Saints Gone Wild: Miracles, Mayhem, and Martyrdom

Mother Teresa, an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity and Catholic saint.

To my Protestant family and anyone else who is confused. Let’s clear the air on how those Catholic heathens view the Saints!

In Catholicism, a saint is someone who has lived a life of exemplary holiness and is now in heaven, enjoying eternal union with God. Now, while all who reach heaven are considered saints in a broad sense, the Church formally recognizes certain individuals as models of faith through a process called “canonization.” These saints serve as intercessors (or someone in Heaven who talks to God on your behalf) for the faithful on their journey to holiness. Of course, we can go direct with the big guy, and Catholics certainly do, but it's always nice to have a little backup.

The term saint comes from the Latin “sanctus,” meaning “holy.” In Scripture, the word refers to believers who are set apart for God (e.g., Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2). The Catholic Church builds upon this biblical foundation by recognizing that holiness is not only a calling but also a reality achieved through God’s grace. Catholics believe that those in heaven are part of the “communion of saints” (Hebrews 12:1, Revelation 5:8), a spiritual unity between the Church on earth, the souls being purified in purgatory (I describe purgatory as a place of decontamination before going to heaven), and the saints in heaven.

The Catholic Church does not “make” saints; rather, it officially recognizes those whom God has already approved as holy. The process of canonization ensures that an individual has lived a life of heroic virtue and can be a model for the faithful.

Here is the formal process of canonization from the Vatican, and the attributes required to even be considered for the title of “Saint”:

• Servant of God – The local bishop initiates an investigation into the person’s life and writings to determine if they lived with heroic virtue.

• Venerable – If the person’s life shows evidence of heroic virtue, the Pope declares them honored or “Venerable.”

• Blessed (Beatification) – For beatification, a miracle attributed to the intercession of the person being considered for sainthood is required, serving as evidence of their union with God. Typically, these miracles are medically inexplicable healings. Martyrs, (or those who died for their faith), may be beatified without a miracle. Upon beatification, the individual is titled "Blessed," and veneration is permitted within specific regions or communities.

• Saint (Canonization) – A second verified miracle is required for full canonization, after which the Pope declares the person a Saint, permitting universal veneration.

  
  

This process ensures that only those with undeniable evidence of holiness and intercessory power are declared saints. It's like a selection course for the "Holy Hitter Squad."

Many, many, (many) people feel that Catholics give too much attention to saints, especially the Virgin Mary, dancing dangerously close to considering them “Godlike.” From an external point of view, I understand where this confusion comes from. But it’s very important to understand that Catholics do not worship saints but venerate them (in other words, respect, honor and try to imitate them).  They ask for their intercession—just as one might ask a friend to pray for them. This practice is based on the biblical understanding that the righteous continue to pray and intercede for us (Revelation 8:3-4, James 5:16). Think of it this way… ever ask someone to pray for you? “Hey Lenny, I am going to get my wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow, say a prayer that it goes well.” It’s the same thing, except you're asking someone like Mother Teresa, who is most certainly in heaven with Jesus as I write this article, instead asking Lenny the plumber who is probably purchasing a scratch ticket at the Shell station as I write this article. I’ll bet Mother Teresa carries a bit more weight with the big guy than Lenny. My point is, if we comfortably ask our friends or departed loved ones to pray for us, why do some object to seeking intercession from the saints—those recognized for their profound holiness and closeness to God?

For Catholics, saints are not distant historical figures but living members of the Body of Christ who inspire, intercede, and accompany the faithful on their journey toward God. They serve as role models, demonstrating how to follow Christ in various states of life—whether as martyrs, missionaries, parents, or religious leaders. They remind us that holiness is not just for a select few but for everyone who seeks to follow Christ. Call BS or show me some love in the comments. GOD BLESS!