My Wife is a Saint …
Maybe You Are Too!!!!
I can’t believe how many times I have heard the phrase, “Your wife must be a Saint to put up with you!” It is usually a good natured comment, (Or at least I hope it’s good natured!), and I just smile and nod my agreement and it goes on from there. There is no doubt about it, “Sainthood” certainly is some-thing that appears to deserve special recognition when it is accomplished! That got me to thinking, what does it take to be a Saint?
The process of becoming a Saint is known as “Canonization.” I have included some of the major points of that process here, per the website https://people.howstuffworks.com/question6191.htm
The Steps of Canonization
Here are the steps that must be followed in the process of canonization:
- A local bishop investigates the candidate’s life and writings for evidence of heroic virtue. The information uncovered by the bishop is sent to the Vatican.
- A panel of theologians and the cardinals of the Congregation for Cause of Saints evaluate the candidate’s life.
- If the panel approves, the pope proclaims that the candidate is venerable, which means that the person is a role model of Catholic virtues.
- The next step toward sainthood is beatification, which allows a person to be honored by a particular group or region. In order to beatify a candidate, it must be shown that the person is responsible for a posthumous miracle. Martyrs — those who died for their religious cause — can be beatified without evidence of a miracle. On Oct. 20, 2003, Mother Teresa was beatified. She is now known as Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata.
- In order for the candidate to be considered a saint, there must be proof of a second posthumous miracle. If there is, the person is canonized.
These alleged miracles must be submitted to the Vatican for verification. Sister Teresia Benedicta of the Cross was canonized in 1997 after the Vatican verified that a young girl who ate seven times the lethal dose of Tylenol was suddenly cured. The girl’s family was said to have prayed to the spirit of Sister Teresia for help.
In Mother Teresa’s case, her supporters are arguing that she has performed at least two posthumous miracles. In one case, a French woman in the United States broke several ribs in a car accident — reportedly, her wounds were healed because she was wearing a Mother Teresa medallion. Another possible miracle occurred when Mother Teresa appeared in the dreams of a Palestinian girl, telling the girl that her cancer was cured.
Once a person is a saint, he or she is recommended to the entire Catholic church for veneration. Some saints are selected as patron saints, special protectors or guardians over particular occupations, illnesses, churches, countries or causes. For example, the Pope is planning on naming a patron saint of Internet users and computer programmers. Several saints are being considered, but the lead candidate is St. Isidore of Seville, who is credited with writing the world’s first encyclopedia.
WOW!!!! That is quite the process! Yet, as we know, there are a lot of Saints! In fact, why don’t you take just a minute and list all of the Saints you can think of. After you finish that list, I want you to take another minute and list all of the followers of Christ that you know. When you finish that list, take yet another minute and put a check next to all of them that you believe should be considered a Saint.
Now, I am going to share what is a little known fact among most people – – including Christians: Everyone who is a follower of Christ IS a Saint!
I can hear it now – – – people all over the nation yelling, “Martha, honest, Floyder really has lost his mind this time! He just said that your crazy brother Joe is a Saint, just because he’s a Christian.” The thing is, I’m not the one who says this — THE BIBLE does! And, in a multitude of places! Perhaps the place this is best shown in Revelations 14:12 – Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
As you can see, everyone who has ever loved God, in any part of the trinity, is a Saint! As you will discover in the verses I have included at the end of this piece, this sentiment is prevalent throughout the whole of THE BIBLE! And, I didn’t even include all of the scriptures that I could have!!!
“Alright, Floyder,” I can hear you thinking, “if that’s the case, why do we have all those ‘Steps to Sainthood’ you shared earlier?” I can sum it up in one word: Manification – Man altering Biblical Truths to meet their own needs. Just like Salvation, Sainthood is obtained through Grace, not Works! In fact, if you noticed, it was even mandated that to be a Saint you had to do miracles even after you died! (By the way, Elisha actually did accomplish this by raising someone from the dead after he died!!) And that’s the GOOD NEWS for today: Due to the Grace of God, as the old Spiritual, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN voices, we will be “In that Number,” when the Saints go Marching In.”
So – – – again I say, My Wife is a Saint … Maybe You Are Too!!!!
BIBLE VERSES REGARDING “SAINTS”
Deuteronomy 33:3 – Yea, he loved the people; all his saints [are] in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; [every one] shall receive of thy words.
Psalms 16:3 – [But] to the saints that [are] in the earth, and [to] the excellent, in whom [is] all my delight.
Psalms 30:4 – Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psalms 34:9 – O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.
Psalms 50:5 – Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Proverbs 2:8 – He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Matthew 27:52 – And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Acts 9:13 – Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Acts 9:32 – And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
Romans 1:7 – To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:27 – And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.
Romans 15:25 – But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
Corinthians-1 1:2 – Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Corinthians-2 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
Corinthians-2 13:13 – All the saints salute you.
Ephesians 4:12 – For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Philemon 1:5 – Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Hebrews 6:10 – For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Revelations 5:8 – And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Revelations 14:12 – Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.