FOREWORD

In the New Testament St. Paul spoke of the Christians as Saints (Colossians 1:2), but early the name was restricted to persons who were eminent for holiness. Saints are persons who distinguished themselves by heroic virtue during life and whom the Church honors as Saint either by her ordinary universal teaching authority or by a solemn definition called canonization.

Canonization implies that the persons are now in heavenly glory, that they may be publicly invoked everywhere, and that their virtues during life or martyr's death are a witness and example to the Catholic faithful.

The Church has abundant doctrine on the meaning of sanctity, its importance for the good of the Church, and the means to become holy. It offers the example and advice of those who in their own lives have reached a high degree of sanctity. The Church says: "Here are models for you to imitate. If you do what they did, according to your ability, and listen to their counsel, you can achieve what they achieved."

This is one of the main reasons for the Church's custom of venerating Saints. They are not only intercessors in heaven but also examples of virtue for the faithful on earth.

May this book on the lives of various Saint help you not only to know them but also to imitate them and to seek their intercession before God.
Father Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.