SAINTS

(Lat. .ncti, holy persons.) Pious men, who, according to a custom early prevalent among Christians, were commemorated with honour after their death in the services and ceremonies of the church. This distinction was originally applied to the apostles and emir nent martyrs and confe ors, whose places of burial were regarded with pious affection by the faithful in the neighbourhood, and memorials or relics of whom were carefully cherished among them. The observance of particular days in the honour of the saints was also a very early custom; but the natural feeling which prompted this and other tributes of gratitude and respect towards them became gradually corrupted. The interce ion of the saints was supposed to have power with God, and in. dividuals put themselves under the especial patronage of one or more amongst the number, which in later times was vastly augmented, giving to them the honour and worship due to God alone, and conceiving themselves suflSciently protected by the influence of their prayers. It was affirmed that miracles were performed at their tombs and by their relics, and the greatest rivalry and contention arose between the votaries of the shrines of different saints, and sometimes those of the same. For the manner of enrolment among the number of saints, see art. Canonization, (See Bingham and Palmer's Origines Liturgicce, as to the progre of the invocation of saints in the church, vol.i. 276, .) [s. 1088]