A saint is someone recognized by certain Christian churches, especially the Catholic Church, as having lived an exceptionally holy life and now being in heaven with God. Saints are people who devoted themselves to helping others, showed remarkable faith, and often endured great suffering for their beliefs. The Church formally declares someone a saint through a process called canonization, which happens long after the person has died and includes investigating whether miracles occurred through prayers asking that person for help.

Many saints have fascinating stories. Saint Francis of Assisi gave up his family's wealth to live simply and care for the poor and animals. Saint Joan of Arc led French armies as a teenager. Saint Nicholas, a generous bishop from ancient times, inspired the legend of Santa Claus. Churches and hospitals are often named after saints, like St. Luke's Hospital or St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Outside of religious contexts, people sometimes call anyone exceptionally patient or kind a saint: “Your mom is a saint for coaching our whole soccer team!” This usually means someone shows extraordinary patience or generosity, though it's used more loosely than the religious meaning. When someone says “I'm no saint,” they're admitting they make mistakes like everyone else.