Remembering that Saints are Human

Fr. James Martin reflected on the recent beatification of Pope John Paul II in the May 16th issue of America Magazine. In his article, he makes an important observation about saints:

First the saints were not perfect. Holiness always makes its home in humanity. The saints would be the first to admit this. Sanctity does not mean perfection. . . Second, you do not have to agree with everything a saint did to admire him (or her).

This helps me. I always tended to think that if the Church canonized someone they were basically endorsing the entire life, with the exception of the sinful parts (of course). I always felt kind of bad when I would read about a saint and strongly disagree with the choices that he or she made.

It is important to note and remember that the saints were human and not perfect. They were struggling just like each one of us, and we don't have to endorse their choices in order to trust in the Church's judgment that they were holy and now share in the glory of God's heaven.