where are saints? who assigns what group they will serve as patron saint?

Question

I never really understood saints, are they real? please explain :)

Answer 1

Anyone who goes to Heaven is a saint.

The "saints" whom we refer to here on earth were exceptionally holy people. There are certain "requirements" to deem a deceased person a "saint." One of them is, that after their death, 3 miracles relating to them must occur before they can be "nominated."

What they become patrons of usually has to do with things that happened in their lives. I.E. St. Blaise is the patron saint of maladies of the throat. When he was alive, he saved a boy from choking to death on a fish bone.
St. Lucy is patron saint of the blind. During her life, she helped the blind and wore a crown of candles to lead the blind around (they could see faintly the light)

Answer 2

Saints are in heaven with God (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit).

We believe that many of the dead are Saints (like our grandparents, great-grand parents, & great-great grand parents) ... however, the Church (Roman Catholic) hasn't "Cannonized" them as EXAMPLES for US to follow ... so, when the Church gives them a catagory, they do so based off the miricals after their death, and what their life accomplished.

At our Baptism, we're all CALLED to be Saints and lead Saintly lives ... but it can't be finalized until our Earthy story is over (we've died) since free will is an ongoing thing for us humans.

Answer 3

Saint comes from a Greek word meaning "holy" or "set apart". But I believe you are speaking obout Canonized Saints. They are people the Catholic Church has declared are definitely in heaven, so you can ask them to pray for you if you wish.

Here's a whole list of thousands:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/

Answer 4

Catholic crusader has your answer defining cannoninzed, which I thank you, I didnt understand that until you explained it.

But I always heard saints referring to Christians in general. Followers of Christ, those who obey his words, we are the saints.