Nelson Henry Baker was born on February 16, 1842. He was the second of four sons born to Lewis and Caroline. At birth, he was baptized in the Lutheran faith, the faith of his father. When Nelson was 10 years old, though, under the spiritual influence of his devout Catholic mother, he was rebaptized in the Catholic Church. As a child, he loved to accompany his mother to Mass.
A saint is someone who demonstrated holiness while on earth and whose life is worth imitating to such a degree that the church holds him/her up as an example.
The church's process for declaring someone a saint is lengthy and thorough. It is a slow process because many individuals are being presented for sainthood and each case requires careful investigation. Canon lawyers, medical doctors, and theologians are involved in examining documentation at every level.
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