They are not chosen by the Catholic church but by God.
Agreed. A canonized saint in the Catholic Church is a person who is officially recognized as having lived a life of
heroic virtue while on earth.
The word itself is derived from the Latin word
sanctus, meaning “
holy,” and in general refers to
all the faithful who strive after a life of holiness.
However, the most common usage is in referring to those men and women who lead exemplary lives of holiness.
The
Catechism of the Catholic Church explains why the Church often singles out specific individuals with this title.
By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God’s grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors. “The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history.” Indeed, “holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal.”
CCC 828
Were saints perfect?
Canonization doesn’t mean that the individual was perfect. Only Jesus and the Blessed Mother were conceived without the stain of sin and led lives of absolute perfection.
The key word in this discussion of saints is “heroic” virtue and refers to the
saint’s ability to overcome sinful tendencies and temptations. They weren’t immune to sin, and many of them had to struggle for years to conquer their sinful passions.
Saints weren’t perfect. They made mistakes just like everybody else.
What sets them apart with the title “saint” in the Catholic Church is that they did not stay down when they fell. By God’s grace, these holy men and women stood up, brushed off the dirt and kept moving forward. That is why we imitate them.
Saints are God's true people, people who are spiritually re-born by choice and repentance.
Again, agreed.
1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 1:7 – we are called to be saints. Saints refer to both those on earth and in heaven who are in Christ. Proof:
Acts 9:13,32,41; 26:10; 1 Cor. 6:1-2; 14:33; 2 Cor. 1:1; 8:4; 9:1-2; 13:13; Rom. 8:27; 12:23; 15:25,26, 31; 16:2,15; Eph. 1:1,15,18; 3:8; 5:3; 6:18; Phil. 1:1; 4:22; Col 1:2,4,26; 1 Tm 5:10; Philemon 1:5,7; Heb. 6:10; 13:24; Jude 1:3; Rev. 11:18; 13:7; 14:12; 16:6; 17:6;18:20,24; Rev 19:8; 20:9 –
in these verses, we see that Christians still living on earth are called “saints.”
Matt. 27:52; Eph. 2:19; 3:18; Col. 1:12; 2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4; 11:18; 13:10 –
in these verses, we also see that “saints” also refer to those in heaven who united with us.
Dan. 4:13,23; 8:23 – we also see that the angels in heaven are also called “saints.” The same Hebrew word “qaddiysh” (holy one) is applied to both humans and angels in heaven. Hence, there are angel saints in heaven and human saints in heaven and on earth. Loving beings (whether angels or saints) are concerned for other beings, and prayer is the spiritual way of expressing that love.
Contents1 Scripture1.1 I. We are One Family in Christ in Heaven and on Earth1.2 II. God Desires and Responds to Our Subordinate Mediation / Intercessory Prayer1.3 III. Specific Instructions to Mediate and Examples of Subordinate Mediation1.3.1 New Testament1.3.2 Old Testament1.4 IV. Veneration /...
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