Using "st." Before The Names Of Angels

[Maria]

Well, the canonization process is a formalized way of declaring someone a Saint to make sure that those venerated as Saints actually are Saints. With the angels -- messengers from God -- there's no doubt, so the formal process isn't necessary.

[MIKolbe]

i guess my next question would be:

is the formal canonization process needed to declare one a saint?

if so, did the Angels go through this?

if not, is this caveat only for Angels?

NB- I am not trying to imply Angels do not 'deserve' to be Saints.. I am simply curious as to the process/protocol.

To put it colloquially - 'dude, he's an Angel, of COURSE he's a saint!' or 'I, Pope such-and-such, hereby declare...."

[HisChildForever]

I thought the canonization process and/or sainthood was a human thing.

[KnightofChrist]

The canonization process basically investigates if a person is in fact in heaven and preforming miracles. The canonization process is not needed for Angels named in Holy Scripture. Because it is the word of God, and it declares St. Michael to be in heaven, and names his miracles, namely his battle with Satan.

[HisChildForever]

[quote name='KnightofChrist' date='07 June 2010 - 11:14 AM' timestamp='1275923694' post='2125183']
The canonization process basically investigates if a person is in fact in heaven and preforming miracles. The canonization process is not needed for Angels named in Holy Scripture. Because it is the word of God, and it declares St. Michael to be in heaven, and names his miracles, namely his battle with Satan.
[/quote]

Yeah but the key word you used here was "person" - the angels are not people.

[MIKolbe]

thanks!

[KnightofChrist]

[quote name='HisChildForever' date='07 June 2010 - 11:17 AM' timestamp='1275923844' post='2125184']
Yeah but the key word you used here was "person" - the angels are not people.
[/quote]

But Angels like man are beings, and each is an unique species.

[Maria]

[quote name='HisChildForever' date='07 June 2010 - 12:17 PM' timestamp='1275923844' post='2125184']
Yeah but the key word you used here was "person" - the angels are not people.
[/quote]
If we can speak of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, then the word 'person' does not apply solely to human beings, so I don't think there's a problem with calling angels persons.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Maria' date='07 June 2010 - 02:30 PM' timestamp='1275942635' post='2125338']
If we can speak of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, then the word 'person' does not apply solely to human beings, so I don't think there's a problem with calling angels persons.
[/quote]
I agree.

[Resurrexi]

Many of the Church's most important saints (including the holy angels named in Scripture and holy apostles) were never canonized by a formal process, but were rather recognized as saints universally in the early Church. Although such persons were never deemed saints by a definitive act of the Pope (like saints are today), I think that they are still infallibly in heaven since they have been "canonized" by the constant belief and practice of the universal Church.

[HisChildForever]

[quote name='Maria' date='07 June 2010 - 04:30 PM' timestamp='1275942635' post='2125338']
If we can speak of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, then the word 'person' does not apply solely to human beings, so I don't think there's a problem with calling angels persons.
[/quote]

I don't have a problem with it.

[zunshynn]

The canonization process is a relatively new thing, and, as such, is not strictly necessary for canonization even of people (although, at least in the West, it is now a canonical requirement).

For example, none of the apostles were "canonized," but there is no doubt that they are, in fact, saints. For the first 900 years of the Church's history, saints were "canonized" largely by the testimony of their cult... when the devotion of the faithful became widespread and their was manifest testimony of their miraculous intercession, they became "canonized".

[zunshynn]

lol. Yeah, what Rex said.

[LouisvilleFan]

Isn't it a slight mistranslation of the Latin into English? Because both "saint" and "holy" come from "sancte," meaning "holy." In reference to the Archangels the word is describing them as holy, while in reference to those who died in Christ it describes their saintliness.

[Hilde]

I never thought of that since saint(prefix/title) and "a saint" are two completely different words in Norwegian.