Called to be Saints

By Trina Chong

Have you ever been called a saint for your kindness or after performing a good deed? Innocence and goodness are qualities associated with the common understanding of saints. Indeed, the title of saint is typically conferred on the basis of one’s exceptional holiness and displaying of heroic virtue in his/her life. It may seem daunting to achieve this level of goodness, but striving for sainthood is fundamental to our walks as disciples of Christ. This article discusses the significance of saints to the Catholic Church, the official process of being designated a saint, and the call to sainthood. 

 

Significance of Saints

The saints occupy a special position in the Catholic tradition. As the faithful deceased in Heaven, the saints do not compete with God for glory but rather partake in His divine love as members of His family. The Christian belief in life after death leads us to believe as well in the continuing communion between all members of the Church, both living and dead. This profound connection is summed up in paragraph 2683 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), which states:

“The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were “put in charge of many things.” Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.”

The saints are often depicted in icons, statues and prayer cards. Many parishes in Singapore, such as the Church of St Francis Xavier and St Anne’s Church, are named after saints. All Saints’ Day (celebrated on 1 November every year) is a solemnity dedicated to all the saints of the Church. On one hand, the prevailing presence of the saints in our churches and traditions serves as a reminder to us of how our faith community stretches beyond time and space. On the other hand, contemplating on the struggles and joys of the saints can also inspire us to lead lives that bear the mark of Christ. 

 

Canonisation

The process in which a deceased person is officially admitted into sainthood is known as canonisation. People officially designated as saints have their names listed in the canon of saints and are assigned a feast day in the Catholic calendar. In the past, martyrs and those deemed to be holy could be named a saint by the local bishop. Today, the papacy reserves the authority to recognise saints and oversees the formal procedures that make up the canonisation process. Candidates for sainthood are first investigated before receiving a Decree of Heroic Virtue by the Pope. Next, the candidate has to be beatified on account of either their martyrdom or miracles that occurred after his/her death. Once these have been affirmed, the deceased is canonised and acquires the title of saint. 

 

The Call to Sainthood

One of the beliefs professed in the Apostles’ Creed is the “communion of saints.” Far from an exclusive group of officially recognised holy people, this communion of saints refers to a universal community of believers who strive to exalt God through their lives. The call to sainthood is simply an invitation handed by God to us to live virtuous lives. One way that this can be done is by consistently growing in and living out the seven primary virtues: faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. Just as many saints willingly lived and died for Christ, so too are we called to take bold steps in making the presence of our Heavenly Father known. It is in doing so that we can avoid living mediocre lives, but instead live our lives to their promised fullness.

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