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Dear Catholic.com visitor: Summer is here, and you may be thinking about a well-deserved vacation, family get-togethers, BBQs with neighborhood friends. More than likely, making a donation to Catholic Answers is not on your radar right now. But this is exactly the time we most need your help. The “summer slowdown” in donations is upon us, but the work of spreading the gospel and explaining and defending the Faith never takes a break. Your gift today will change lives and save souls for Christ this summer! The reward is eternal. Thank you and God bless.

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Q&A

Origin of Saints

Tom Nash

Question:

Why do saints exist? I understand that there is evidence supporting the fact that Catholic people pray to saints, but where did the idea of sainthood come from?

Answer:

The word “saint” refers to one who is holy, deriving from the Latin “sanctus.” And to grow in holiness means to increasingly become more like God, which requires radical childlikeness, the antithesis of pride (Matt. 18:1-3; 19:13-15).

“Saint” is used to refer God’s disciples in both the Old Testament (e.g., 2 Chron. 6:41; Ps. 16:3) and New Testament (e.g., Matt. 27:52; Heb. 13:24).

From these examples, we see that “saint” is used equivocally, i.e., for the saints on earth (Church) and also those in heaven (Church Triumphant). There are also the saints in Purgatory, i.e., the Church Suffering (see 1 Cor. 3:10-15).

So all of God’s disciples are called to be saints and, with God’s indispensable help, we hope and pray we will one day attain the purified perfection of those reigning with God in heaven.

For more information, see our tracts on “Praying to the Saints” and “The Intercession of the Saints.”

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