Why do Catholics make saints if everyone is guilty of sin?

Question

If people could make up for their sins by their own goodness, then there would have been no need for Jesus's sacrifice. In the bible, God didn't call on on certain people to perform miracles or spread the word as a reward for their righteousness, but because of grace. Was Saul a model Christian before he was chosen? Imperfection is imperfection. There's no such thing as being almost perfect.

Answer 1

Good question and Catholics would agree with you, including the Pope.

Most saints are in fact terrible people you would not necessarily want to live next to. David King of Israel is a really good example. If you really read the scriptures, he wasn't a sweetheart. He did, after all, arrange to have his most loyal supporter Uriah killed in combat after he got Uriah's wife pregnant. It is your concept of the saint that maybe could use a change.

First, Catholics do not make people saints, God does. The Catholic Church recognizes many of them and lists them so that their service to God Most High will be commemorated and so that lessons learned from the way they lived their life can be helpful to others. For example, St. Mary of Egypt was a prostitute who let God transform her life into one of sacrifice and purity. The word canon means list. St. Ignatius was trained by both Peter and John and was martyred in the arena. His writings are among Christianities oldest and attest to the meaning intended in some scripture that the apostle's left. He is a saint for both his way of life and his martyrdom. Oscar Romero, who has not yet been canonized in the Catholic Church although he has been canonized in the Church of England a Protestant Church, was chosen as bishop of San Salvador because he was a lukewarm don't make waves kind of Christian. Ultimately, the Salvadoran government found the only way to deal with him was to assassinate him. They did so in the middle of the celebration of the prayers of communion. His life is a life for all Christians to pay attention to because his was what most Christian lives are like, lukewarm and he was a priest at that. He saw his role very narrowly until God called him to act in defense of the defensless.

Revelations clearly teaches that some Christians, by their submission to the will of God, will be in Heaven before the Resurrection. These are clearly described as the saints. We are all called to sainthood, all of the baptized. Some let their lives be driven by "thy will be done." Revelations says these saints continuously pray for us to the Lamb. Miracles are seen as a clear sign that God is acting, that is not just a nice person. Nice personhood does not get one enrolled into the canon. A nice person may be a saint, but heroic virtue gets one on the list. St. Anthony of Padua raised the dead. There was a miracle quite recently at Fatima or Lourdes. A French surgeon with advanced Parkinson's disease is completely free of the disease now.

The saints are critically important because they are us. They teach us what God can do, if we permit him to do so. A good example is in the carol to Wenceslaus, King of Bohemia.

"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page. Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.

Fear not as the Angel says. Feel free to step into the steps of the saints. Do not let sin stop you. Jesus liberates us from sin, if only you permit the Spirit to act. The Catholic call to sainthood, a call made to every Catholic is a call to live the extraordinary life, quite often while in your ordinary life. Many many saints lived ordinary married lives and helped God transform their segments of the world in their times.

One of the problems of the word salvation is that it really isn't a good translation anymore. It has taken on a specific meaning in certain Protestant groups and so translators preference that word, just as Christians tend to say the Lord's prayer in middle English when no other thing is done in middle English. A better word in English is liberation. Jesus liberates us from death and sin. We are no longer prisoners of the Abyss.

Don't let sin stop you any longer. Let God act in your life. Instead of complaining about a Catholic Church you perceive to exist, but which does not, seek to reunite God's Church. Your question was a question of division and division seeking. All division comes from sin and is from Satan. Become a penitent and join your brothers in unifying the Church into one body.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Answer 2

Saints are simply people that the Catholic Church believes are in Heaven. All those in Heaven are technically saints. The Church can be reasonable sure about the people it calls saints because they lead good lives, or at least converted to a good life. Calling people saints also makes them role models for other Christians to follow if they want to get into Heaven too. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Saints are simply those whom the pope has officially declared are presently in heaven.

Anyone who gets into heaven gets there solely by cooperating with God's grace.

But since nothing imperfect can enter heaven, that grace must be truly effective at achieving perfection.

St. Paul certainly mended his ways and did much work for Christ and his church, writing much of the new testament, and even giving his life.

In this, St. Paul's Christ-like love was truly perfected:

Joh 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love: as I also have kept my Father's commandments and do abide in his love.
Joh 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13 Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Answer 4

that's not the point of sainthood.
saints are NOT perfect.

most were regular people, the thing about them that's special is that they were chosen by god to do something important.

kinda like paul was. he was chosen to do what he did, and he's a saint because he accepted god's calling and did important things for the church and people in general.

most saints died for god. they could have chosen to ignore the voice, but couldn't, this is what makes them so special. they had a connection with god and did what he told them to do without question. in that respect they are to be emulated, a person is supposed to resign themselves to god and jesus' will. a lot of times it's hard, but saints prove that it can be done.

Answer 5

A Christian was first called a saint. Christian is the name given as a sort of curse name. Saint is the proper and acceptable name for all those called and saved by God.

Answer 6

Catholics don't "make" saints. God does. Catholics recognize saints. They are worthy of our emulation. They help lead us to Christ. They show us how Jesus transformed their lives and can transforms ours too, if we trust in him.

John 14:22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

John 20:21 “As the Father sent me, so I send you.”

Heb 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Heb 13:7-8 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1Cor 11:1 "Be imitators of me – as I am of Christ.”

Eph 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Rev 5:8 And when he[the Lamb] had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Rev 8:3-4 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Answer 7

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Look at Saint Peter who denied Christ three times.

God does not choose perfect people to do his will and go to heaven. If he did then none of us would go to heaven.

Saints are not perfect but they are good examples of people who tried to follow God's will and many of them were martyred in the process.

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Episcopal Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.

With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 8

The church did not say saints did not sin. They just repented