To be a great saint, one has to be far more than book smart or spiritually smart, but rather one has to be able to prove their character and their wisdom through actual actions, and typically this is demonstrated through the overcoming of character faults, that have precluded one from becoming a saint. That is to say, this world is a proving ground, and the object of the lesson is not only to learn our lessons but to apply our lessons in our interactions with all those that we meet. This means, that whatever faults that we have, especially those that seem to be unconquerable, are the very faults that we need to overcome, more than anything, so that those that have a bad temper, or are selfish, or dismissive, are going to have to develop those good traits so necessary to make it as if these faults never existed, or else, that person won’t be achieving sainthood.
As it has been said, the difference between a sinner and a saint is that a saint never gave up on improving themselves, and thereby eventually developed into a saint. This means no matter where we currently stand in life, it is our responsibility to stand up and start doing the right thing, and the sooner that we put our nose to the grindstone to do that very thing, the sooner that we will progress our way to the only destination that actually matters. Indeed, to believe, somehow, that saints are made, just because somebody is quiet and contemplative, is not ever going to be good enough, because we prove our mettle, day by day, by how we treat others, and the more that we are in keeping with the attributes of God, the closer that we will get to becoming saintly in our behavior.
So too, we will be tested, time and time again, because that is necessary to prove that we have graduated beyond mere theory and learning to the realization of what we are supposed to do in the real world. No doubt, those who lack experience and wisdom, are going to go through some difficult times, of which, these are necessary thereby to burn off the dross that precludes them from accomplishing what they are meant to accomplish.
Indeed, saints are made, when those that have free will, are the same that utilize that free will and the knowledge that they have accumulated for the betterment of humankind. None of us, lives solely to our own self, but rather, we are here, collectively, to aid one another, in the sure knowledge that by doing so, we are not only benefiting our soul development, but we are also benefiting those that need such development, themselves. While it is true, that we can admire those of great character, it is wrong to believe that somehow we can never achieve those same heights, for each of us has the capability, to be a saint, if only we would make that the priority of our life, and to do all that we can do to accomplish that very thing.