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Derivation

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Name applied in the New Testament to the members of the Christian community generally, as in Colossians 1 – To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus, who are at Colossa….

Early on the term became restricted to men and women of eminent holiness of life. In its strictest ecclesiastical usage it applies only to those who have distinguished themselves by heroic virtue and who, after the scrutiny of the Church, have been declared saints by a solemn judgment of the pope. The juridical consequence of such declaration entitles the person to receive general veneration (not adoration) in the Universal Church. The earliest class of saints to receive distinct recognition was the martyrs. The name confessors as in confessor of the faith originally applied to those who evinced signal courage and constancy in professing the faith, but now refers to male saints who are not martyrs or sufferers for the faith. Women are venerated either as virgins, virgin-martyrs, or as widows.

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