by using their minds and their intellect.

How many saints are there?
Over ten thousand believers have been named as saints by the Roman Catholic Church or the Eastern Orthodox Church. Various historical sources give different lists of saints and different counts for the total number of saints, so it is impossible to give a firm number for how many saints there actually are.

How does one get to be a saint?
The first requirement for becoming a saint is that one has to die. Sainthood is bestowed upon believers after their death.

In the early centuries of the Christian Church saints were recognized by popular acclaim. Believers recognized certain individuals as outstanding examples of what it means to be a Christian, and they were generally regarded as saints.

In the tenth century AD the Roman Catholic Church developed the process of canonization. Under this process, the church leaders - the bishops and the pope - took control of how a person gets to be recognized as a saint. The process of canonization consists of a series of very clear steps.

 The first step is veneration.
In this step, a person who was regarded as a very holy, devout, exemplary Christian is nominated or proposed as a possible candidate for recognition as a saint. Under Roman Catholic canon law this cannot happen for at least five years after the person's death. [In the case of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who died in 1997, Pope John Paul II waived the five year waiting period in 1999.] A local bishop investigates the candidate's life and writings to find out if the candidate lived an exemplary life that was consistent with church practice and doctrine, and that demonstrated evidence of saintly virtue. The bishop then compiles a report that is submitted to the Vatican to be reviewed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, a panel of cardinals and theologians. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints studies the report from the bishop and evaluates the candidate's life. If their evaluation of the candidate is favorable, the candidate is recommended to the Pope who proclaims the candidate to be venerable.

The second step is beatification.
In order for a venerated candidate for sainthood to be beatified there must be convincing evidence that the candidate has produced a posthumous miracle. If the fact can be established that the candidate, after his/her death, is responsible for a miracle, and the Pope approves the verification, then the candidate is beatified.

In the case of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, an Indian woman was healed of an abdominal tumor after members of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's order, prayed to Teresa for her intervention. The woman woke up one morning and the tumor was gone. The healing occurred on Mother Teresa's birthday. This healing was declared by Pope John Paul II, in October of 2003, to be the miracle required for Teresa's beatification. She was declared to be "Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta".

The third step is canonization.
When there is evidence that the beatified candidate has produced a second miracle, and the Pope approves that evidence, then the candidate is canonized and declared to be a saint. There are groups now declaring that Mother Teresa is responsible for at least two more posthumous miracles, and that she should be canonized as a saint. That evidence is currently under consideration and examination by the Vatican.

The act of canonization is regarded by the Roman Catholic Church to be infallible and irrevocable. Once a person has been declared to be a saint, that title cannot be removed by any future evidence or process.

It should be noted that the process of canonization followed by the Roman Catholic Church does not "make" someone a saint. Canonization is a recognition of what God has already done in a person's life.