How does a person get named a saint?

STAGES OF BEING NAMED A SAINT: 
1. Servant of God
(means that a diocese believes the person has lived a life of heroic virture, has compiled materials testifying to the person's holiness, and sent them to the Holy See’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints) 

2. Venerable
(the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has examined the materials, perhaps looked for more testimony, recognized a life of heroic virue, and that the person's life reflects the Catholic faith) 

3. Blessed 
(a miracle of a cure is reported due to the intercession pf the Venerable person; three teams that work independently examine the miracle (doctors, theologians, and cardinals); if they and the pope agree that the cure was miraculous, the person can be officially declared blessed. If the person is acknowledged as a martyr, no miracle is needed at this stage.)
​
4. Saint
(a second miracle that goes through the same process for "Blessed" is recognized)
A 5-minute video from Busted Halo on how the Church decides to canonize: 
Personal testimony (3.5 minutes) from Fr. Jim Martin, SJ, on how the saints came to have great meaning for him:

Follow Sainthood Causes

Six fascinating, heroic, and holy African American men and women are on the way to being declared saints. 

Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood Activities Pack

Videos for all age groups ​can bring saints stories to life.



Check out this YouTube channel, Fun Facts About Saints,  where young adult Nick Becker talks about and "interviews" Saints, along with interviewing some people about Saints.  Nick, who has Downs Syndrome, is assisted by his Dad, Rick, who you will often see in costume. They have fun while sharing the facts.  (Disclaimer: not all videos have been previewed yet, as there are MANY created over the past 3 years.)

Other online resources on the saints

For Adults:

CLICK HERE for a list by Fr. Jim Martin, SJ, of "Top Ten Movies about the Saints."

For Teens:

Bishop Caggiano helps teens to engage with the saints in this 2-minute video from Saint Mary's Press: 

For Children:

LOYOLA PRESS has a series of "Little Lessons from the Saints" videos on YouTube:
RCL Benziger has a Saints Resource site with an index, maps, terms, and saints of the month. CLICK HERE
Sadlier Religion Blog has Catholic Saints Game, a matching card game available for download.  CLICK HERE

     They also offer this activity of adding saints to your family tree.  Click here for English, or 
     haga clic aquí
CLICK HERE to see why Pope Francis considers the young Blessed Carlo Acutis a model of holiness. 

CLICK HERE 
for resources on Saint Columba,
​patron saint of the Diocese of Youngstown.

Suggested books and resources on saints: 

20-Minute Retreats with the Saints: Getting in Touch with Our Desires for God and Life. 
by David B. Perrin
Twenty-Third Publications, 2019
Contains a series of thoughtful, faith-filled meditations for people who seek to find space for prayer and reflection at their own pace and in their own time. Explore such themes as leadership, sin, justice, prayer, blessing, and the cross with selected companion saints who have walked these paths and can guide us on the way.
Saints and Their Symbols: Recognizing Saints in Art and in Popular Images
by Fernando and Giola Lanzi
Liturgical Press, 2004
It used to be that we knew enough about the saints to recognize them in images or artworks without much trouble, but it is becoming a struggle.
This book is a guide for recognizing and understanding the saints. This text explains such things as why so many of the saints appear in images with Jesus and the Virgin Mary, yet remain unnamed, which symbols are associated with each saint, and what their roles were in Christian salvation. With full-color images and biographical information about the saints, it is a work of popular religious culture and anthropology.
Saint of the Day: Lives, Lessons, and Feasts
edited by Leonard Foley and Pat McCloskey
St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2003
​Each of the more than 200 entries includes a short biography of the saint, a comment linking the example of this life relevant to our own and an appropriate quotation from Scripture, and the words of the saint or another spiritual writer for reflection. 
A Circle of Saints: Stories and Activities for Children Ages 4-8
by Anne E. Neuberger
Twenty-Third Publicatins, 2009
This book offers stories of saint and a variety of creative ways for young children to know and celebrate them. Using symbols and seasons, the author creates beautiful and meaningful moments for sharing stories. 
Blessed Among Us: Day by Day with Saintly Witnesses
​by Robert Ellsberg
Liturgical Press, 2016
While the church officially recognizes a relatively small number of saints, the actual roster is infinitely wider. This book explores this eclectic "cloud of witnesses"—lay and religious, single and married, canonized and not, and even non-Christians whose faith and wisdom may illuminate our path. Brought to life in the evocative storytelling of Robert Ellsberg, they inspire the moral imagination and give witness to the myriad ways of holiness. In two stories per day for a full calendar year, Ellsberg sketches figures from biblical times to the present age and from all corners of this world—ordinary figures whose extraordinary lives point to the new age in the world to come.
Learning Centers: Saints
by Sr. Catherine Stewart, OP
Twenty-Third Publications, 2013
​These engaging and creative learning centers help students of all ages celebrate the saints. At the heart of each learning center is a story about a saint told on two levels: grades 1-3, and grades 4-6.  Brimming with craft ideas, games, maps, writing projects, and more. Easy-to-follow directions and project templates. 
Many Saints, Many Ways: Multiple Intelligences Activities for Grades 1 to 6
by Phyllis Vos Wezeman and Anna L. Liechty
Ave Maria Press, 2003
Offers a chance to explore the inspiring lives of many of the greatest saints using different activities, exercises, and other lesson ideas that fit different learning styles. 
​Saints Our Friends & Teachers: Fun & Easy Activities
by Lee Palencar
Twenty-Third Publications, 2005
​Offers delightful stories about the saints as well as patterns and simple instructions for making figures of the saints using a soft and flexible foam material (or alternate materials). Each chapter includes reasons why a particular saint can positively influence children. 
Saints and Feast Days: A Resource and Activity Book
by The Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio
Loyola Press, 2004
Hundreds of saints come alive for children through this inspiring collection of stories of saints from every walk of life, every period of history, and every part of the world. Each saint's biographical sketch is followed by suggested activities; reproducible master are provided.