How do you become a saint?

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I watched a film on St.Therese of Lisieux. How do you become a saint? They are all so vastly different. The only characteristics they share in common they accepted their place in the world, single-mindedly followed God regardless of their environment. Youth is no excuse. I think blessed Laura Vicuna, my favorite blessed Chiara, blessed Pier (cute Italian man), etc. St. Maria Goretti I love the most for her forgiveness, she was so young and so strong. She puts me to shame. St. Mary of Egypt pleased her sexual appetite until she found the Lord. I think well what can I do?
 
Daily spiritual reading: Mass readings for the day are a good place to start or a book about a saint. Or read a Gospel passage and try putting yourself in the scene as one of the people mentioned in the story or as an observer. See what happens.

Daily meditation on what you read: read until a passage catches your eye, then stop and think about that passage for awhile, ask Jesus how it applies to your life, talk with Jesus about it for awhile.

Mass as often as possible.

Confession at least once a month.
 
CRATUS said:
I watched a film on St.Therese of Lisieux. How do you become a saint? They are all so vastly different. The only characteristics they share in common they accepted their place in the world, single-mindedly followed God regardless of their environment. Youth is no excuse. I think blessed Laura Vicuna, my favorite blessed Chiara, blessed Pier (cute Italian man), etc. St. Maria Goretti I love the most for her forgiveness, she was so young and so strong. She puts me to shame. St. Mary of Egypt pleased her sexual appetite until she found the Lord. I think well what can I do?
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St. Dominic Savio (who died at age 14; we have no excuses!) made four rules for sainthood. He is a saint, so they must work.

 
start with
Matthew 22:37-39 (RSVCE)
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

not as easy as it sounds

then here’s a nice little blog:
Becoming Saints! (Matt Fradd ) (read more)
covering a few points of view…

Keep in mind, if you are looking for a tempest to show you the path, you may not really be listening for God’s voice… 1Kings19:11-13
Once you hear his voice, are you prepared to do as asked?

Frequent reception of the Sacraments, Lots of prayer asking for our Lord’s mercy, and patience with yourself are but a few of the steps to take.
:getholy:
 
CRATUS said:
I do not know if all saints had spiritual direction.
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I also do not know if all the saints had a spiritual directors, but probably they did (somehow), because we cannot discern alone most of the times, as we need someone from outside of us that can have a better picture of where we are.

What I know though is that most of us will need guidance.

An example is St Faustina Kowalska, she had much trouble because no one could guide her well, until God brought her a priest, that could help her better.

And I know that for vocations, priests tell men and woman that they need someone to guide them and that they cannot guide themselves.
 
Our weaknesses are not there for us to “grief” (referring to take us down, they will discourage us of course, but we need to pass that), they are there to see for ourselves that we need God. They help us be humble, after that we are not in a competition. God wants us to be saints, sainthood is just a word describing that you love truly God. This of course is difficult, but it is about trust and perseverance and to battle against what wants us to desist from the way.

For example, if we are climbing a mountain, the mountain top is not necessarily sainthood, sainthood lies anywhere, the point is to be sure to give it all. And in this giving all, you trust and love God. This loving of God is also a process and a journey, trusting God is difficult sometimes, the point is to persevere and to learn about Him so that you know Him, and to keep trying to know Him so that you know Him even more.
 
Bloom where you are planted.

Start by keeping a set of Rosary beads with you at all times. Pray throughout the day.
 
The fact that you desire this is a good thing.

Do the will of God.
Consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary.
Do small deeds with great love.
Frequent reception of Holy Communion
Daily Mass if possible
Confession on a regular basis
Help the poor
Take care of your family
Follow the Ten Commandents
Forgive
Pray the Rosary daily
Wear the Brown Scapular
Gaze at a crucifix
Meditate on the Passion
Speak evil of no one.
Pray.
Ask The Holy Spirit what He wants you to do.
Be humble.
Join a third order.
 
Make sacrifices.
Pray for the souls in Purgatory.
The souls in Purgatory will help you.
Make the sign of the Cross devoutly.
St. Therese’s little way is a good way.
 
By glorifying God in whatever vocation you are called to.
Be the hands and feet of Christ.
You’ve been told this many many times.
Get busy! Pray, work, be humble.
 
CRATUS said:
I do not know if all saints had spiritual direction.
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Neither do I, but if you have that possibility available to you, why would you decline it? As someone who has traveled the path to holiness both guided and unguided, I can tell you that I waste a lot less time and effort when I have someone who accompanies me and pulls me back from the cliff’s edge when I wander too close. My questions are answered. I am less uncertain and therefore more relaxed. In short, I don’t meander aimlessly wondering if what I’m doing is right or fearing I’ve taken the wrong fork in the spiritual road. Why would you not want that?
 
Two words:

Aquinas said, “Will it!”

Sounds too simple, and yet it is profound.

I’m going to hope someone will elaborate on this. (I am terrible or perhaps just too lazy when it comes to producing words using my smart phone. )
 
Perform both The Spiritual and The Corporal Works of Mercy.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are:
Instruct the ignorant
Advise the doubtful
Correct sinners
Be patient with those in error or who do wrong
Forgive offenses
Comfort the afflicted
Pray for the living and the dead.

The Corporal Works of Mercy are:

Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick and imprisoned
Ransom the captive
Bury the dead.
 
Additionally , one needs to clarify what is meant by the word saint. Is it simply a person who got into heaven or a beatified Saint for someone who has a very high degree of holiness and yet is unknown by the world.

A primary attribute is singleness of purpose. What holds many of us back is a divided heart and inability to fully conform our will to gods.
 
JamalChristophr said:
Additionally , one needs to clarify what is meant by the word saint. Is it simply a person who got into heaven or a beatified Saint .
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If one reads OP 1st post, it seems clear that OP is referring to the beatified Saints… no?
 
z_0101 said:
If one reads OP 1st post, it seems clear that OP is referring to the beatified Saints… no?
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Probably. But it bears repeating that everyone in heaven is part of the communion of Saints.
The holy cards notwithstanding.
 
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