Upon reaching heaven at the end of life, are we Saints?

Upon reaching heaven at the end of life, are we Saints?

Eileen Renders

   The Catholic Church teaches that everyone who reaches heaven is a saint. Those who have not been canonized by the church after they died for Sainthood, have been purified, and are holy through their love, and focus on Christ. We, as Catholics, believe that the saints in heaven (perhaps our family and friends) pray and intercede for us through prayer in heaven.

   There are verses within the Catholic Bible on this subject from a couple of the Apostles. Such as Revelation 8:3: The prayers of the saints rise before God, and then God acts on earth.

Revelation 5:8: The saints worship God, sing hymns, make requests to Christ, and offer prayers for the saints on earth.

Hebrews 12:1: The saints are a “cloud of witnesses”.

John 15:  I am the vine, you are the branches.”

St. Paul: We are the “body of Christ.”

   Our Catholic Bible encourages prayers and rosaries for our departed family members. The Catholic Church requires miracles to be considered for Sainthood. This confirms that they are in heaven interceding with prayer on our behalf. This encourages faith. The Catholic church requires miracles to be considered for Sainthood so that a person is not considered holy through judgment. Miracle healings are considered proof of holiness with valid witness testimony.

   Of course, when we believe that the saints in heaven intercede for us to God, we want to ensure that they are indeed a saint. We have also been taught through the Bible, and preaching of God’s word that those who die in the state of grace and friendship of God , and who are perfectly purified, live forever with Christ.

   The Catholic church teaches that it is a possibility for everyone to enter heaven if their life conforms to the ways of God. The church also teaches us that there will be varying degrees of blessedness received in heaven depending upon the level of sanctity one has achieved by grace in this life.

   How could we be judged by the life we have lived if we had not received free will from God, the right to choose right from wrong. We live only one live, we must make wise choices that please God.