Each month, beginning with August, the children of Missionary Childhood Association, MCA will respond to questions related to attaining Sainthood. The essence is to enable the MCA children encourage every child to live a Saintly life. The question for the Month of August is “How do I become a living Saint?” Enjoy reading the responses from some of the children.
‘Start by focusing on how I can help others’
To become a saint, I need to start by focusing on how I can help others. Whether it’s sharing with friends or being kind to someone in need, my actions make a difference. Saints are known for their love and the way they care for everyone around them. Next, make good choices that show respect and honesty. Saints always try their best to do what’s right, and I can follow their example by living with these values. Finally, spend some time in quiet reflection or prayer with God. This helps me stay connected with my values and find ways to grow in kindness and love every day.
• Ogoke Chimamanda Anthonia, Catholic Church of Assumption, Awoyaya, Epe Deanery.
To become a Saint, I will need God’s grace to overcome sin
Saints are people who during their lifetime lived a holy, truthful and joyful life and were canonised by the Roman Catholic Church. Many were martyred for their faith. It is God’s will that all should become Saints, and it pleases God if all should become Saints. Saints are very useful in the Holy Catholic Church. Catholics believe that each individual has a patron Saint who guides and protects him or her. Many Saints lived their life interceding for the Church, helping the poor, and observing self-mortification and penances. St. Tarcisius lived his life in prison preventing the Holy Eucharist from being deconsecrated. St. Dominic Savio lived in poverty observing self-mortification and penances. St. Theresa of the Child Jesus lived her life in love and chastity. St. Maria Goretti lived her life in holiness and forgiveness by forgiving Alessandro when he stabbed her. Therefore, becoming a Saint requires chastity, commitment, confidence, humility, truthfulness, and joyfulness. A deceased person who lived a virtuous life, passes through some stages before becoming a Saint. Some are; Beatification, Canonisation. To become a Saint, I will need God’s grace to overcome sin and also through prayer, living a virtuous life I can become a Saint.
• Emeka Collins, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Aradagun, Badagry Deanery.
‘To become a Saint, I must become a servant of God’
A Saint is a person who lives a life full of mysteries, a godly life that other Christians can imitate, follow and also desire to live. I aim to become a Saint, I understand that to become a Saint, I must become a servant of God, receive and accept all the love of God. Also, believing that holiness is attainable and Sainthood is a goal that I wish to achieve. To live a Sainthood life, I must follow the following steps:
• Being baptised in a Catholic Church, I have to pray often and live a pious life.
• Participate in a community of faith like a congregation.
• Imitate the ways of past Saints.
• I must study the Scripture daily, so that I can be closer to God.
• Victoria Deke, St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Aboru, Ipaja Deanery
‘I will become a saint by observing all teachings and doctrines of the Church’
Who is a Saint? A saint is someone who lives a holy life on earth and does ordinary things in extra-ordinary ways, such as if I am sweeping a room now, I will sweep as if it’s my last time sweeping, so clean and neat. I will become a saint by being an active Christian, by carrying, observing all teachings and doctrines of the Church. Committing myself to daily prayer, avoiding sin, performing works of charity, live a life of heroic virtues and possess the cardinal and theological virtues. I will become a Saint by going to confession always and receiving Jesus always, choosing Jesus instead of material things of the world. Also, by feeding my soul through fasting, self-denial, self-mortification and attending the sacrifice of Holy Mass always for the sake of Christ. Of course, I have to be obedient, humble, love my God and neighbour and take our Blessed Virgin Mary as my great intercessor and Queen. I pray God’s help as I want to be a Saint. Amen.
• Ezealla Paschal Uchechukwu, Queen of all Saints Catholic Church, Adaloko, Satellite Deanery
‘I must be able to keep my purity till I die’
A saint is a person that preached the gospel by his or her exceptional lifestyle, a saint is also a person that when he or she dies, will be called blessed or saint. If I must be a saint, I must be able to keep my purity till I die, forgive others even though it hurts, dress modestly, preach the gospel, die for the sake of Christ, do little things in extraordinary ways, following the steps of Christ in good or bad health. And also develop a deep prayer life as well as studying the Scripture and the teachings of the Church. Lastly, I will cultivate the act of gratitude and imitate the virtues of other saints, although I know that for them to become saints was a hard task, but I have to persevere, remembering that after all my sufferings on earth I will be rewarded in heaven and on earth.
• Daniella Nneze, St. Theresa’s Catholic church, Ikota-Ajah, Lekki Deanery.