Is Hester Prynne a secular saint in "The Scarlet Letter"? Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"

Since
the word secular means not of the religious sect, the Reverendcannot be
considered as the possible saint.  And, since the physician,is likened to the black man of the
forest because of his look and behavior, it is unlikely that he is the secular saint,
either.

Therefore, there is only one main character remaining:  .  Is she a
saint, though?  With her charitable works and more humble attitude, her fellow townspeople do
come to view the scarlet letter on her breast as signifying "Angel" and
"Able," rather than as adulterer. They may perceive her differently because after
time her mark and burden have given her sympathies "so intimate with the sinful brotherhood
of mankind" that there is a communion of this pain with others, although they not recognize
this as such. In Chapter XIII, Hawthorne writes of Hester,

...a species of general regard had ultimately grown up in reference to Hester Prynne. 
It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it
loves more readily than it hates.  Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be
transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the
original feeling of hostility.  In this matter of Hester Prynne, there was neither irritation
nor irksomeness  She never battled with the public, but submitted, uncomplainingly, to its worst
usage; she made no claim upon it, in requital for what she suffered, she did not weigh upon its
sympathies.  Then, also, the blameless purity of her life during all these years in which she
had been set apart to infamy, was reckoned in her favour.  With nothing now to lose, in the
sight of mankind...it could only be a genuine regard for virtue that had brought back the poor
wanderer to its paths....she was quick to give of her little substance to every demand of
poverty....In all seasons of calamity...she came as an inmate into the houshold...there
glimmered the embroidered letter, with comfort in its unearthly ray....Hester's nature showed
itself warm and rich....She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy....

Virtuous, humble, charitable, lovin, and kind; Hester Prynne
possesses the traits of a saint, indeed, but yet a saint who knows much of the world.  Truly,
she can be considered a secular saint. 

Interestingly, however,
although Hawthorne suggests that, contrary to Puritan teachings, there is redemption allowed to
the sinner who admits to the sin and then commits good works, he makes the comment that the
scarlet letter "has not done its office."  For, although Hester does good deeds and is
much humbled, she does not regret her sin of passion as the Puritan leaders would have her do
so; instead, she yet loves Dimmesdale as much as ever, if not more.