[matthewrobertolson]

Catholics do not “believe that only certain ones are saints because the Church says so.” We recognize that there are plenty of saints that the Church has not formally recognized. In fact, the early Church started with a more organic, more grassroots process of canonization, recognizing that there are many people in Heaven (though there are possibly even more in Hell). The Church usually just canonizes certain people to endorse particular attributes and to give clear examples of solid Christian lives.

I absolutely agree with the Bible’s definition of “saint”. The Communion of Saints encompasses both the earthly and the heavenly.

[driftdiver]

So how to you tell if someone went to Heaven?

[CynicalBear]

>>I absolutely agree with the Bible’s definition of “saint”. The Communion of Saints encompasses both the earthly and the heavenly.<<

Yeah, and God plays favorites right?

[narses]

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem;
Creatorem caeli et terrae.

Et in Jesum Christum,
Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum;
qui conceptus est
de Spiritu Sancto,
natus ex Maria virgine;
passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus;
descendit ad inferos;
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;
ascendit ad caelos;
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis;
inde venturus est
iudicare vivos et mortuos.

Credo in Spiritum Sanctum;
sanctam ecclesiam catholicam;
sanctorum communionem;
remissionem peccatorum;
carnis resurrectionem;
vitam aeternam. Amen.

In English:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
he will come again
to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen

[ealgeone]

I’m glad to hear that, but your original post that started all of this identified a saint as:

“I would contend that a saint, one who is holy and in Heaven with God, would have a lot more sway with God than a rebellious sinner on earth would.”

that’s a man-made, possibly Catholic tradition, definition that ignores the Biblical definition of a saint. the whole “canonization” of saints is again, man-made.

The Biblical definition of a saint is one who follows Christ. Doesn’t matter if you’re in Heaven or still here on earth.