Can You Be a Saint?

By CYNTHIA THERESA JIMENEZ

There is but one sadness…

and That is for us not to be saints.

-Leon Bloy

BY virtue of our baptism, we are made holy—children of God sanctified and marked for heaven—that is, if we live our life according to God’s will. The struggle for continuing holiness is, of course, easier said than done, for well we know that life is one tough race to the finish line. The battle is not only with our inner self but with the world and the principalities: Satan himself.

St. Paul said that as Christians, all of us are called to be saints. What are we to do? How can we become the saints that God wants us to be?

All of us, believers of Christ, are members of His Mystical Body, the Church. Christ is the Vine and we are the branches. If we connect ourselves to Him, we shall live. If we cut off ourselves from Him, we shall die. In Him we find nourishment, especially in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Interconnectedness keeps us strong and united.

The Church Triumphant, made up of all the souls in heaven, pray for us, the Church Militant—we, who are still fighting on earth for our salvation. In turn, we, the Church Militant, pray for the Church Suffering, the souls in purgatory who are awaiting release and who, in turn, also pray for us. This communion of saints, according to Fr. Rudolf Horst, SVD, is an unbroken link of communication among the members of the Mystical Body of Christ. “We are one family of God, loving one another, and joining in praising the Blessed Trinity.” If we are this, what else can we become but saints?

Saints are individuals who live their life for God and for others. They are faithful, selfless stewards of the Master, sharing their time, talent, and treasure for the good of all. They live the Gospel values of Faith, Hope, and Love to a heroic degree: faith that cannot be broken by the severest of tribulations; hope that springs eternal in the midst of desperate circumstances; and love that knows no boundaries nor conditions. They generally remain calm and courageous, prudent, and just in the most volatile of situations. In brief, saints and martyrs are men and women who follow in the footsteps of their Savior in the fullest degree—spiritual warriors who live and suffer so that others may be saved. Their life, according to Kenneth Woodward, are no different from ours. It is their response to their circumstances that differs.

“Not my will, but Thine be done.”

The Process of Canonization

ON September 12, 1997, through the Vatican Information Service, the Holy See press office in Vatican City, made public this note on canonical procedure for cause of beatification and canonization:

1. To begin a cause, it is necessary for at least five years to have passed since the death of the candidate.

2. The bishop of the diocese in which the person whose beatification is being requested is responsible for beginning the investigation. He forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose.

Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount concrete facts on the exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic that is the theological values: faith, hope, and charity; and the cardinal values: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude, and others specific to a person’s state in life. All documents regarding the candidate must be gathered. At this point the person is entitled to the title of Servant of God.

3. Once the diocesan investigation is finished, the acts and documentation are passed on to the Congregation for the

Causes of Saints.

After more examinations by nine theologians who will vote on the matter, cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation study the matter and if their judgment is favorable, the results are brought to the Holy Father who gives his approval and authorizes the congregation to draft the relative degree. A miracle is required. Once the two decrees are promulgated regarding the heroic virtues and the miracle, the Holy Father decides on beatification and the candidate receives the title of Blessed.

4. For canonization, another miracle is required, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after the person’s beatification. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint. - www.catholic-pages.com