What exactly does it mean to become a saint/want to be a saint

[HeWillProvide]

Please define “saint.”

If I want to become a saint, I should ____________.
Or, St.-so-and-so and St.-so-and-so were saints because ____________________.

 

[The_Reginator]

Please define “saint.”

If I want to become a saint, I should be sure I get to heaven.
Or, St.-so-and-so and St.-so-and-so were saints because _they are in heaven.

It’s late and that’s the best I can do right now.
Simple, eh?

Just ‘work out your salvation in fear and trembling’.
Pray constantly.
Remain in a state of grace. If you commit a mortal sin rush to Confession.

And apply this to your own life.
From the Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 18 –

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying: Good master, what shall I do to possess everlasting life? 19 And Jesus said to him: Why dost thou call me good? None is good but God alone. 20 Thou knowest the commandments: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: Honour thy father and mother. 21 Who said: All these things have I kept from my youth. 22 Which when Jesus had heard, he said to him: Yet one thing is wanting to thee: sell all whatever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 He having heard these things, became sorrowful; for he was very rich. 24 And Jesus seeing him become sorrowful, said: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. 25 For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it, said: Who then can be saved? 27 He said to them: The things that are impossible with men, are possible with God.
– Douay-Rheims Bible

 

[ChrisCrop]

i guess technically , the BEST way would be to be a Martyr.
i have always hoped I could be one one day.
even though , it would be pretty scarey, but the results would be worht it!

 

[svid]

To fill in your blank: do God’s will. Those people are saints because they, yup, did God’s will.

Now, keep in mind that not all saints are canonized. That means, put on an official list. Recognized by the Church. There are about 11,000 saints and blesseds (almost-saints) that are canonized. The Church investigated their lives and found that they lived exemplary, if imperfect, lives. Oh yeah, and the Church found a couple of miracles (almost always scientificly inexplicable cures) attributed to their intercession.

Those are definitely not the only people in heaven. There are MILLIONS (billions?) of them - very few are famous. Your great-aunt Martha who was so wonderful and so pious and so good is probably in Heaven. She’s just not going to be officially recognized and have a church dedicated to her. That’s okay: she’s experiencing eternal joy just as much as (and alongside) St. Therese of Lisieux and St. John the Baptist. They all did God’s will. You don’t have to be a famous author or a martyr, though it helps if that’s what God has in mind for you.

Hope to see you (and all the saints) in Heaven!

Pax Christi!

 

[HeWillProvide]

i guess technically , the BEST way would be to be a Martyr.
i have always hoped I could be one one day.
even though , it would be pretty scarey, but the results would be worht it!

Well, we can “die” to ourselves every day!

 

[GaryTaylor]

Well, as far as the Church you know there’s proticall, which is the canonization process. Here.

catholic-pages.com/saints/process.asp

But as mentioned there are martyr’s and various others such as Mystics, Theologians etc.

I would guess a martyr might require the least amount of ability, but a faithful endurance without a doubt is needed.

 

[Robert_Burns]

Please define “saint.”

If I want to become a saint, I should ____________.
Or, St.-so-and-so and St.-so-and-so were saints because ____________________.

Well , we are all called by GOD to become Saints.

If you arent a Saint - then that means you ended up in Hell.

There is nothing wrong with Striving to become a Saint.

Now this is from Memory - But if I am not mistaken - it was St Alphonsus Ligouri who said for All Catholics to Strive to go straight to Heaven when we die - Try to be a Saint on Earth without a single Blemish as best we can - if we fall short - we will be in Purgatory - But if we merely Strive to make it to Purgatory and fall short - well where does that then place us?

It is for that reason , Holy mother the Church has the Sacraments. The one thing I have learned is - use them !

Its the only advise I can give - hope it helps and May God Bless you !

Pax