One cannot seek God in order to become a saint. Becoming a saint should not be a desire or ambition. But it sure sounds that way. I am willing to bet it was the last thing on the minds of every true saint, and they would be the first, in their humility, to turn down such a lofty honor.
One does not start his journey motivated by a desire or a goal to become a saint; one becomes a saint unintentionally. Otherwise the journey is for all the wrong reasons, imo.
Maybe some saints ca tell me why not.
“One does not start his journey motivated by a desire or a goal to become a saint; one becomes a saint unintentionally. Otherwise the journey is for all the wrong reasons, imo.”
Kosta mou, The Church teaches us that our created purpose is theosis. Is it wrong to strive to fulfill one’s created purpose?
“The Son of God has become Son of Man in order to make us...sons of God, raising our race by grace to what He is Himself by nature, granting us birth from above through the grace of the Holy Spirit and leading us straightway to the kingdom of heaven, or rather, granting us this kingdom within us (Luke 17:21), in order that we should not merely be fed by the hope of entering it, but entering into full possession thereof should cry: our ‘life is hid with Christ in God.’ (Col. 3:3).” +Symeon the New Theologian
“...in the visible form of our nature the immortal God described the likeness of His invisible Being, and thus we apprehend eternity. Through prayer we enter into Divine life; and God praying in us is uncreated life permeating us.” Archmandrite Sophrony
Yes, I truly desire to become a saint, and all Christians should do likewise. It is a Godly human ambition.
A Christian desires to get to Heaven. "Becoming a saint" is simply another way of expressing the desire of "getting to Heaven."
The desire to become a saint is not the desire to be elevated to the honors of the altar but the desire to become holy, to be united with God, to follow the words spoken by God to Moses: “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy” (Lv. 19:2); which were quoted by St. Peter when he said: “As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, ‘Be holy because I am holy’.” (1 Pt 2:15,16); to obey our Lord’s command: “So be perfect, just as you heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48).
Depends on why you want to be a saint.
If it is from a love of God and desire to do His will, then yes.
If it is so people can say “Look at how neat he was”, then you have a bigger problem.