What does the Latin word sanctus mean and how did it enter English?
The Latin word sanctus means holy or consecrated. It entered English through Old French as seint and Middle English as saint.
Questions about Saint
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Pope John XV become the first pope to proclaim a person a saint outside Rome?
On the 3rd of January 993 Pope John XV became the first pope to proclaim a person a saint outside Rome. He canonized Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg following a German ruler's petition.
How many saints are listed in the latest revision of Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints edited by Herbert Thurston and Donald Attwater?
The latest revision edited by Herbert Thurston and Donald Attwater contains 2,565 saints. Robert Sarno stated it is impossible to give an exact number of saints.
Who was the last person in Western Europe canonized by an authority other than the Pope and when did this occur?
Walter of Pontoise was the last person in Western Europe canonized by an authority other than the Pope. Hugh de Boves Archbishop of Rouen canonized him in 1153.
What symbols identify Saint Lawrence and where does this symbol appear in Canadian heraldry?
Saint Lawrence is identified by a gridiron because he was burned to death on one. This symbol appears in Canadian heraldry for the St. Lawrence Seaway office.