As Christians, we’re all called to be saints.
Saints hold a special place in the Catholic Church. They’re not just revered figures but also serve as role models for all Christians.
A “saint” refers to a holy soul reunited with God in Heaven. The word “saint” comes from the Latin word sanctus, which translates to “holy.”
Saints, whether officially canonized in the Catholic Church or not, are souls in heaven who lived virtuous lives on earth, serving as models of holiness. This includes those who were martyred because of their faith or those who selflessly offered their lives for others.
The Process of Becoming a Catholic Saint
The journey to sainthood, known as canonization, involves several steps:
- Servant of God
- Venerable
- Beatification
- Canonization
Learn more about the canonization process here.
Role and Importance of Catholic Saints
Saints hold a significant place in Catholicism for several reasons:
- Intercessors: Catholics believe saints can intercede for them, praying to God on their behalf. This belief is rooted in the idea of the Communion of Saints, a spiritual solidarity between the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven.
- Models of Holiness: Catholic Saints serve as inspirational figures, demonstrating how to live out the teachings of Christ. Their lives provide practical examples of how to handle various challenges and situations with faith and virtue.
- What about patron saints? A patron saint is a saint who has been assigned or chosen to be a special intercessor with God for a particular nation, place, craft, activity, or group of people. History, certain traditions, or significant moments in a saint’s life can often determine a saint’s “patronage” or specific area of intercession.
Catholics choose a patron saint during the sacrament of Confirmation, where they select a saint to model their lives after and look to for special intercession throughout their lives. It’s also common for groups or organizations to select a patron saint to draw a special connection to.
As a missionary organization, we’ll often ask for the intercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries! FOCUS even chooses a patron saint for our SEEK conference every year! Last year, our patron saint was St. José Sánchez del Río.
The patronage of Catholic saints can be incredibly diverse or oddly specific… we pulled together a list of some of the most random things saints are patrons of!
Celebrating Saints
The Catholic Church honors saints throughout the liturgical year, celebrating their feast days. These commemorations are opportunities for the faithful to reflect on the saints’ lives and seek their intercession. All Saints’ Day, celebrated on November 1, is a solemnity recognizing all saints, known and unknown.
Additional Resources
FOCUS alumna Michelle Duppong, passed away from cancer in 2015. The Diocese of Bismarck opened an investigation into Michelle’s life of holiness, which could eventually lead to her canonization. Listen to our podcast to learn more!
For more on the Catholic saints, check out a few of these articles on FOCUS Equip:
Favorite Saints’ Favorite Saints (and Their Other Devotions)
Saints Are Still Being Made: Meet Chiara Corbella Petrillo
St. John Bosco and the Power of Relationships
What St. Marianne Cope Teaches Us About Leading From the Front
4 Lessons from Sts. Joachim and Anne – Our Spiritual Grandparents
Who is St. Josephine Bakhita? 5 Lessons from a 20th Century Saint
For even more great Catholic resources, you can check out our podcast with talks from our SEEK conference and our YouTube channel for videos, and more!