To ask how someone becomes a saint is really to ask how God’s grace transforms a human heart. The Church does not “make” saints; it recognizes them. Every saint was first a person who allowed Christ’s love to shape their life so deeply that others could see God reflected in them.
The path to sainthood begins with holiness — living faithfully, loving deeply, and following Christ in everyday life. Most saints did not set out to become famous or honored; they simply chose to love God and neighbor without reserve. Over time, the Church may look back at such a life and discern that it shows extraordinary virtue and the power of God’s grace.
Formally, the Catholic Church has a process called canonization. It begins when a person has died with a reputation for holiness. The local bishop investigates their life and writings for faithfulness to the Gospel. If they lived heroically virtuous lives, they are called Venerable. If a miracle is attributed to their intercession, they are declared Blessed (beatified). A second confirmed miracle leads to their canonization — when the Pope officially proclaims them a Saint, worthy of public veneration and imitation by the whole Church.
But behind these steps lies something deeper. Sainthood is not a reward for perfection but a testimony of grace. Each saint shows a different face of Christ — one through charity, another through prayer, another through courage or quiet service. They remind us that holiness is possible for everyone, in every walk of life.
In truth, all of us are called to become saints. The Church’s canonized saints are signposts — living proof that the Gospel can be lived fully. When we let God’s love transform our hearts, we too begin that same journey of sanctity.
May we look to the saints not as distant heroes, but as friends and companions who show us how God can make ordinary lives radiant with His glory.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
