SAINTS The Holy People of the Church

A “saint” is someone who is recognized by the Church as one who had an extremely close relationship with God and who tried to live according to God’s Will for her/his life. Saints are people through whom we come to a better understanding of: 1. what God is like, and 2. the kind of lives we should/could be living today.

Pope John Paul II canonized 482 Saints between 1982-2004. He canonized more saints in 22 years than all of the Popes in the previous 500 years combined. Why??

By doing this, Pope John Paul II showed that he believed strongly in the presence of holiness in our world TODAY – not just in the past.

How Does a Saint Become a Saint?

The Canonization Process The process through which a holy person becomes an official Saint in the Church is called “canonization.” It generally begins at least 5 years after a person’s death.

Step 1: Research A group is appointed by a bishop to investigate the person’s life and holiness. During this stage, the person is referred to as a “Servant of God.” If the investigation is approved, the person is called “Venerable.”

Step 2: Miracles Miracles must be seen as being achieved through the intercession of that person. Once this is proven the person is called “Blessed.” This step is called “beatification.”

Final Step: Canonization After another miracle is attributed to this person, the Pope will make a formal declaration of “canonization” and the person is called a Saint!

Clarification It is important to realize that we do not pray TO saints, as if they were equal to God. Rather, we honor the Saints for their holy lives and, because of their close connection with God, we ask the Saints to pray WITH and FOR us.

Patron Saints

Homework #1 Your patron saint is either the saint who shares your name or a saint with whom you feel a special connection – for whatever reason. Who is/would you like to claim as your “patron saint?” Look up this saint.

Look up this saint. Consult either. . . the list of saints at: www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php or the list of patron saints at: www.catholic.org/saints/patron.php Additional Saint info is available at: http://www.catholic-saints.info In your notebook, explain why you chose this saint. Then, write down 6 interesting facts about your Patron Saint. It can be handwritten. Be ready to talk about your saint in class.

A person’s “patron saint” could be the saint with whom she or he shares a name. Patron saints are also chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life (occupations, illnesses, countries, etc.) This practice seems to go back to the 4th century.

For example . . . St. Benedict School children St. Maria Goretti & St. Aloysius Gonzaga Teenagers St. Nicholas Children St. Thomas Aquinas College

The patron saint of the USA is the Blessed Mother, with the title “Immaculate Conception.” (This is why we are off on Dec. 8!)

Some of The Church’s Most Influential Saints St. Therese (1873) St. Frances Cabrini (1850) St. John Neumann (1801) St. Padre Pio (1887) St. Augustine(354) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774) St. Monica (331) St. Rose of Lima (1586) St. Francis of Assisi (1181) St. Thomas Aquinas (1225) St. Katharine Drexel (1858) Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656) Blessed Theresa of Calcutta (1910)

The Prayer of St. Francis (Peace Prayer) Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Test What is a saint? Why are saints important? How does a person become a saint? Do Catholics worship saints? Patron Saints You class’ Patron Saints ... matching Influential Saints ... know 3 things Reflective Essay