[Other] In the New Testament, the name applied to the members of the Christian community generally, but restricted in ecclesiastical usage from very early times to those who have been virtuous to a heroic degree. There are several classes of saints: apostles and evangelists; martyrs; confessors, originally those who had undergone imprisonment or pains without the final crown of martyrdom and later male saints in general who were eminent for sanctity; doctors, saints eminent for sacred learning; virgins; and matrons and widows. There are two important sources for the many saints. The fullest list is found in the general table in the 61st volume of the Acta Sanctorum of the Bollandists, which mentions about 20,000 saints. The catalogue that possesses the highest ecclesiastical authority is that of the Martyrologium Romanum with some 2,700 saints, including about 20 saints of the Old Testament. Many saints have a feast day which is celebrated annually. All Saints' Day, also Allhallows or Hall...
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