Just what is a saint? It turns out, people don’t really know
Just what is a saint? It turns out, people don’t really know
It was somewhat amusing, yet at the same time, it truly wasn’t.
As Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles and founder of the media apostolate Word on Fire, participated in the Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment in Rome, which concluded at the end of the previous month, his team ventured out into the streets of Rome to conduct some “person on the street“discussions with various young individuals.”
They began with a straightforward approach, inquiring of individuals, couples, and families: What defines a saint?
The responses were diverse and certainly amusing. Several responses came close, labeling saints as individuals who performed good deeds. At least two respondents referred to saints as individuals from long ago — figures from history and religion who had significant impacts and accomplishments. One participant mentioned that saints are those who carry prayers straight to God since we are unable to approach him directly.
Some just had no idea whatsoever. “Mom, what is a saint?” one young lady asked off-camera. “It’s related to God, isn’t it?”
The participants in the interview were also requested to identify a saint. Located in the center of Rome, a couple of them mentioned St. Peter, while several others could list two or three. One individual proclaimed all of the Church’s popes as saints, and various others chuckled or simply admitted they had no idea, unable to provide any response at all.
The video, similar to all such videos, was lively and amusing, yet it instilled a sense of complete disappointment. There is a vast amount that is unclear and misconstrued regarding the principles of the Faith. The true sorrow of that video lies in the fact that it demonstrates not only that participants couldn’t articulate what “saints” are, but that they also lacked the awareness that they were meant to be saints themselves!
On his YouTube page, where the video is postedBishop Barron communicated this message: “Their responses ought to emphasize the pressing necessity to transmit the Tradition, intensify our evangelization initiatives, and genuinely transform into missionary disciples.”
That it did.
For clarification, as stated in The Catholic Dictionary, saints are defined as, “Individuals in heaven, regardless of canonization, who have led lives marked by immense charity and remarkable virtue. They now exist eternally with God and partake in his glory.”
Their standing is what ought to inspire us in all our words and actions, as our aim is to emulate them and to join them in paradise.
Every November presents a chance to contemplate our journey towards holiness and to seek inspiration from the saints. This month serves as a splendid occasion to discuss with children about the saints, or to narrate the tale of a beloved saint and what contributed to their sanctity. Additionally, it’s a moment to remind both them — and ourselves — that we are invited to become saints! There is a lot we can do to communicate the Faith in straightforward ways with those nearby. This is profoundly essential.
Gretchen R. Crowe is editor-in-chief of Our Sunday Visitor. Follow her on Twitter @GretchenOSV.
