The Church canonizes these men and women for our example and edification. Every one of us, no matter our vocation, is called to be holy; to strive for the highest possible union with God this of eternity. The truth is that everyone who is in Heaven is a saint. But some men and women are canonized and given the title 'Saint' because they were men and women of heroic virtue whom the Church declares to definitively be in Heaven after a close examination of their life and evidence of miracles attributed to their intercession. These Saints provide a positive example for us here on earth of truly holy and exemplary life.
Not all of them were holy from their earliest years; in fact, some were great sinners - like St. Augustine and Blessed Bartolo Longo. Yet each one of them became deeply converted and conformed to God. These sinners who became Saints give us hope for what God's grace can do in our lives. We might feel like we'll never be holy enough to be a saint and make it to Heaven, but we have only to look at these Saints to realize that God's grace and mercy are infinite and can accomplish anything in a soul that is docile. St. Paul went from persecuting and killing the first Christians to becoming one of the greatest evangelizers and teachers of the Catholic faith, even being martyred for what he believed. In his second letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes, "[God's] power is made perfect in weakness... When I am weak, then I am strong" (from 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10). The weaker we are, the more God's power can be made manifest in us. All we have to do is love and allow God to work through our weaknesses. The weaker we are, the greater the right we have to claim God's mercy.
The Saints are examples for us because we can look at their lives and see the circumstances they lived in and how they were able to overcome obstacles, persevere in trial, resist temptation, and grow in holiness. The Communion of Saints consists of the Church Militant (those souls here on earth), the Church Suffering (those Holy Souls in Purgatory), and the Church Triumphant (all those souls who are in Heaven). Some Saints have been canonized because their lives provide an exceptional witness and example to us on earth who are still striving for Heaven. Not everyone who gets to Heaven will be canonized, and not everyone whom we think should be canonized will be. But we must not get caught up with striving for this universal recognition in the Church, since then we get caught up in the worldly pride of wanting recognition for our good and virtuous life.
Rather, let us all strive for the highest degree of holiness we are capable of, thinking not of the prize formal recognition but of utmost union with God and the prize of Heaven. In our journey deeper in holiness, let us look to the example of the Saints, taking from their example the strength and courage needed to stand up for what is most important in our lives and to follow where God leads us with conviction and trust.
"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24)
Written by Catherine
