MAKING SAINTS
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 24; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12
A saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness or closeness to God. Saints are categorized in two different levels:
SURFACE LEVEL, “Saints” refer to the body of Christ or Christians. For example, in Acts 9:13, Simon says, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.” Precisely because of this the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the Church an assembly of all the saints (CCC 946).
DEEPER LEVEL. In Catholic theology, saints are a special class of believers who have been canonized. Canonization is the process by which the Catholic Church confers sainthood upon a person based on that person’s special character and faith. The first canonization was done by Christ himself when he said to the thieve who was remorseful “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
In the calender of the Church individual saints are celebrated on specified days throughout the year; while other holy men and women – though not canonized are celebrated on the first day of the month of November (Pope Urban IV).
WHO ARE THE SAINTS?
1. Generally, a “saint” is anyone in heaven, whether recognized on Earth or not, they form the “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb.12:1); “a great multitude that no one could count who have died and are now radiant in the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 7:9); these “may include our own fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers or other loved ones” who may have not always lived perfect lives but “amid their faults and failings they kept moving forward and proved pleasing to the Lord” (2 Tim.1:5).
2. The saints as those “who have come out of the great ordeal; those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb” (Rev. 7:14). We too must learn to wash through baptism and confession.
3. The saints are those who have been “sealed” (Rev. 7:3). Things sealed belong to the one who sealed them. The saints have been sealed. They belong to God. 2Cor.1:21-22 says; a seal has been laid on us and the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a guarantee. We have been sealed in baptism; we belong to God, we are God’s property so to say, and our place is in heaven.
4. The saints were humans like us; same weaknesses, inclinations and passionate desires. We too can become saints if we truly want to be. Psalm 24:3-4 asks; “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? Verse 4 replies “The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things and who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbour”. (Today’s Psalm)
5. The saints are pure in hearts. Today’s gospel says that the pure in heart shall see God. Beloved, only the pure in heart shall see God. Without holiness no one can see God. The gospel also gives us the beatitudes. The beatitudes are Christ’s commentary on our attitude. Would you want to be a saint? Attitude is everything. If we can change our attitude there is every possibility that we shall be numbered among the saints.
6. The saints are those who went through dungeon and sword; fire and heat; yet persevered (Rev.14:12). We cannot become saints if we are not ready to sacrifice pleasure for his good measure; we cannot become saints; if at the face of little things we shiver, tumble, crumble and fall. We must learn the ways of penance, perseverance and renunciation.
LET US PRAY
Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of grace and wisdom. AMEN.
