The word "be sainted" is spelled with the letter "a" as /eɪ/, which represents the diphthong sound that is made up of a long "a" sound followed by a quieter "y" sound. The stress is on the second syllable, which is pronounced as /seɪntɪd/. The meaning of this phrase is to become a saint or to be canonized by the Catholic Church. To achieve sainthood, the person must be recognized as having lived a life of exemplary faith and virtue.
To be sainted refers to the process of an individual or religious leader being officially recognized as a saint by a religious institution, typically the Roman Catholic Church. This process typically entails careful investigation, examination, and verification of the individual's qualifications for sainthood.
The official recognition of an individual as a saint involves a series of rigorous steps. Initially, a candidate for sainthood undergoes the process of beatification, which requires a thorough examination of their life, writings, and reported miracles. Beatification involves the verification of heroic virtue or martyrdom, as well as the attribution of intercessory miracles to the candidate.
Once beatification is conferred, the individual is typically referred to as "blessed" and can be venerated in certain regions or religious communities. After beatification, the process of canonization commences, wherein the candidate's reputation for holiness and intercession is further assessed through the evaluation of additional miracles attributed to their intercession.
If the candidate successfully passes these stages, the final step is canonization, where the Pope declares the individual as a saint, extending their universal veneration and recognition. Upon canonization, the newly sainted person is assigned a feast day and may be invoked as a special intercessor in religious practices, such as prayer or liturgy.
Being sainted is seen as the culmination of a spiritually exemplary life, and saints serve as role models and guides for believers, inspiring them to seek holiness and emulate the virtues exhibited by the sainted individual.
The word "sainted" derives from the noun "saint", which ultimately comes from the Latin word "sanctus". The Latin term means "holy" or "consecrated". In Old English, the word "sanct" was used to describe someone or something that was holy or set apart. Over time, "saint" evolved to refer specifically to individuals recognized by the Christian church as exceptionally holy or righteous and deserving of veneration. Hence, the verb form "to be sainted" refers to the process of being formally recognized as a saint by the church.