What is a saint?

In the heart of every right-thinking Catholic, God has implanted the desire to become a Saint. Yet few make a serious attempt to realize the ambition. The cause for this is to a large extent discouragement, due to the misunderstanding of what a saint really is.

                WHAT IS A SAINT?

The answer usually returned to this question is: one who does extraordinary penances and work miracles.

Now, this is an incorrect description, for neither miracles nor great penances are essential. The man who works a miracle does not raise himself in God’s eyes by it; and, while penance in some shape is necessary, still the teaching of the Saints on this difficult question is encouraging.

What they direct is not bodily penances of a terrifying kind, but rather the strict avoidance of delicacies, softness, and comfort. We are told to beware of injuring our health, and to eat enough plain food to enable us to work and pray without hindrance. There is ample opportunity for the severest mortification in the restraint of eyes and tongue, and in warfare against the seven Deadly Sins.

Thus, there is another definition of what a Saint is.

It is this:

One who, with the object of pleasing God, does his ordinary duties extraordinarily well.

Such a life may be lived out without a single wonder in it, arouse little notice, be soon forgotten, and yet be the life of one of God’s dearest friends.

It is obviously an encouragement to look on sanctity in this way. When we see that those things which so terrified us in the lives of the Saints, because we felt we could not do them ourselves, are not the important part of their sanctity at all, we should feel heartened to begin today and make a serious effort for great holiness.

Believe this:

It is only the first few wrenches given to the will that really hurt.

Perhaps the following words of Cardinal Newman will tempt us to take a step forward on the road:

If  you ask me what you are to do in order to be perfect, I say, first do not lie in bed beyond the time of rising; give your first thoughts to God; make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the Angelus devoutly; eat and drink to God’s glory; say the Rosary well; be recollected; keep out bad thoughts; make your evening meditation well; examine yourself daily; go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect.

Cardinal Newman

Who are called to be Saints?

Every person that is born is called to be a Saint.

Take it most certain that you – no matter how unfitted your life may seem for holiness – are being given graces sufficient, if corresponded with, to bring you to sanctity. We have already seen that nothing beyond our strength is expected; neither is sanctity the exclusive property of any grade or manner of life. Among the Saints canonized by the Church are Kings and beggars, and representatives of every trade, slaves, hermits, city people, mothers of families, invalids, soldiers, and persons of every race and colour.

A canonized Saint is a pattern provided by God, it is evident that the invitation to become Saints is extended to men and women of every type.

It is equally a fact that to those who seriously try to respond to His invitation, He gives help sufficient to carry them to the goal.

Hidden Operations of God


Fidelity to the order established by God comprehended the whole sanctity of the righteous under the old law; even that of St. Joseph, and of Mary herself.

God continues to speak to-day as He spoke in former times to our fathers when there
were no directors as at present, nor any regular method of direction. Then all spirituality
was comprised in fidelity to the designs of God, for there was no regular system of guidance
in the spiritual life to explain it in detail, nor so many instructions, precepts and examples
as there are now. Doubtless our present difficulties render this necessary, but it was not so
in the first ages when souls were more simple and straightforward. Then, for those who led
a spiritual life, each moment brought some duty to be faithfully accomplished. Their whole
attention was thus concentrated consecutively like a hand that marks the hours which, at
each moment, traverses the space allotted to it. Their minds, incessantly animated by the
impulsion of divine grace, turned imperceptibly to each new duty that presented itself by
the permission of God at different hours of the day. Such were the hidden springs by which
the conduct of Mary was actuated. Mary was the most simple of all creatures, and the most
closely united to God. Her answer to the angel when she said: “Fiat mihi secundum verbum
tuum”: contained all the mystic theology of her ancestors to whom everything was reduced,
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as it is now, to the purest, simplest submission of the soul to the will of God, under whatever
form it presents itself. This beautiful and exalted state, which was the basis of the spiritual
life of Mary, shines conspicuously in these simple words, “Fiat mihi” (Luke i, 38). Take notice
that they are in complete harmony with those which Our Lord desires that we should have
always on our lips and in our hearts: “Fiat voluntas tua.” It is true that what was required
of Mary at this great moment, was for her very great glory, but the magnificence of this glory
would have made no impression on her if she had not seen in it the fulfilment of the will of
God. In all things was she ruled by the divine will. Were her occupations ordinary, or of an
elevated nature, they were to her but the manifestation, sometimes obscure, sometimes
clear, of the operations of the most High, in which she found alike subject matter for the
glory of God. Her spirit, transported with joy, looked upon all that she had to do or to suffer
at each moment as the gift of Him who fills with good things the hearts of those who hunger
and thirst for Him alone, and have no desire for created things.

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. And I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love, I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

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