A saint is a particularly holy person, recognized by fellow believers as someone who lived a divine life and who is in the Divine presence after death. SACRED was a Cubesat built by the Student Satellite Program of the University of Arizona. The term is used within Christianity, with definitions varying by denomination, but English-language publications will sometimes use saint to describe a revered person from another religion. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Denominationalism|List of Christian denominations|Church (disambiguation A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name structure and doctrine within The word itself means “holy” and is derived from the Latin sanctus. The concept originates in early Greek Christian literature with the use of the word hagios (Greek άγιος meaning “holy” or “holy one”) and in the New Testament, where it is used to describe the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Nazareth (ˈnæzərəθ (נָצְרַת Hebrew Natz'rat or Natzeret, الناصرة an-Nāṣira or an-Naseriyye) is the capital and largest ^[1] (In the Old Testament, the word cognate to "holy" is the Hebrew word qodesh, קדש)

Other religions also recognize certain individuals as having particular holiness or enlightenment.

Contents 1 Characteristics and definitions 2 History 3 Christianity 3.1 Roman Catholicism 3.1.1 Canonization 3.2 Eastern Orthodoxy 3.3 Anglicanism 3.4 Protestantism 3.5 Latter-day Saints 4 Santeria - Voodoo 5 Other religions 6 See also 7 Bibliography 8 References 9 External links

Characteristics and definitions

John A. Coleman S.J., associate professor of religion and sociology at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley^[2], wrote in 1987 that saints across various cultures and religions have the following family resemblances 1. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order GTU redirects here GTU can also refer to the IMSA racing category Grand Touring Under or as in Chevrolet Beretta GTU This article is about the philosophical term proposed by Ludwig Wittgenstein not about the common observation that offspring resemble parents and one another exemplary model 2. extraordinary teacher 3. wonder worker or source of benevolent power, 4. Thaumaturgy (from the Greek words θαῦμα thaûma, stem thaumat-, meaning "miracle" or "marvel" and ἔργον érgon intercessor 5. Intercession of the saints is a Christian doctrine common to the vast majority of the world's Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Latin Rite possessor of a special and revelatory relation to the holy. Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication SACRED was a Cubesat built by the Student Satellite Program of the University of Arizona. ^[3]

The anthropologist ^[4] Lawrence Babb in an article about Sathya Sai Baba asks the question "Who is a saint?", and responds by saying that in the symbolic infrastructure of some religions, there is the image of certain extraordinary spiritual persons who are "commonly believed to possess miraculous powers", and to whom frequently a certain moral presence is attributed. Sathya Sai Baba ( Telugu: సత్య సాయి బాబా was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23 1926 &mdash or later than These saintly figures, he asserts, are "the focal points of spiritual force-fields," exerting "powerful attractive influence on followers but touch the inner lives of others in transforming ways as well. "^[5]

History

According to the Church of England, a saint is one who is sanctified, as it translates in the Authorised King James Version (1611) 2 Chronicles 6:41

Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican The Books of Chronicles ( Hebrew Divrei Hayyamim, דברי הימים Greek Paraleipomêna) are part of the Hebrew Bible (Jewish

The early Christians were all called saints (Book of Hebrews 13:24; Jude 1:3; Philemon 1:5, 7). The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr Heb for Citations is one of the books in the New Testament. This is based on the mistranslated 1917 version of The Jewish Publication Society of America Hebrew Bible which translated "Hasidism" in that verse as "saints", rather than as "pious" (from the Hebrew root word חסד, /chesed/, meaning "lovingkindness"). The term Hebrew Bible is a generic reference to those books of the Bible originally written in Biblical Hebrew (and the related Biblical Aramaic Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc from the Hebrew: he '''''חסידות''''', Chassidus, meaning "piety" from the Hebrew ^[6]

The concept of sainthood is rooted in the Christian belief that aligning one’s motives and actions with the will of God makes one more perfect and holy, and that it is possible in life to approach perfection. From early days of Christianity, Paul the Apostle and others used the word agios (“holy”) to refer not only to all living believers (as in Philippians 4:21-22 or Revelation 20:9) but, at times, also to those in heaven (as in 1 Thessalonians 3:13). Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and ^[7] As Christianity developed, the word saint came to be used more commonly to designate specific individuals who were held to be exemplars of the faith, and who were commemorated or venerated as an inspiration to other Christians. Initially, the term was used to describe those who had been martyrs for the faith. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Other believers would gather at the martyr’s grave, and celebrate the Eucharist there. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those The ceremony took the form of a joyful, triumphant celebration. The first recorded instance of such ceremonies is the annual celebrations at the grave of Polycarp in the second century. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (ca 69 – ca 155 was a second century Bishop of Smyrna. ^[8] From the beginning of Christianity, Christians prayed to departed friends and relatives to intercede on their behalf, and such prayers were soon extended to those regarded as saints. Distinguish from "inter-session" ie "between Sessions " Intercession, in both Christianity and Islam, Rather quickly, the saints' intercession was sought more frequently than that of departed personal friends. Bishops and martyrs tended to be the most frequently venerated during these early years. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Examples of early requests for intercession can be found in the Catacombs of Rome. The Catacombs of Rome are ancient Catacombs or underground Burial places under or near Rome, Italy, of which there are at least forty some discovered ^[8]

Shortly thereafter, another type of saint became recognized. This was the anchorite or hermit, of the type of Anthony of Egypt. Anchorite (male/ anchoress (female (adj anchoritic from the Greek anachōreō signifying "to withdraw" "to depart into the rural countryside" A hermit (from the Greek ἔρημος erēmos, signifying " Desert " "uninhabited" hence "desert-dweller" adjective "eremitic" Saint Anthony the Great (c 251–356 also known as Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Although hermits did not die in the physical sense, they did resolve to die to the pleasures of the world, making them effectively martyrs. Subsequently, after the formation of monasteries, monks came under consideration as saints. This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. When convents were formed, nuns began to be canonized. A convent is a community of Priests religious brothers religious sisters or Nuns or the building used by the community particularly in the Roman Catholic Church Also, outstanding laymen became more frequently considered as saints.

To assist in the differentiation of the various kinds of saints, terms were invented to differentiate between them. In addition to the existing bishop, martyr, and hermit, Virgin and Matron for women, Confessor, Abbott and Abbess, Priest, and other words were added. Matron is the job title of a very senior Nurse in several countries including the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland although the title Clinical The title confessor is used in the Christian Church in several ways An abbess ( Latin abbatissa fem form of abbas Abbot) is the female superior, or Mother Superior, of an Abbey A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Since then, churches have created additional such terms to assist in differentiating the ever-proliferating types.

Within the Roman Catholic tradition, a formal process of canonization developed for identifying individuals as saints. Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints Within Orthodox tradition, some saints are universally recognized, while others are defined and remembered only by local churches.

Within some Protestant traditions, saint is also used to refer to any born-again Christian.

Abbreviation for the term Saint is usually “St”; in cases where multiple Saints are referenced “SS. For the HTML tag see HTML element. An abbreviation (from Latin brevis "short" ” is the norm.

Christianity

Roman Catholicism

There are more than 10,000 Roman Catholic saints. ^[9] The older term for saint is martyr, meaning someone who would rather die than give up their faith, or more specifically, witness for God. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. However, as the word martyr took on more and more the meaning of "one who died for the Faith," the term saint, meaning holy, became more common to describe the whole of Christian witnesses, both martyrs and confessors. The title confessor is used in the Christian Church in several ways The Catholic Church teaches that it does not, in fact, make anyone a saint. Rather, it recognizes a saint. In the Roman Catholic church, the title of Saint - with a capital 'S' - refers to a person who has been formally canonized (officially recognised) by the Church. Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints

Also, by this definition there are many people believed to be in heaven who have not been formally declared as Saints (most typically due to their obscurity and the involved process of formal canonization) but who may nevertheless generically be referred to as saints (lowercase 's'). Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond Anyone in heaven is, in the technical sense, a saint. Unofficial devotions to uncanonised individuals take place in certain regions.

The veneration of saints, in Latin, cultus, or the cult of the saints, describes a particular popular devotion to the saints. In Christianity, veneration ( Latin veneratio, Greek &delta&omicron&upsilon&lambda&iota&alpha dulia) or veneration of saints Although the term "worship" is often used, it is intended in the old sense meaning to honor or give respect (dulia). This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W Divine Worship is properly reserved only for God (latria) and never to the Saints. In Roman Catholic theology, since God is the God of the Living, then it follows that the saints are alive in Heaven. As "special friends of God" they can be asked to intercede or pray for those still on earth. A saint may be designated as a patron saint of particular causes or professions, or invoked against specific illnesses or disasters. The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members They are not thought to have power of their own, but only that granted by God. Relics of saints are respected in a similar manner to holy images and icons. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. The practices of past centuries in calling upon relics of saints for healing is taken from the early Christian church. The worship of saints is referred to as 'hagiolatry'.

Once a person has been declared a saint, the body of the saint is considered holy. The remains of saints are called holy relics and are usually used in Churches. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial The saints' personal belongings may also be used as relics. Some of the saints have a symbol that represents their life. Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life

Canonization

Main article: Canonization

In the Roman Catholic tradition, a person that is seen as exceptionally holy can be declared a saint by a formal process, called canonization. Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints This particular form of recognition formally allows the person so canonized to be listed in the official Litany of the Saints during Mass. The Litany of the Saints ( Latin, Litania Sanctorum) is a sacred Prayer of the Roman Catholic Church. The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Formal canonization is a lengthy process often taking many years, even centuries. The first step in this process is an investigation of the candidate's life, undertaken by an expert. After this, the report on the candidate is given to the bishop of the area and more studying is done. It is then sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. If they approve it, then the person may be granted the title of "Venerable", further investigations may lead to the candidate's beatification and given title of "Blessed. " At a minimum, two important miracles are required to be formally declared a saint. The Church, however, places special weight on those miracles or instances of intercession that happened after the individual died and which are seen to demonstrate the saint's continued special relationship with God after death. A miracle is an event believed to be caused by interposition of Divine intervention by a Supernatural being in the Universe by which the ordinary operation Finally, when all of this is done the Pope canonises the saint. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and

Eastern Orthodoxy

Further information: Glorification

In the Eastern Orthodox Church a Saint is defined as anyone who is in Heaven, whether recognized here on earth, or not. Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond By this definition, Adam and Eve, Moses, the various Prophets, the Angels and Archangels are all given the title of "Saint". Adam (אָדָם ʼĀḏām, "dust man mankind" آدم; Ge'ez: አዳ and Eve (חַוָּה Ḥawwā, "living Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition Archangels are superior or higher-ranking Angels Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions including Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism

Orthodox belief considers that God reveals his Saints through answered prayers and other miracles. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Saints are usually recognized by a local community, often by people who directly knew them. As their popularity grows they are often then recognized by the entire church. The formal process of recognition involves deliberation by a synod of Bishops. If successful, this is followed by a service of Glorification in which the Saint is given a day on the church calendar to be celebrated by the entire church. This does not however make the person a saint; the person already was a saint and the Church ultimately recognized it.

It is believed that one of the ways the holiness (saintliness) of a person is revealed is through the condition of their relics (remains). In some Orthodox countries (such as Greece, but not in Russia) graves are often reused after 3 to 5 years because of limited space. Bones are washed and placed in an ossuary, often with the person's name written on the skull. An ossuary is a chest building well or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains Occasionally when a body is exhumed something miraculous is reported as having occurred; exhumed bones are claimed to have given off a fragrance, like flowers, or a body is reported as having remained free of decay, despite not having been embalmed (traditionally the Orthodox do not embalm the dead) and having been buried for some years in the earth. Embalming, in most modern Cultures is the Art and Science of temporarily preserving human remains to forestall Decomposition

The reason relics are considered sacred is because, for the Orthodox, the separation of body and soul is unnatural. Body and soul both comprise the person, and in the end, body and soul will be reunited; therefore, the body of a saint shares in the “Holiness” of the soul of the saint. As a general rule only clergy will touch relics in order to move them or carry them in procession, however, in veneration the faithful will kiss the relic to show love and respect toward the saint. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. In Christianity, veneration ( Latin veneratio, Greek &delta&omicron&upsilon&lambda&iota&alpha dulia) or veneration of saints Every altar in every Orthodox church contains relics, usually of martyrs. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Church interiors are covered with the Icons of saints. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity.

Because the Church shows no true distinction between the living and the dead (the Saints are considered to be alive in Heaven), saints are referred to as if they were still alive. Saints are venerated but not worshipped. They are believed to be able to intercede for salvation and help mankind either through direct communion with God, or by personal intervention.

When a person is baptized in the Orthodox Church, he or she is given a new name, always the name of a saint. Regardless of the name a person was born with, the person begins to use his saint's name as his own during Communion, to help indicate that through his baptism the person has begun his life anew. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those This saint becomes one's personal patron, and his saint's day is also celebrated as a personal holiday. After infant baptism became widespread, though, the child usually received the name in a ceremony held 8 days after the birth, inside the house. Nowadays this service has almost become obsolete and the child is named at baptism.

Anglicanism

Main article: Saints in Anglicanism

In the Anglican Church, the title of Saint - with a capital 'S' - refers to a person who has been elevated by popular opinion as a pious and holy person. In a Catholic sense the term "saint" refers to any person in Heaven&mdashhowever since the 10th century the title "Saint" is only given to persons who have been officially See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The saints are seen as models of holiness to be imitated, and as a 'cloud of witnesses' that strengthen and encourage the believer during his or her spiritual journey (Hebrews 12:1). The saints are seen as elder brothers and sisters in Christ. Official Anglican creeds recognise the existence of the saints in heaven.

So far as saintly intercession is concerned, Article XXII of Church of England's Articles of Religion "Of Purgatory" condemns "the Romish Doctrine concerning. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion were established in 1563 and are the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine in relation to the controversies of the See also Intermediate state Limbo|Heaven|Sheol|Hades in Christianity|Hell in Christianity Purgatory, in the original sense is the condition or process of purification . . (the) Invocation of Saints" as "a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God". However, each of the 44 member churches in the Anglican Communion are free to adopt and authorise their own official documents, and the Articles are not officially normative in all of them (e. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches g. , The Episcopal Church USA, which relegates them to "Historical Documents"). Anglo-Catholics in Anglican provinces using the Articles often make a distinction between a "Romish" and a "Patristic" doctrine concerning the invocation of saints, permitting the latter.

Some Anglicans and Anglican churches, particularly Anglo-Catholics, personally ask prayers of the saints. However, such a practice is not found in any official Anglican liturgy. Anglicans believe that the only effective Mediator between the believer and the Father is the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " But those who pray to saints make a distinction between "mediator" and "intercessor," and claim that asking for the prayers of the saints in no different in kind than asking for the prayers of living Christians.

Anglican Catholic denominations understand sainthood in a more Roman Catholic or Orthodox way, often praying for intercessions from the saints and celebrating their feast days. The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism (or sometimes possibly incorrectly High Church &mdashsee below describe people The word orthodox, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion" from orthos ("right true straight" + doxa ("opinion

Protestantism

In many Protestant churches, the word "Saint" is used more generally to refer to anyone who is a Christian. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth This is similar in usage to Paul's numerous references in the New Testament of the Bible. Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and In this sense, anyone who is within the Body of Christ (i. Body of Christ is a term of Christian Theology, implicitly traceable to Jesus 's statement at the Last Supper that "This is my body" e. , a professing Christian) is a 'saint' because of their relationship with Jesus. Because of this, many Protestants consider prayers to the saints to be idolatry or even necromancy. Intercession of the saints is a Christian doctrine common to the vast majority of the world's Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Latin Rite Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. Necromancy ( Greek νεκρομαντία nekromantía) is a form of Divination in which the practitioner seeks to summon "operative spirits"

There are some groups which are generally classified as Protestants who do not accept the idea of the communion of saints. The Communion of Saints (in Latin, communio sanctorum) is the spiritual union of all Christians living and the dead those on earth in Heaven These groups, which are often more specifically referred to as Restorationists, do not believe in the efficacy of the intercession of saints. For other usages see Restoration (general disambiguation Apokatastasis (universal restoration Christian Zionism (restoration of Israel and This is primarily due to two distinct, but opposing beliefs found within the various "Restorationists". Some believe all of the departed are in soul sleep until the final resurrection on Judgment Day. See also Intermediate state In Christian theology, soul sleep is a belief that the Soul sleeps unconsciously between the Death of the This article concerns itself with Jesus Christ Christian, Islamic and other religious interpretations of resurrection in general In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment or Day of the Lord is the judgment by God of every human who ever lived Others believe that the departed go to either Paradise or Tartarus, to await the day in which the living and the dead are judged. Paradise is a word of Persian origin ( Persian: پردیس Pardìs) that is generally identified with the Garden of Eden or with Heaven. In classic Greek mythology below Heaven, Earth, and Pontus is Tartarus, or Tartaros ( Greek Τάρταρος deep place

High church Lutherans may use the term "saint" similarly to the manner in which other Catholics use it. " High Church " relates to Ecclesiology and Liturgy in Anglican theology and practice Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther

Further information: Priesthood of all believers

Latter-day Saints

The beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons with regard to saints are similar to the Protestant tradition described above. The universal priesthood or the priesthood of all believers, as it would come to be known in the present day is a Christian doctrine believed to be derived from several The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon In the New Testament the saints are all those who have entered into the Christian covenant. The qualification "Latter-Day" Saints refers to the doctrine that members are living in the "latter days" before the second coming of Jesus Christ, and is used to distinguish the modern church from the ancient Christian church. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Therefore members refer to themselves as "Latter-day Saints", or simply "Saints", most often among themselves.

Santeria - Voodoo

The veneration of Roman Catholic saints forms the basis of the Cuban Santería religion. In Christianity, veneration ( Latin veneratio, Greek &delta&omicron&upsilon&lambda&iota&alpha dulia) or veneration of saints Santería, also known as La Regla de Lukumi (Lukumi's Rule and The Way of the Saints is an Afro-Cuban religious tradition derived from traditional beliefs In Santería, saints are syncretised with Yoruban deities, and are equally worshipped in churches (where they appear as saints) and in Santería religious festivities, where they appear as deities (orishas); however, this practice is condemned vehemently by the Roman Catholic Church as sacrilegious and contrary to Catholic practice. Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought The Yoruba religion is the religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people both in Africa (chiefly in Nigeria and Benin Republic) See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always An Orisha (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God in the Yoruba spiritual

Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Brazilian Umbanda and other similar religions adopted the Roman Catholic Saints, or the images of the saints, as representations of their own spirits/deities or 'Orishas' in Santeria and 'Lwa' in Vodoun. vodoo, vodun, or vodoun may refer to any of West African vodun, a west African religion Haitian vodou, mostly derived Basic beliefs and practices The Umbanda creeds and practices are an eclectic mixture from three main sources from Catholicism Umbanda adopted the ideas of Although there are many similarities between Vodoun and Santeria, they are different in respect to origin and language (Vodou is French, Santeria is Spanish). The adoption of Catholic Saints was fairly common in the religions that were adapted by the slaves in the New World. It can be understood as an example of faux-Catholicism.

Other religions

The concept of sainthood developed in the Christian tradition. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST caitanya mahāprabhu) ( Bengali চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভূ (1486 - However, there are parallel concepts in other religions that recognize certain individuals as having particular holiness (or enlightenment). Judaism speaks of a class of (unidentified) individuals known as Tzadikkim. For the Hebrew letter "Tzadik" see Tsade. Tzadik ( צדיק, "righteous one" pl Some other faiths honor individuals as "saints" or equivalent as well.

There are individuals who have been described as being Hindu saints, most of whom have also been more specifically identified by the terms Mahatma, Paramahamsa, or Swami, or with the titles Sri or Srila. Saints are recognized in Hinduism although it does not require canonization or similar formal process to acknowledge a person as one Mahatma is Sanskrit for "Great Soul" (महात्मा mahātmā: महा mahā (great + आत्मं or आत्मन Paramahamsa (परमहंस (also spelt paramahansa or paramhansa) is a Sanskrit religio-theological Title of honor applied to Swami (Sw (स्वामी Svāmi, IPA:) is primarily a Hindu honorific title for either males or females SRi is a specification (spec badge given to mid-sized or larger cars which are fitted with performance engine suspension or other performance enhancements as standard However, modern use of these terms has been strongly influenced by Theosophy. This article is about the philosophy introduced by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Buddhists hold the Arhats and Arahants in special esteem. In the sramanic traditions of ancient India (most notably those of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha) arhat ( Sanskrit) or arahant In the sramanic traditions of ancient India (most notably those of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha) arhat ( Sanskrit) or arahant Some groups of Islam hold the hadrat in similar esteem. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Hadrat or Hazrat or Hadhrat (حضرات is an honorific Arabic title used to honor a person

Anthropologists have also noted the parallels between the regard for some Sufi figures in popular Muslim observance and Christian ideas of sainthood. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف In some Muslim countries there are shrines at the tombs of Sufi "saints", with the observation of festival days on the anniversary of death, and a tradition of miracle-working. In some cases, the rites are observed according to the solar calendar, rather than the normal Islamic lunar calendar. ^[10]

While there are parallels between these (and other) concepts and that of sainthood, it is important to remember that each of these concepts has specific meanings within their given religion, and not all of those meanings are identical with the meaning of the idea of sainthood. Also, several religions which are at times considered to be new religious movements have taken to using the word, sometimes in cases where the people so named were generally not regarded to be Christians, in the conventional sense. A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith or an ethical spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that is not part Some of the Cao Dai saints and Saints of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica are examples of such. Cao Đài ( Vietnamese:) is a relatively new syncretist, Monotheistic Religion, officially established in Tây Ninh, The Gnostic Saints of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica are a series of historical and mythological figures revered in the religion of Thelema.

The concept of sant or bhagat found in North Indian religious tradition, is unrelated and a false cognate of "saint". Sant Mat was a loosely associated group of teachers that became prominent in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent from about the 13th century In Hinduism a bhagat (from Sanskrit Bhakta) is a holy person who leads humanity towards God. False cognates are pairs of words in the same or different Languages that are similar in form and meaning but have different roots. Figures such as Kabir, Ravidas, Nanak, and others are widely regarded as belonging to the Sant tradition. Al-Kabir "the Great" is also one of the 99 names of God in Islam Indian Hindu religious leader and founder Satguru of the " Ravidasi " beliefs revered by most Hindus as a Sant, by Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Some of their mystical compositions are incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the The term "Sant" is still sometimes loosely applied to living individuals in the Sikh and related communities.

See also

• Calendar of saints
• Catholic calendar of saints
• Communion of Saints
• Congregation for the Causes of Saints
• List of saints
• List of canonizations
• Martyrology
• Patron saint
• Intercession of saints
• Secular saint
• Hagiography
• Symbology of the Saints
• Coptic Saints
• Flying Saints
• Synaxarion
• Icon

Bibliography

• Cunningham, Lawrence S. The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints For earlier forms of the General Roman Calendar see the Tridentine Calendar, the General Roman Calendar as in 1954, General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius The Communion of Saints (in Latin, communio sanctorum) is the spiritual union of all Christians living and the dead those on earth in Heaven The Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints ( Congregatio de Causis Sanctorum) is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process This is an incomplete list of Christian Saints in alphabetical order by Christian name but if necessary by surname the place or attribute part of name as well For a list of saints and blessed Roman Catholics see Chronological list of saints and blesseds. A martyrology is a catalogue or list of Martyrs (or more precisely of Saints, arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members Intercession of the saints is a Christian doctrine common to the vast majority of the world's Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Latin Rite A secular saint is someone venerated and respected for contributions to a noble cause but not recognized as a canonical saint by a religion Hagiography ( is the study of Saints. A hagiography, from Greek (hağios (ἅγιος "holy" or "saint" and graphē (γραφή Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life Egypt was one of the first countries to know Christianity, with Saint Mark the Evangelist bringing Christianity to the country around 55 AD There are numerous Saints to whom the ability to fly or levitate in spite of their weight has been attributed Synaxarium, Synaxarion, Synexarium, Synexarion, pl Synaxaria ( Greek: Συναξάριον, from συναγειν An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. The Meaning of Saints. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1980.
• Hawley, John Stratton, ed. Saints and Virtues. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1987.
• Hein, David. "Saints: Holy, Not Tame. " Sewanee Theological Review 49 (2006): 204–17.
• Hein, David. "Farrer on Friendship, Sainthood, and the Will of God. " In Captured by the Crucified: The Practical Theology of Austin Farrer. Austin Marsden Farrer (1904– 29 December 1968) was an English Theologian and Philosopher. Edited by David Hein and Edward Hugh Henderson. New York and London: T & T Clark / Continuum, 2004. 119-48.
• O'Malley, Vincent J. "Ordinary Suffering of Extraordinary Saints", 1999. ISBN 0-87973-893-6
• Perham, Michael. The Communion of Saints. London: Alcuin Club / SPCK, 1980.
• Woodward, Kenneth L. Making Saints. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.
• Jean-Luc Deuffic (éd. ), Reliques et sainteté dans l'espace médiéval [1]

References

External links

• Saints & Angels (catholic. org)
• Internet Medieval Sourcebook - Saint's Lives (fordham. edu)
• Vaishnava Saints (vrindavan. org)
• Patron Saints (scborromeo. rg)
• Saint of the Day (americancatholic. org)
• The Bollandists Specialists in hagiography

Stages of Canonization in the Roman Catholic Church
Servant of God   →   Venerable   →   Blessed   →   Saint

Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints Servant of God is a title given to certain people in several different Religions but in general usage the phrase "servant of God" is used as a description of a person The Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. Beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed via Greek μακάριος makarios) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic church

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