He was an opium addict who couldn’t receive the sacraments. But he’s a martyr and a saint

[Athanasiy]

aleteia.org/2017/07/06/he-was-an-opium-addict-who-couldnt-receive-the-sacraments-but-hes-a-martyr-and-a-saint/?utm_campaign=NL_en&utm_source=daily_newsletter&utm_medium=mail&utm_content=NL_en

 

[jaimeleglise]

A beautiful person. Very inspiring. God bless you.

 

[Nigel7]

So good. And so relevant in these days where everyone’s been effected by addiction in some sort of way.

Never give up.

 

[reggieM]

A truly beautiful and powerful story. Many thanks for sharing it!
I had not heard of this wonderful saint before.
Perfect timing for me also - a dear friend is suffering from the same addiction and needs many prayers and much hope.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I have heard of this man and think he should be the patron saint of addicts. I love St. Maximilian Kolbe but let’s face it, he was not an addict.

I did not know however that he was denied the sacraments. There is a powerful lesson in here about how human judgment can be fallible. I bet there is somebody today being denied the sacraments who in a couple hundred years will be revered as a saint.

 

[tawny]

Praying for all those afflicted/affected with any form of addiction & their families.

 

[GEddie]

Awesome!

His story should be promoted not only to drug addicts and alcoholics who can’t “kick” successfully, but also the legions of those who, for whatever modern reason, are estranged from the sacraments. The answer is not to fight to change the Church but to cling to it!

ICXC NIKA

 

[fin]

Thanks for sharing this. Reminds me of the tv show House where the doctor is kind of addicted to morphine for his chronic pain. What should one do when in such a situation, since overdosing on the drug would be considered drug abuse, whereas the alternative is presumably unbearable pain. Of course one can offer up the pain, but I don’t know the answers.