What is the role of a saint?

The designation of a person as a "Saint" has different meanings in different religious traditions. The widest usage is in the Roman Catholic Church, which designates certain people as saints based on their character in life, and on reports that miracles were visited upon some who prayed to those people after their deaths. In a spiritual sense, a Saint can be seen as someone who, because of their greatness in life, acts as a conduit to God after death. In a practical sense, Saints provide ways for the Church to relate to people, because different cultural and occupational groups have Saints which are claimed to offer them special protection. Some non-Christian religions have concepts that are similar to this concept of a Saint, but under different names. In some cases, practitioners of those religions translate their native designation of venerated holy people into English using the Word, "Saint."