what is a saint in the catholic church

In the Catholic Church, a saint is a person who has been formally recognized as having lived a life of heroic virtue, is in heaven, and is worthy of public veneration. The process of canonization, which is the formal process by which the Church declares a person to be a saint, involves several steps, including being declared "Venerable," then "Blessed," and finally "Saint." A miracle is usually required for beatification and canonization. Saints are venerated and looked to as examples of lives well lived in the faith, and many Catholics ask specific saints to pray for them. The term "saint" refers to someone who led an exemplary holy life dedicated to Jesus Christ