Saints don't simply happen as they are instead people that have actively applied themselves consistently over time to the purification of their soul through their actions and by their thoughts of behalf of the people by rightful actions and their righteous response to the needs of the day. While there is a lot to be said, for those that sanctify themselves, by quiet and careful contemplation, far away from the troubles and tribulations of the world, whether formally through, for instance, a convent, that is set aside from the world, or through their own individual adjustments to stand apart from worldly things, these while most definitely having their place, as communion with God, is a calling, most demanding, and most obedient, there are literally millions and millions of God's good flock, that require guidance and administering to from those that have the capacity to do so.
A great saint is a great person, not because they think they are great, but because, nothing gets in the way of their service to others--not governments, not principalities, not even the barrel of a gun, because true saints answer only to He who answers to none. The courage that a saintly person has comes from drawing upon the knowledge and power from the purest Spirit of them all, which, will not bend to mere mortals, and will never waver, no matter, the consequences. People, always gravitate to those uncommon men and women, that have a divine mission, that focuses them so completely, that they do not see themselves as man sees them, but instead, believe and behave wholly as true messengers from the heart of God.
You can never be a saint, when you say one thing, but do another, as this does nothing more that sow confusion and disorder. For a saint to be a saint they must be in lockstep with God, Himself, and that connection, is the source of all knowledge and fortitude. Those that are not saintly, see themselves as physical, living and breathing human beings, and believe that what they see is what they are, whereas, a saint sees only the cloaking of a physical body, if even that, while intuitively knowing the essence of a given man or woman that is their true identity.
A saint recognizes that to go out into the world, that they first must prepare themselves properly so as to shield themselves from the slings and arrows of an outrageous world, capable of just about anything. This means, that you cannot know what exactly to expect, but you certainly can be centered within yourself, in harmony with God, and prepared to do spiritual battle, if it comes to that, against those that represent and perform evil. Saints cannot and will not allow evil to run amok, as this runs counter to the clock of God's wisdom, for to not call something evil for what it is, is to a certain extent, encouraging to evil, and subsequently diminishes good, so saints, stand, where those that tremble fear to do likewise.
The power of one is significant, the power of two, even more so, as saints represent in living action the backbone that so many lack, because they are too caught up in the day-to-day affairs of life along with survival, and thereby forgot the very first thing, which is to seek God with all of your heart and all of your understanding, which is the very first step to becoming a saint.