Why do some people believe that there are no saints in the contemporary Church?

St. Augustine says, “Whoever looks at a tree sees many leaves, but often the fruit is hidden behind the leaves, such as the case of figs. Thus, the heretics and wicked are easily noticeable among people so that it could seem to one person that there are no believers, but whoever looks closely at the tree with a spiritual eye will realize the presence of God’s holy children who are hidden and are founded on Christ Himself as St. Paul said, ‘For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ’ (1 Cor. 3:11). He also says, ‘having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit’ (Eph 2:20–22). This is the secret behind the Spirit’s strength within us, that we are founded on the Lord Christ Himself and we have the seal of His Holy Spirit, by whom ‘the Lord knows those who are His.’”

Not only should we not judge and separate the wheat from the tares, and the vessels for honor from those for dishonor, but it is appropriate for us to be assured that the wheat is not neglected by God because of the tares, nor do the honorable vessels lose their honor because of those that are dishonorable as the Apostle Paul says, “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19).

Concerning this, St. Augustine says, “Not for the chaff's sake shall the wheat also perish: (Matt. 3:12) nor on account of bad fish shall nothing be cast into the vessels from that net

933 St. Basil of Caesarea, PG 71:209.

934 St. Jerome, PL 26:633.

(Matt. 13:47) … He predestined us before we were born, promising us with certainty: ‘Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified’ (Rom. 8:30).”⁹³⁵

He also says, “Even if the seed is hidden in the straw. But it is known to the owner of the field. No one should be afraid when he is a seed, even if he is in the midst of straw, for the eyes of the one who sprouts us will not be deceived.”⁹³⁶

Saint Augustine sees in the conception of Jacob and Esau a prophecy of what happens in the Church of Christ, which was like Rebecca who carried in her womb the righteous and the wicked, as he says, “They struggled in their mother’s womb and when they struggled, it was said to Rebecca: ‘Two nations are in your womb. Two people shall be separated from your body,’ one is good and another is evil. They struggled together in one womb. How many bad people are in the church! One womb carries them until they are finally isolated. The righteous and the wicked both wrestle with one another in the womb of one mother.”⁹³⁷