On the Nature of Sainthood

What makes someone a “saint” as opposed to someone who is just popular and persuasive and affable? What makes someone genuinely deep rather than merely fashionable? What makes a person inwardly spiritual rather than outwardly religious?

My understanding of sainthood comes from the life and example of Jesus Christ; A vision of what it means to be a fully integrated human person who is healthy and whole in body, spirit, and soul; And the Fruit of the Spirit found in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and Galatians. I offer this short and preliminary definition as a guide to help us think through how we are being formed spiritually, and the kinds of persons we may look up to as spiritual exemplars.

A Saint is a Holy Person who is filled with the Holy Spirit, and acts as a conduit of the Spirit to heal and empower others for full human flourishing, following the Pattern of Christ himself. This full flourishing includes physical, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. 

Physically, flourishing entails the maximal amount of health and strength and mobility and agility and endurance that a person is capable of, given their disposition and age, and the kinds of activities they need to be equipped for. 

Spiritually, flourishing results in a deep sense of meaning and purpose in life; An intimate and life-giving relationship with Ultimate Reality as they understand it; And a steadfast commitment to a Supreme Value greater than themselves, which they serve, and sacrifice for, and base their decisions on. 

Emotionally, flourishing is embodied when a person is filled with conspicuous Virtue: 

• When they radiate self-giving LOVE and compassion to everyone around them, whether friend or foe; 
• When they have a deep and abiding JOY, and keen sense of humor, despite whether they like or dislike what is happening; 
• When they experience unshakable PEACE and serenity, no matter what external events threaten them; 
• When they exemplify PATIENCE and hope, awaiting the right time and place to speak and act with maximal effectiveness; 
• When they are absolutely committed to GOODNESS as defined by their Supreme Value, and are honest when they fall short of it; 
• When KINDNESS and mercy motivate every action and relationship, as they strive to be redemptive and healing in their interactions with others; 
• When they demonstrate FAITHFULNESS to their commitments, reliability in their dealings, and trustworthiness in their communication; 
• When they show MEEKNESS and humility, never seeking the spotlight for themselves, but always using their gifts and talents for the betterment of others whether recognized or not; 
• When they have SELF-CONTROL and discipline, neither held in bondage by likes and dislikes, nor enslaved to addictions and habits which waste resources and health; 
• When they pursue WISDOM with intellectual curiosity and rational consistency, to shine the Light of Truth on all they come in contact with. 

This, in short, is the kind of wholly holy, wholly whole Person who embodies Christlikeness and fulfills the hopes of the World’s Great Spiritual Paths. These kinds of people are exemplars who "practice what they preach", and who preach primarily by embodying a life of human excellence intellectually, emotionally, socially, ethically, and spiritually.