Are All Called To Be Saints?

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“I have no desire to debate the idea that ‘all are called to be saints’ because the idea is inherently absurd, alien to catholic tradition and little to do with this thread.”

This was posted on another thread. I have heard Mother Angelica say, “we are all called to be saints” in several of her talks.

Is it really alien to Catholic tradition? Is it really absurd?
 
I don’t think it’s absurd at all. Look at the standard Christians try to hold themselves to, no matter how far short we fall of it: it’s a life of heroic virtue. More to the point, everyone is a saint in heaven, right? I’m pretty sure that’s what the word means. So yeah, the church teaches that we’re all called to respond to God’s grace and go to heaven. Ergo, we’re all called to be saints.
 
No it is not at all absurd.

All of us are called to follow the law, and the rules of our religion to the best of our ability.

If we do follow the commandments, we receive the sacraments regularly, we try our best to live as sin free as we can, and we die in a state of grace, we WILL go to heaven.

ALL human souls in heaven are Saints, by definition. It is just that we do not know who the vast majority of them are… The Church proclaims those people that meet its requirements to be Saints, but all that means is that the Church declares that this person’s soul is in heaven.

So, yes indeed, we ARE all called to be Saints. It would be a wonderful world if all of us would meet the requirements.
 
“I have no desire to debate the idea that ‘all are called to be saints’ because the idea is inherently absurd, alien to catholic tradition and little to do with this thread.”

This was posted on another thread. I have heard Mother Angelica say, “we are all called to be saints” in several of her talks.

Is it really alien to Catholic tradition? Is it really absurd?
Just to clarify my statement, I did not mean saints in lowercase s, as I made rather clear, but saints as regards ‘canonised saints’ that is exercising the virtues to a heroic degree.
 
Just to clarify my statement, I did not mean saints in lowercase s, as I made rather clear, but saints as regards ‘canonised saints’ that is exercising the virtues to a heroic degree.
I wouldn’t be joining the Lay Dominicans if I didn’t aspire to be like Dominic, Catherine, Augustine, Thomas, and other such saints.

I strive to live my life like them. Strive to do everything I can to be a Saint. In the process, I may become a saint.
 
Yes, the Call to Holiness is universal. It is a call shared by ordained and laity alike. Think about V2, or JPII’s New Evangelization. 👍
 
I wouldn’t be joining the Lay Dominicans if I didn’t aspire to be like Dominic, Catherine, Augustine, Thomas, and other such saints.

I strive to live my life like them. Strive to do everything I can to be a Saint. In the process, I may become a saint.
👍
 
I wouldn’t be joining the Lay Dominicans if I didn’t aspire to be like Dominic, Catherine, Augustine, Thomas, and other such saints.

I strive to live my life like them. Strive to do everything I can to be a Saint. In the process, I may become a saint.
Good for you, that doesn’t have anything to do with my clarification however.

Anyway I’m not getting drawn into this thread just wanted to make sure I wasn’t misrepresented thats all.
 
You are God’s beloved called to be saints.” [Romans 1:7] Therefore our God: “Open to me the gates of holiness, I will enter and give thanks. This is the Lord’s own gate where the just may enter. I will thank You, for You have answered and You are my Saviour.” [Psalm 118:19-21] “It is God’s will that you grow in holiness.”[1Thessalonians 4:3]

Jesus, in Your desire for our personal and communal holiness in living the gospel, You taught us, “Your light must shine in the sight of others, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:16] You desire us not to obscure Your light in us. Therefore, to allow Your light to shine out from one’s life does not represent a display of pride. The light of Your love most clearly manifests in humble hearts that joyfully acknowledge that all goodness—all loving kindness—comes from You. “If anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.” [Jeremiah 9:22]

We may feel doubtful and discouraged regarding our call to be saints, knowing how far from the reality we seem to others and to ourselves, yet most of us have little experience of how God perceives us. Therefore Jesus, give us trust to respond fully to the Spirit that shines through us before others. You encourage us to allow this radiant presence of the Spirit, saying, “If anyone declares himself for me in the presence of individuals, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven.” [Matthew 10:32]

In accepting Your call to wholeness, we choose to love You above all and other persons as ourselves. This call requires us to take up our personal cross and follow You in love, prayer, and service of others. Therefore, it is not arrogant to seek sanctity, for to be truly holy means to be genuinely human. What is truly human is our creation in God’s image. Sin and indifference injures the fullness of our humanity.

Saint Therese of Lisieux encourages us in our attempts towards holiness in our vocation to love and serve. Of her own response to the call, she wrote, “This desire could certainly appear daring if one were to consider how weak and imperfect I was, and how after seven years in the religious life, I am still weak and imperfect. I always feel, however, the same bold confidence of becoming a great saint because I do not count on my own merits since I have none, but I trust in God who is Virtue and Holiness. God alone, content with my weak efforts, will raise me to Himself and make me a saint, clothing me in His infinite merits. I didn’t think then that one had to suffer very much to reach sanctity, but God was not long in showing me this was so and in sending me the trials I have already mentioned.” Therese remarked that such holiness may “**not be evident to the eyes of mortals.”

** We draw hope from this saint of ‘the consecrated ordinary’, whom Pope John Paul 2 declared a Doctor of the Church on October 19, 1997. Many Sisters in her Carmelite community were unaware of the holiness of her ‘ordinary’ deeds of kindness, and doubted that anything worthwhile could appear in her obituary circular. I implore God for ‘everyday’ love and trust such as Therese maintained before temptations of doubt and suffering. Like her, in ordinariness made holy by union with Jesus our God who lived ‘the ordinary life’ for 30 years prior to His public Ministry, (and thereby witnessed the ordinary life well-lived as sacred in God’s eyes) we must become shining lights in an era when disbelief, humanism and self-absorption prevail.
 
Indeed, we are called to be saints. See what the Church says in Lumen gentium Chapter V on the matter.
Just to clarify my statement, I did not mean saints in lowercase s, as I made rather clear, but saints as regards ‘canonised saints’ that is exercising the virtues to a heroic degree.
Certainly we not all going to be canonized, but we all should be exercising the virtues to a heroic degree. We are called to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect, to love each other as Christ has loved us. That means exercising the virtues (chiefly faith, hope, and love) to a heroic degree.
 
Of course, everybody is called to follow Christ to the absolute best of their ability. Even though the denomination I attend do not canonise anyone to ‘uppercase sainthood’, I understand the principle and reasons for it in Catholicism, and as such wholeheartedly agree that all should aspire to similar spiritual highs.
 
We are all called to be saints, but having an ambition to be canonized will likely have an opposite effect. This would be a desire for an earthly honor, which comes from pride. If God wills our “public” sainthood, He will convey that information to the Church at the appropriate time.

By a way of example of who might have a disordered ambition for “sainthood”, think of a billionaire who bequeaths his entire fortune to a good cause, but only after his death. True saints are those who want to appear as such only in the eyes of God.
 
Not absurd at all. In fact it’s true but sadly…

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 22:14[/BIBLEDRB]

God bless :byzsoc:

David
 
Good for you, that doesn’t have anything to do with my clarification however.

Anyway I’m not getting drawn into this thread just wanted to make sure I wasn’t misrepresented thats all.
It totally does, actually. You said “all are called to be saints’ because the idea is inherently absurd, alien to catholic tradition”. Lets modify it to the way you intended:

“all are called to be Saints’ because the idea is inherently absurd, alien to catholic tradition”

I want to hear why it’s so absurd we try to live Saintly lives.
 
It totally does, actually. You said “all are called to be saints’ because the idea is inherently absurd, alien to catholic tradition”. Lets modify it to the way you intended:

“all are called to be Saints’ because the idea is inherently absurd, alien to catholic tradition”

I want to hear why it’s so absurd we try to live Saintly lives.
Or to put it another way to live Holy lives.

Now it is clear that to be a Saint, one needs great grace, something given us by God, St Thomas Aquinas Says on the subject of grace in his summa '**Article 4. Whether grace is greater in one than in another?

Objection 1. It would seem that grace is not greater in one than in another. For grace is caused in us by the Divine love, as stated above (Question 110, Article 1). Now it is written (Wisdom 6:8): “He made the little and the great and He hath equally care of all.” Therefore all obtain grace from Him equally.

Objection 2. Further, whatever is the greatest possible, cannot be more or less. But grace is the greatest possible, since it joins us with our last end. Therefore there is no greater or less in it. Hence it is not greater in one than in another.

On the contrary, It is written (Ephesians 4:7): “But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the giving of Christ.” Now what is given in measure, is not given to all equally. Hence all have not an equal grace.

I answer that, As stated above (52, A1,2; 56, A1,2), habits can have a double magnitude: one, as regards the end or object, as when a virtue is said to be more noble through being ordained to a greater good; the other on the part of the subject, which more or less participates in the habit inhering to it.

Now as regards the first magnitude, sanctifying grace cannot be greater or less, since, of its nature, grace joins man to the Highest Good, which is God. But as regards the subject, grace can receive more or less, inasmuch as one may be more perfectly enlightened by grace than another. And a certain reason for this is on the part of him who prepares himself for grace; since he who is better prepared for grace, receives more grace. Yet it is not here that we must seek the first cause of this diversity, since man prepares himself, only inasmuch as his free-will is prepared by God. Hence the first cause of this diversity is to be sought on the part of the God, Who dispenses His gifts of grace variously, in order that the beauty and perfection of the Church may result from these various degree; even as He instituted the various conditions of things, that the universe might be perfect. Hence after the Apostle had said (Ephesians 4:7): “To every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the giving of Christ,” having enumerated the various graces, he adds (Ephesians 4:12): “For the perfecting of the saints . . . for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Reply to Objection 1. The Divine care may be looked at in two ways: first, as regards the Divine act, which is simple and uniform; and thus His care looks equally to all, since by one simple act He administers great things and little. But, “secondly,” it may be considered in those things which come to be considered by the Divine care; and thus, inequality is found, inasmuch as God by His care provides greater gifts to some, and lesser gifts for others.

Reply to Objection 2. This objection is based on the first kind of magnitude of grace; since grace cannot be greater by ordaining to a greater good, but inasmuch as it more or less ordains to a greater or less participation of the same good. For there may be diversity of intensity and remissness, both in grace and in final glory as regards the subjects’ participation… '**

The idea is absurd because Grace is not given equally to all as St Thomas Aquinas states and as God would not call us to a state without providing us with the means to achieve that state insofar as we are faithful to his will, he cannot call us all to be ‘Saints’.
 
St Therese of Liseux says in her 'Story of a Soul’ 'Then opening the Gospels, my eyes fell on these words: "Jesus, going up into a mountain, called unto Him whom He would Himself. They threw a clear light upon the mystery of my vocation and of my entire life, and above all upon the favours which Our Lord has granted to my soul. He does not call those who are worthy, but those whom He will. As St. Paul says: "God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."I often asked myself why God has preferences, why all souls do not receive an equal measure of Grace. I was filled with wonder when I saw extraordinary favours showered on sinners… and many others whom he forced so to speak to receive his graces. In reading the lives of the Saints, I was surprised to see there were certain privileged souls whom Our Lord favoured from the cradle to the grave, allowing no obstacle in their path which might keep them from mounting towards him…And again it puzzled me why so many poor savages should die without even having heard the name of God… Our Lord has deigned to explain to me this mystery. He showed me the book of Nature, and I understood that every flower created by him is beautiful, that the brillance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, Nature would lose her springtide beauty and the fields would no longer be enamelled with lovely hues. It is the same in the world of souls, Our Lord’s living garden. He has been pleased to create great Saints who may be compared to the lilly and the rose; but He has also created lesser ones, who must be content to be daisies or simple violets flowering at his feet…

This is the key phrase in connection with this issue ‘He does not call those who are worthy, but those whom He will. As St. Paul says: "God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy.So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

And that is why I object to the idea that we are all called to be Saints, in the sense of canonised saints or exercise their virtues, God will call whom he will.
 
**
Naturally few are called to be canonized! The canonized Saints are an example for us, but all are called to holiness. We are all called to be saints, our Popes words:**
**
On All Saints Day, pope says all are meant to answer call to be holy **
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Holiness is not a privilege reserved to a few people, but is a call that all men and women are meant to answer, Pope Benedict XVI said.
All human beings are called to holiness which, in the final analysis, consists in living as children of God, (living) in that ‘likeness’ to him in which they were created," the pope said Nov. 1, the feast of All Saints.

http://afriarslife.blogspot.com/2011/01/santo-subito-called-to-be-saints.html

Webster’s 1913 Dictionary
Pronunciation: sānt
n.****1.A person sanctified; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue; any true Christian, as being redeemed and consecrated to God.Them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.- 1 Corinthians. i. 2.

2.One of the blessed in heaven.

3.(Eccl.) One canonized by the church.
 
Or to put it another way to live Holy lives.

Now it is clear that to be a Saint, one needs great grace, something given us by God, St Thomas Aquinas Says on the subject of grace in his summa '**Article 4. Whether grace is greater in one than in another?
 
**
**Naturally few are called to be canonized! The canonized Saints are an example for us, but all are called to holiness. We are all called to be saints, our Popes words:
**
On All Saints Day, pope says all are meant to answer call to be holy **
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Holiness is not a privilege reserved to a few people, but is a call that all men and women are meant to answer, Pope Benedict XVI said.
All human beings are called to holiness which, in the final analysis, consists in living as children of God, (living) in that ‘likeness’ to him in which they were created," the pope said Nov. 1, the feast of All Saints.

http://afriarslife.blogspot.com/2011/01/santo-subito-called-to-be-saints.html

Webster’s 1913 Dictionary
Pronunciation: sānt
n.****1.A person sanctified; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue; any true Christian, as being redeemed and consecrated to God.Them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.- 1 Corinthians. i. 2.

2.One of the blessed in heaven.

3.(Eccl.) One canonized by the church.
I dont necessarily disagree but I think its important to point out that there is a difference between the universal call to holiness and a supposed universal call to be saints. The latter is a development amongst some people of the former but is not a doctrine of the Church.

All catholics are saints in that we are ‘a royal priesthood etc…’ and set apart for God but we are not all going to receive the graces Saints do or demonstrate heroic virtues.
 
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