why it is so hard for catholics to be called saints?

Question

to be regarded as saint in the catholic church one must passed many stages and requirements..and the basic one is that a candidate must be dead.

But in the Bible we can see from Paul's writings that he addressed his fellow Christians by calling them saints. They're still alive. And he was aware that these saints were also sinners. That's why from his writings we can see that he is not only exhorting them but also rebuking them for their wrongdoings.

Did the apostles aware of these 'steps for sainthood' the catholic church has? if yes, any Bible verse (not from tobith, macabees, etc please)?

Answer 1

The word saint comes from the Greek word "hagios" which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious." It is almost always used in the plural, “saints.” "…Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13). "Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda" (Acts 9:32). "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons … “(Acts 26:10). There is only one instance of the singular use and that is "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus…" (Philippians 4:21). In Scripture there are 67 uses of the plural “saints” compared to only one use of the singular word “saint.” Even in that one instance, a plurality of saints is in view “…every saint…” (Philippians 4:21).



The idea of the word “saint” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are three references referring to godly character of saints; "that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints …" (Romans 16:2). "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints" (Ephesians 5:3).



Therefore, Scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christians are considered saints. All Christian are saints…and at the same time are called to be saints. 1 Corinthians 1:2 states it clearly, “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy…” The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same Greek root as the word that is commonly translated “saints.” Christians are saints by virtue of their connection with Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to more closely match their position in Christ. This is the Biblical description and calling of the saints.



How does the Roman Catholic understanding of “saints” compare with the Biblical teaching? Not very well. In Roman Catholic theology, the saints are in Heaven. In the Bible, the saints are on earth. In Roman Catholic teaching, a person does not become a saint unless he/she is “beatified” or “canonized” by the Pope or prominent bishop. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith is a saint. In Roman Catholic practice, the saints are revered, prayed to, and in some instances, worshipped. In the Bible, saints are called to revere, worship, and pray to God alone.

Answer 2

Saints are people in heaven or on their way to heaven. All Christians dead and alive are saints.

The Catholic Church selects some of the most extraordinary examples, does in-depth research, and canonizes them.

"By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors."

Canonization is the solemn declaration by the Pope that a deceased member of the faithful may be proposed as a model and intercessor (not mediator) to the Christian faithful on the basis of the fact that the person lived a life of heroic virtue or remained faithful to God through martyrdom.

Here is the modern method of canonization:

In order to allow greater objectivity and less emotion, no petition for sainthood can be made until at least 5 years after the candidate’s death.

+ Diocesan Investigation +

A diocese, parish, religious congregation, or association asks the bishop of the diocese in which the candidate died to open the investigation. After Vatican approval, the bishop forms a diocesan tribunal.

Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount the candidate’s heroic exercise of Christian virtues. All documents regarding the candidate must be gathered.

At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.

+ Vatican Investigation +

All documentation is passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican.

The cause undergoes an examination by nine theologians.

If passed, the cause is for examined by the Congregation.

If passed, the cause is presented to the Pope for approval. A decree is published and read publicly.

+ Beatification +

A miracle attributed to the Servant of God is necessary.

The miracle must be proven through an appropriate investigation and another decree is issued.

Then the Pope decides on beatification.

With beatification, the candidate receives the title of Blessed.

+ Canonization +

Another miracle occurring after beatification is needed for canonization (sainthood), attributed to the Blessed’s intercession.

This miracle must again be proven through an appropriate investigation.

Papal infallibility is involved with canonization.

The Blessed acquires the title of Saint.

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 3

One very basic reason for all the hoops to jump through for sainthood is this:

Catholics ask the saints in heaven to pray for us. Let's say a bunch of people started asking a person I';ll make up called "
Edgar" to pray for them. People thought Edgar lived a really holy life and did much good. Instead, he used all the good he did as a smokescreen for drug running, prostitution and murder.

Chances are, our buddy Edgar is NOT in heaven...if he is really in Hell, well then we are asking someone in league with the Devil himself for prayer. Not good. Who knows what could happen???

Now...let's say that Edgar's Cause for sainthood was opened...and all these things were discovered about him....it would cast doubt on his presumed life of holiness.

....and let's further imagine that during the investigation of his life it is discovered that Edgar died under the following circumstances: He was visiting a Columbian school for poor children that he started when a suicide bomber ran up to the children. Edgar shouted for the children to run away, then Edgar yelled, " Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner!"-and tackeled the bomber- moving him far enough away from the children that only Edgar and the bomber died.

That is an act of heroic sacrifice that could possibly negate the evil he had done in his life....and create the possibility that the Lord did, indeed let Edgar into Heaven!

So, you see there are so many twists and turns to any person's life that before the Chruch can make a statement about whether or not a person is in Heaven a thorough investigation of their life must be made and miracles through their intercession must occur.

Answer 4

As a lapsarian Catholic, I might desire to declare you do a poor pastime of offering Catholic doctrine. All "saints" are seen by using the Church to be persevering with members of the Church and hence as able to praying on behalf of others as living members of the Church. that's what "communion of saints" skill, Christians living AND lifeless. Catholics honor the saints (dulia), a prepare grown out of the veneration of departed martyrs contained in the early Church. Mary is given extra desirable veneration (hyperdulia) through fact of her intimate connection to Christ. None of them are "worshipped" (latria) decrease than any definition. people who think of they're "worshipping" Mary are no longer following Church coaching. no person yet God has any supernatural capability. Saints can in straight forward terms pray alongside with the Church to God. If something, you have created extra confusion.

Answer 5

Actually the church teaches anyone in Heaven is a saint. It is just that some people because of their lives have been recognized.
Catholics believe you can petition the saints to pray for you and if your saintly grandmother is in heaven she you pray for you too.

Answer 6

It has become ridiculously easy to become a saint. Pope John Paul was the worst by far. He approved hundreds of saints, handing them out like prayer cards. With all these miracles happening these days, it's a wonder that there is so much evil and misery in the world. Worst of all is the beatification of John Paul himself. He was the head of a church that now admits to having fostered and protected a "pedophilia epidemic" (their own words). And yet he never even spoke out against it. He did say that women cannot be priests, priests cannot marry, and contraception is bad. Clearly, he was saint material.

Answer 7

Here is a site that tells the history of Beatification and Canonization. Hpe it helps.

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 8

Sadly, as in many other things the Roman Catholic Church has added the tradition of men to The Word of God.

The saints then and today are simply the followers of Jesus according to the Bible.

JB

Answer 9

We are all called to be Saints and manyof us know enough to be one but the problem isn.t in the knowledge so much but in our will,Saints are called Saints for one reason only heroic virture

Answer 10

Please, LEARN something about Catholicism before you criticize it. Catholicism DOES recognize all Christ's faithful as saints: http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p123a9p5.htm

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Kait, if you would just follow the above link you will discover that Elmer Towns is bearing false witness against the Catholic Church.