How To Teach Your Kids That They Are Called To Become Saints

We are all, short or tall, old or young, called to a life of Supernatural Faith, Hope, and Charity, which leads to the Beatific Vision in Heaven as Saints.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

We need to remember that holiness is not reserved to only a few, but is a vocation that every single one of us is called to.

Recent popes have all highlighted the reality of the universal call to holiness. After the Second Vatican Council, St. John Paul II in particular pushed to encourage the laity to strive for sanctity, with both Pope Benedict XIV and Pope Francis reiterating the need for all people to lead a holy life.

Pope Leo XIV has taken up the torch as well, commenting on this topic during his homily on All Saints Day in 2025:

We can say, then, that from a Christian perspective education helps everyone to become saints. Nothing less will do. Pope Benedict XVI, on his Apostolic Journey to Great Britain in September 2010, during which he beatified John Henry Newman, invited young people to become saints with these words: “What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine.” This is the universal call to holiness that the Second Vatican Council made an essential part of its message (cf. Lumen Gentium, Chapter V). And holiness is intended for everyone, without exception, as a personal and communal journey marked out by the Beatitudes.

He returned to this topic with the Bishops of Peru in February:

[L]et us recall what the Second Vatican Council says: “It is therefore abundantly clear that all the faithful, of whatever state or condition, are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.

With all of this in mind, it's important that we take these truths and teach them to our children and grandchildren. They, too, are called to become saints.

Teach them about the lives of the saints

This vocation to holiness should be fostered at an early age. One simple way cultivate this vocation is by telling them stories about the lives of the saints. The more kids learn about the saints, and the variety of saints there are, the more likely they will see themselves as one of them.

However, it can be tricky being a parent, as we often do not have an expert's knowledge of the saints and we may feel incapable of teaching our kids about the saints.

The good news is that there is a wealth of resources out there that can help you teach your kids or grandkids about the saints.

One resource that is perfect for babies and toddlers is the book Saints Come in All Shapes and Sizes, written by Patrick O'Hearn and illustrated by Elizabeth Blair.

It teaches little children a wide variety of saints, showcasing how holiness is possible in every situation. Whether you are a boy or a girl, tall or short, a traveller or a homebody, holiness is achievable.

It's an important lesson for kids, and even adults, to learn. We often forget that we don't have to be a specific type of person to become a saint.

For older kids, Glory Stories continues to be a favorite audio drama series that teaches children about a variety of saints, again proving that holiness is possible.

There are also many other resources out there in the Catholic world that can help you teach your children how they too can become saints.