One of the things that many Protestant Christians have been perplexed by is the fact that Catholics often use the term “saint” in a way that refers to those saints who are in heaven–particularly those that have been canonized.
Although the Bible does apply the term “saints” to those in heaven, this use of the term isn’t dominant. Instead, the Bible refers to people here on earth as saints also, including (in the Old Testament) the Israelities (God’s original holy people) and (in the New Testament) the Christians (a new holy people).
Catholics can also acknowledge this–a fact I was reminded of recently when I was reading one of John Paul II’s last general audiences, from just a few months before he died.
In it, commenting on a canticle sung by the twenty-four elders in heaven in the book of Revelation, he said:
Now, the almighty and eternal Lord God “has taken [his] great power and begun to reign” (11: 17).
His entry into history does not only aim to curb the violent reactions of rebels (cf. Ps 2: 1, 5), but above all to exalt and reward the just.
These are defined with a series of words used to describe the spiritual features of Christians.
They are “servants” who comply faithfully with the divine law; they are “prophets”, endowed with the revealed word that interprets and judges history; they are “saints”, consecrated to God, who revere his name, that is, they are ready to adore him and to do his will [General Audience of Jan. 12, 2005].
So, while language is always changing, and while words like “saint” can take on new meanings, including the one commonly used in Catholic circles today, we can still acknowledge other uses of the term, including and especially those in the Bible.
To my understanding, a saint is one who once lived on earth, and underwent a Catholic church determination for sainthood with successful intercessions for at least 2 genuine miracles (among other requisites). Only God can be the direct cause of miracles. So that means one is a saint only with God’s approval, without exceptions. Miracles can be rather stunning, as a miracle in Lourdes happened with a grapefruit sized tumor deflated completely only half an hour after prayers. In another case, a contribution for sainthood for Padre Pio came from a miracle on a girl without a retina who recovered her sight completely with no medical intervention. And genuineness of miracles are determined by a committee of secular medical doctors, not theologians. And, there are other stunning stories.
Saints can be called so by honest people as well, as I learned later in life. It’s just that the observations come from humans, who can make mistakes. We all know some live a moral live and a hidden immoral life. @