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SAINTS TODAY: HOW CAN I BECOME ONE TOO?

If you want to know the nature of Sainthood and the Canonisation of Saints and cult of Saints

read Saint today: How can I become one too? By Emmanuel Iorlumun Abur.

In this book which is generally divided into two parts, Abur in the first part exposes the nature of

Sainthood. This he does by tracing the origin of sainthood to the Trinity thereby laying the

Theological Foundation of Sainthood. The concept Saint can be used in a restricted and general

sense. While the restricted sense refers to the deceased who are canonized, the general sense is

concerned with all the Faithful in heaven that are considered worthy of honour.

Sainthood is rooted in the holiness of God as well as on Jesus who is the author and perfection of

Sainthood, and the Holy Spirit that is the principle of sanctity, while Mary remains the perfect

human example of Sainthood. In an attempt to demonstrate the nature of Sainthood, he goes into

memory lane to highlight the historical development of Sainthood in the church as well as, lay

emphasis on the necessity of Saint in the Church today.

In the first century; an epoch marked by the persecution of Christians, Sainthood was seen as

synonymous to Martyrdom. Martyrdom from its etymology ‘Martyr’, originally meant testimony

given before the court in favour of truth. Overtime it acquired the meaning of giving one’s life

for the sake of Christ. Such personalities that were martyred for their faith were not officially

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canonized. However, with the passage of time, it became formalized. At this stage, it was at the

whims of the local church or council and not subject to papal approval. This practice was marked

by some abuses. Therefore, the Bishops and councils insisted that thorough investigation be

conducted to establish the veracity of the claim of Sainthood for anyone concerned.

During the medieval period, founders of religious orders were Saints and in response to criticism

from Protestants on the issue of Saints, the council of Trent categorically upheld the cult of the

Saints. Stretching the point further, he emphasizes the need for Saint today. This would be raised

from amongst us as we carry out our daily routine in love and humility.

The work identifies sanctity as a condition sine qua non for Sainthood. Holiness, as an essential

characteristic of the church is captured in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as, “One Holy

Catholic and Apostolic church. This holiness stems from the fact of the church’s position as the

new Israel. This is demanded of all members of Christ body; it is both a gift and obligation. As a

gift, it is freely given yet with it comes an obligation that is not a choice, this holiness consists in

simple acts of love in daily living, as it does not make one less human rather, one is enabled to

live humanly well.

The fourth chapter of the first part deals with the standards of holiness. Holiness thus consists

primarily of man’s response to God’s invitation to love him wholeheartedly, the type of love is

characterized by sacrifice and the fruits of this love are to be felt in one’s love for neighbour.

Equally, the Beatitudes become the yardstick of one’s holiness. This is totally in agreement with

the teaching of Jesus as portrayed by Matthew in his Gospel. The Beatitudes are the necessary

requirements for admission into God’s Kingdom. More still, one who is holy receives the gift of

the Holy Spirit and is able to bear the fruits in accordance with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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Chapter five highlights the Footprints of the Saints. The Saints are marked off by their love of

God and neighbour, the strength to show this love is derived from the Eucharist; which is a

graphic demonstration of God’s love for humanity. Saints are those who take risk positively and

productively. Their risk is not foolhardiness but exemplary and informative. This risk taking is

evinced in their willingness to let go the luxury and comfort of life, in order to follow God’s

invitation to serve him. Such persons also exhibit a great deal of humility, this, according to him,

attracts heavenly reward and like St. Theresa of Avila would say, it is the mother of all virtues.

He identifies Saint Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas who demonstrated great humility despite

their scholarly feat. Prayer is also an important component of their daily routine. As creatures

within space and time, Saints also have their imperfections, however, they make concerted

efforts to avoid such imperfections relaying on the grace of God. As beings in the temporal

world when they are offended, they are willing and ready to forgive quickly.

While the author explains the concept and nature of Sainthood, he also identifies certain

obstacles to holiness. These obstacles to holiness are the capital sins: Pride, Avarice, Envy,

Wrath, Lust, Gluttony and Sloth. They stand at variance to the seven Beatitudes and the seven

gifts of the Holy Spirit. Also sins that cry to Heaven; murder, sodomy, oppression of the poor,

and defrauding workers of their just wages can constitute an obstacle to one’s holiness as well as

sin against the Holy Spirit which for Abur, “The sin against the Holy Spirit, therefore is the

deliberate refusal to accept God’s mercy and forgiveness”.

Saints today: How can I become one too?, in its second section, answers questions concerning

the process of canonisation and the cult of Saints. However, before attempting to explain the

process of Canonisation, the author deals with the necessary path (way) that ushers us to God.

This path is Death, it is a reality that human must contend with. The joyful news, however, is that

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Christ himself conquered death on account of his own death and resurrection. His resurrection

from death assures all Christians of a life hereafter. On account of this belief, the Church

expresses belief in the communion of the Saints and thus canonizes her faithful ones who have

died, those whose lives where testimonies of faith and love, essentially indicates holiness.

As concerns the process of Canonisation, the author identifies traditional paths to Sainthood

which included Martyrdom, Holy repudiation of the servants of God and offering of life. With

the passage of time the process has been revised and improved upon. While, for instance, in time

past the role of devil’s advocate was emphasized, this has been modified. Today the investigation

process sets out to identify that the one to be Canonised, lived extraordinarily the ordinary life.

The first stage is that of servant of God. An expert investigates the life of the person concerned

beginning at the Diocesan level after five years of the person death. Thereafter, a Diocesan

Tribunal is constituted. This is accompanied by a search into the writings, speeches and sermons

to certify if the person possessed sound doctrine, devoid of heresies.

The next stage is that of venerable. After investigation at the Diocesan level is completed, the

recorded proceedings are sent to Rome to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, where the

Roman phase of the investigation begins. Further enquiries are made about the individual and

when the evidence is satisfying and convincing, a recommendation is made to the Pope to make

a proclamation of the servant of God’s heroic virtue.

The third stage is that of beatification. At this point the title Blessed is ascribed to the person.

This step depends on whether such a person is a Martyr or Confessor. When it is a Martyr, the

Pope only makes a declaration of Martyrdom and no miracle is required because his/her death is

a miracle. For the confessor, there is need for proof of miracle. A miracle must be proven to have

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taken place by his/her intercession. Such miracle is to be examined by both scientists and

theologians.

The fourth stage is that of a Saint. For Canonisation, a second miracle is to be obtained from God

through the beatified. This is to take place after the person’s death and when all these take place,

there is declaration of canonization by the Pope at a special Mass in honour of the person.

Thereafter, the Saints are assigned feast day to be celebrated within the Catholic Church.

With regard to the criteria used in determining the sanctity of candidates of Sainthood, the book

in chapter nine, identifies the Theological and Cardinal virtues. The Theological virtues are faith,

hope and charity. They are so called because, they come from God and lead us to God. The

Cardinal virtues are the virtues on which all other virtues depend. These include prudence,

justice, fortitude, temperance, abstinence, sobriety, chastity and modesty.

The book is not only informative, but equally descriptive and persuasive. Therefore, in chapter

ten, Abur gives a graphic context within which the Saints are honoured namely in the Liturgical

celebration of Saints and the cult of Saints. In a descriptive process, he indicates that the practice

of celebrating the Saints can be traced to an early Christian custom when Martyrs were annually

commemorated on the date of their death or birth into heaven as Martyrs. The first attempt at a

Sanctoral calendar was in the mid-3rd century, during this period, each local church compared list

of names of martyrs and confessors. The Roman Catholic calendar of Saints has a list of Saints

for each of its days. A fuller list of Saints can be found in the Roman Martyrology. While the

Saints are celebrated individually in line with the proper of saints, the Church also sets aside 1 st

November to celebrate all the Saints in heaven collectively. Concerning the cult of Saints, the

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author highlights that it is a special cult through which the intercession of the Saints is sought. It

is a cult of honour through which the Saints are honoured here on earth.

Emmanuel Iorlumun Abur has, no doubt in this book, clarified a lot of issues concerning the

nature of Sainthood and the process of Canonisation and the cult of Saints. He has done a

thorough study on the title “Saint today and how to become a Saint”. This is theologically

grounded with a robust exposer of the historical development of the topic. This work clearly

demonstrates that Saints are not born but made. It is very explicit in this work that it is in one’s

lived experience that Sainthood can be acquired; being extraordinary in ordinary things. The

work without using complicated jargon, challenges and invites all Christians to Sainthood, it is

up to us!