The Qualification of a Saint
Roman Catholic vs Biblical Views
by Henry Velez; Editor

INTRO:
The process by which a person can become a 'beatified' (official) saint according to Roman Catholic doctrine is a long, arduous process known as 'canonization'. The qualification of a saint according to the Bible is much more direct and differs in both it's requirements and definition of words such as 'saint' and 'holy'.

While some may not see the doctrinal harm in such a difference, it is at its root an important issue what a believer is taught in regards to how he or she is perceived by God. In Roman Catholicism one works towards 'becoming' a verifiable saint. Meanwhile, according to the Bible, one is made a 'holy saint' by God even at the outset of their salvation. The Bible sees the process of 'sanctification' (setting one's self apart to be holy) as the result of a continued life with God, while Roman Catholic doctrine sees the need to first run a believer through a set of requirements before being officiated as a saint.

Roman Catholic doctrine states:
Before one can be seen in the eyes of the Mother Church as a saint, one must first meet the requirements set forth by the Pope and Vatican. According to "Catholic Online", a pro-Catholic spokes-venue for Catholic doctrine, it has the following to say of the canonization process; (quote) 

"Canonization, the process the Church uses to name a saint, has only been used since the tenth century. For hundreds of years, starting with the first martyrs of the early Church, saints were chosen by public acclaim. Though this was a more democratic way to recognize saints, some saints' stories were distorted by legend and some never existed. Gradually, the bishops and finally the Vatican took over authority for approving saints. 
"In 1983, Pope John Paul II made sweeping changes in the canonization procedure. The process begins after the death of a Catholic whom people regard as holy. Often, the process starts many years after death in order give perspective on the candidate. The local bishop investigates the candidate's life and writings for heroic virtue (or martyrdom) and orthodoxy of doctrine. Then a panel of theologians at the Vatican evaluates the candidate. After approval by the panel and cardinals of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the pope proclaims the candidate "venerable." 
"The next step, beatification, requires evidence of one miracle (except in the case of martyrs). Since miracles are considered proof that the person is in heaven and can intercede for us, the miracle must take place after the candidate's death and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate. When the pope proclaims the candidate beatified or "blessed," the person can be venerated by a particular region or group of people with whom the person holds special importance. 
Only after one more miracle will the pope canonize the saint (this includes martyrs as well). The title of saint tells us that the person lived a holy life, is in heaven, and is to be honored by the universal Church. Canonization does not "make" a person a saint; it recognizes what God has already done. 
"Though canonization is infallible and irrevocable, it takes a long time and a lot of effort. So while every person who is canonized is a saint, not every holy person has been canonized. You have probably known many "saints" in your life, and you are called by God to be one yourself." (endquote) [ Source: Catholic.org ]

This presents several problems in order for the Roman Catholic (RC) Church to remain consistent with the Bible. The first problem is that the candidate's approval by the RC Church is a process which is (a) not required of anywhere in scripture and (b) does not begin until after the candidate's death.

According to Rom 8:26-27, 

"[26] In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. [27] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.", 

;the writer is addressing the fact that the Spirit prays for 'us'. He then declares the intercession is for the 'saints', those still alive here on earth, not dead and gone to be in the presence of God. 

Over and again, in the following verses, saints are referred to as alive and being the believers in Christ which made up the Christian Church here on earth. 

Rom 15:25
25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 
Rom 16:15-16
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
1 Cor 16:15-16
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,
16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.
2 Cor 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 13:12-13
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints send their greetings.
Eph 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phil 1:1-2
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 1:25-27
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Phile 1:4-7
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. 

In addition to this comes the problem of what is referred to as 'veneration of the saints' as endorsed by the Vatican. In Roman Catholic practice it is common and accepted that those still living may bow, and in prayer to the saint (not God), ask for specific requests to be fulfilled. The RC Church insists this is not worship of a saint but rather a 'holy reverence' and 'petition' to the saint. Following is an example of how such 'veneration' was discouraged by Peter himself at the house of Cornelius;

Acts 10:24-26
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
26 But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." 

Here we find Paul and Barnabas rejecting the actions of people who would lift them up in any way comparable to God;

Acts 14:11-15
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!"
12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.
13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:
15 "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 

Next comes the issue of the Vatican's second requirement to become an 'official' saint.. that of working at least two miracles which were the result of someone praying to them after the candidate had died. According to the Bible, not all have the gift of miracles. This then would prevent the RC Church from 'beatifying' a large portion of believers, thus making a differentiation where God makes none. In the following verse, Paul asks a rhetorical question leading up to the 'more excellent way', which states that loving God and others is greater than, and more to be desired than, the working of miracles.

1 Cor 12:27-13:3
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
CHAPTER 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

Another inconsistency the Vatican has with the Bible is their requirement that people must first receive a miracle from the dead 'candidate'. This is the commission of two sins, necromancy (calling on spirits of the dead) and idolatry (praying to a created being, rather than God, for assistance. See above reference; Acts 14:11-15 ). Again, to quote the process of canonization; "The next step, beatification, requires evidence of one miracle (except in the case of martyrs). Since miracles are considered proof that the person is in heaven and can intercede for us, the miracle must take place after the candidate's death and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate." This goes directly against the teaching of scripture as mentioned here;

Lev 19:31
31 "'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
Deut 18:10-12
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.
Isa 8:19
19 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Phil 4:19-20
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

SUMMARY: What we find then is a distinct contradiction between the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the Bible. Where the RC Church has a process for 'becoming' a saint by way of a process it formulated apart from scripture, the Bible states that all those who are in Christ are already saints, both in this life and the next. 

This does not mean that earthly saints of Christ's Church are perfect in their holiness, for this life is one of continuing sanctification (the pursuit of holiness). Complete 'redemption' of the saint does not occur until after death. It is the 'justification' (forgiveness of sins) of God which makes one a saint, already perfect in the eyes of God, though imperfect during our lives here. 

Without Jesus Christ as one's savior, a person is not a saint no matter what process they complete, be it Catholic or otherwise. When one is joined with Christ in 'justification' (forgiveness of sins).. such a person has become a saint in God's eyes, without the Catholic process.