Midwest Mary

Praying with saints has been a part of my life all of my life. It’s helped me to get through the tough times. If you look at the biographies of saints, you will find them to be very human, fallible individuals who trusted in God to see them through their troubles.

I have three very favorite saints. Mary, the mother of Jesus has always topped the list. I’ve felt her presence and know she prays with me always.

Saint Margaret Queen of Scotland was a queen who shared her food, love, and prayers every day.

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin/Saint Theodora founded the college where I received my Masters Degree (Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana.) I also attended her canonization in Rome in 2006 which was an incredible event.

Following is an excerpt from a book I wrote on Mother Theodore with the help of the Sisters of Providence, Seven Principles of Sainthood Following Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. (Mother Theodore Guerin was canonized under the name of Saint Theodora. Both names are used at this time.)

This excerpt helps to explain how saints are determined in the Catholic Church.

***

“By baptism, all Christians are called to be saints. We are all to live our lives in such a way that gives glory to God. Saints are people who are in heaven after living a life of charity and goodness. The church recognizes some saints as such, but everyone’s life goal should be to strive for holiness.

We pray with saints, not to them, much like we ask our friends to pray on our behalf when we are in trouble or need. Scripture indicates the value of asking people to pray for us. Saint Paul ended his letter the Thessalonians with a request for prayer (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).

We can privately honor anyone who passed away whom we feel lived a holy life. From the beginning of Christianity, the still-living honored and asked for intercession from exemplary deceased Christians. With the approval of the local bishop, the community declared those religious (already honored by the people) to be saints.

That practice changed at the end of the first millennium. From then on, public honor of an individual as a saint required the official approval of the Catholic Church. This certification, called canonization, required a very in-depth and lengthy process.

The first person officially canonized was Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg. Pope John XV declared him a saint in the year 933. By the thirteenth century, a formal process was established for recognition of sainthood. Use of this process continues today and begins with a thorough examination of a person’s life, writings, teachings and works.

Two miracles attributed to the candidate’s intercession must occur after death. One miracle must take place before beatification when the candidate receives the title of “blessed.” The other must occur before canonization when the Church awards the person the title “saint.” The miracles indicate the person’s powerful and complete connection to God.

When we think about miracles, it is important to remember that our focus is on God, not the saint from whom we requested prayers. We worship God alone. Saint Mother Theodore intervened on Phill’s behalf by asking God for help, but only God grants miracles. Miracles are evidence of God’s goodness and glory, not the saint’s.

The church offers us saints as role models for holiness. Saints focused on all things God-like and served others before themselves. Mother Theodore said in order to become a saint we must be very submissive to the will of God. We must want only what God wants. She also said that we are obliged to suffer and not make others suffer.

There are seven official honors bestowed upon a canonized saint. These honors include: the inscription of their name in the catalog of saints and public veneration; inclusion in the Church’s public prayers; dedication of churches in the saint’s honor; inclusion in the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours; a day assigned to them in the liturgical calendar; pictorial representation; and the public veneration of their relics. “

*

Seven Principles of Sainthood is out of print from the publisher but still available on my website. I also have copies of the children’s book, Saint Theodora and Her Promise to God, and the coloring book by the same title.

©Mary K. Doyle, 2025