Saints who were reverts?

[StXenia]

Hey all,

I was hoping y’all could point me in the way of some saints who were ‘reconverts’. I’m thinking of examples like Bl. Bartolo Longo or St Anthony Neyrot. I know there’s a lot of saints who grew up in Catholic homes, but didn’t get zealous until later but I’m looking for saints who were a little more ‘obvious’ in their practice of the Faith before they fell/abandoned etc.

God bless!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Some slight corrections: The correct term is “Reverts”. Also, Bl. Anthony Neyrot is still just a beati and not yet a saint to my knowledge.

There’s Bl. Gil of Santarem, who sold his soul to the devil, but came back to the church.
Also St. Hippolytus of Rome, who according to legend set himself up as an Antipope and led a schismatic group, but was reconciled with the Church before being martyred.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Welcome to CAF, @StXenia!

Interesting question! I’m looking forward to the answers.

If it happened, wouldn’t it seem that St Paul got this wrong…

For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, 6 and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt.
[Hebrews 6:4-6]

?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think in the early centuries of the Church it was relatively hard for a revert to be welcomed back to the flock. I have read that the main reason St Hippolytus caused a schism was because he didn’t think the true Pope should be lenient on people who had apostatized. Even if the Church did let them back in, they were expected to do a lot of penance, and certainly not regarded as saint material. Because if one could leave and return and still be a saint, then every time a persecution happened, people would leave, thinking they could just return later and still be holy. Which didn’t set too well with those who had been tortured and seen their friends and loved ones killed.

It got easier to revert in more recent centuries, but those pushing sainthood causes have a tough job making the case for people who left the church for another religion for any period of time. It seems much easier for those who just fell into rampant sin and then repented, but never actually joined some other faith.

 

[Edmundus1581]

@Tis_Bearself

Great analysis - thanks!

Summed up succinctly with…

…It seems much easier for those who just fell into rampant sin and then repented, but never actually joined some other faith.

Your example of St Hippolytus is, I suspect, typical. A “revert” can only be a canonised saint through martyrdom.

And before anyone mentions St Augustine (famously a Manichean before converting/reverting), while his mother Monica had tried to raise him as a Christian he had never been baptised. He mentions this in the first few pages of The Confessions, and is critical of her decision to delay baptism.