Saints

Saints are deceased men and women who have been formally recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as holy (due to their actions in witnessing their faith to Christ) and worthy of being venerated as an inspiration to other Christians. In the early church, saints were martyrs to the faith. By the fourth century, confessors were also canonized (admitted into the canon of saints). These were people "confessing" or demonstrating their faith not through death but by their words and deeds. The Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints oversees the complex process by which Saints are canonized. According to the new rules laid down by Pope John Paul II in 1983, this process starts at least five years after the death of a candidate (or sooner, with the Pope's authority). Four stages are involved in canonization:

1. The bishop of the candidate's diocese opens an investigation into the virtues of the candidate and declares him or her a Servant of God.
2. The Congregation of the Causes of Saints takes over the investigation and recommends the candidate be declared Venerable by the Pope.
3. The Congregation recommends the candidate be declared Blessed (beatified) by the Pope, based on their martyrdom or proof of a miracle having occured through his or her intercession.
4. The Congregation recommends the candidate be declared a Saint (canonized) by the Pope, based on the demonstration of two more miracles having occurred through his or her intercession.

Beatification allows the candidate to be venerated, canonization requires veneration. Saints include:

• Stephen
• James, d. AD 62
• Peter, AD 32–67
• Paul, c. AD 10–67
• Thomas, d. AD 72
• Irenaeus, c. AD 185
• Victor, AD 189–199
• (Pope) Stephen I, AD 254–257
• Helen, d. AD 330
• Ambrose, c. AD 339–397
• Augustine c. AD 354–430
• Damasus I, AD 366–383
• Jerome, d. AD 419/20
• Patrick, AD 387–493(?)
• Leo I, AD 440–461
• Gelasius I, AD 492–496
• Benedict, AD 480–547
• Columba, AD 521–597
• Gregory I, c. AD 590–604
• Augustine of Canterbury, d. AD 604
• Boniface, c. AD 672–754
• Leo III, AD 795–816
• Nicholas I (the Great), AD 858–867
• Stephen I of Hungary, AD 975–1038
• Leo IX, AD 1049–1054
• Gregory VII, AD 1073–1085
• Thomas Becket, AD 1118–1170
• Dominic, AD 1170–1221
• Raymond of Peñafort, AD 1175–1275
• Francis of Assisi, AD 1181–1226
• Thomas Aquinas, c. AD 1225–1274
• Catherine of Siena, AD 1347–1380
• Ignatius de Loyola, c. AD 1491–1556
• Francis Borgia, AD 1510–1572
• Francis Xavier, AD 1506–1552
• Teresa of Avila, AD 1515–1582
• Vincent de Paul, AD 1581–1660
• Louise de Marillac, AD 1591–1660
• Elizabeth Ann Seton, AD 1775–1821
• Pius X, AD 1903–1914

More information:  Catholic Encyclopedia (Beatification & Canonization)   Wikipedia

Other sites of interest:   Patron Saints (Catholic Encyclopedia)   The Saints Portal (Wikipedia)