We need to see more lay saints

[WilT]

In my opinion, it might be nice to have (even) more canonized non-martyred lay saints. Perhaps if every Catholic diocese and eparchy in the world suggested that every parish (or deanery, if that is too ambitious) attempt to find every five years among the parishioners who had died in the past decade or so at least one who might be suitable for the process of beatification…

Of course, most of the causes that would be sent on to the Vatican would probably rise no further than Venerable, but the lives of ordinary yet exemplary Catholics from throughout the world and from almost all walks of life would nevertheless become known to the wider Church. Perhaps every Catholic parish in the world has a potential canonized saint in its midst.

 

[Zipply]

Yes, we need more lay saints, particularly ones who are not Italian. The best track to canonization for a deceased faithful is to have been ‘in the business’. That means close to Rome, in an order. This has led to a perception that heaven is for ‘people in the business’.

Thankfully, this is changing. A polish pope, a German pope, an Argentine pope… That will help. A new focus on the laity, for all the problems it can bring, also helps. I love the Church, but there’s no doubt that people who run it are often self-serving (you know, fallen humans) and most of the people who work in the Vatican, even today, are Italians.

I am in Rome presently, typing on my iPhone in Hotel Emmaus next to the CDF gate. I strolled through the Borgo tonite before a supper of pasta carbonara, and was struck by the fact that ALL of the images of Benedict are gone. It’s all Francis, JPII and John XIII. There are more Paul VI images than Benedict! The Italians are hot and cold…and you can bet money on no sainthood for Benedict after he dies. Just not popular enough with Italians.

 

[WilT]

Yes, we need more lay saints, particularly ones who are not Italian. The best track to canonization for a deceased faithful is to have been ‘in the business’. That means close to Rome, in an order. This has led to a perception that heaven is for ‘people in the business’.

Thankfully, this is changing. A polish pope, a German pope, an Argentine pope… That will help. A new focus on the laity, for all the problems it can bring, also helps. I love the Church, but there’s no doubt that people who run it are often self-serving (you know, fallen humans) and most of the people who work in the Vatican, even today, are Italians.

I am in Rome presently, typing on my iPhone in Hotel Emmaus next to the CDF gate. I strolled through the Borgo tonite before a supper of pasta carbonara, and was struck by the fact that ALL of the images of Benedict are gone. It’s all Francis, JPII and John XIII. There are more Paul VI images than Benedict! The Italians are hot and cold…and you can bet money on no sainthood for Benedict after he dies. Just not popular enough with Italians.

I hope you’ll have a great time in Rome. Say hello to Pope Francis for me

I’m hoping Pope Benedicts portrait is put away since he is a living Pope. I thought Pope Benedict was great and what we needed at the time.

 

[Overture]

Yes, we need more lay saints, particularly ones who are not Italian. The best track to canonization for a deceased faithful is to have been ‘in the business’. That means close to Rome, in an order. This has led to a perception that heaven is for ‘people in the business’.

It’s so important to recognize the reality of what saint recognition is, though. It’s not the Church saying, “Soandso is in Heaven now because we say so.” It’s formulating the belief that the individual is in Heaven based on a process. I think the following quote from Kenneth L. Woodward is helpful:

“A saint is always someone through whom we catch a glimpse of what God is like—and of what we are called to be. Only God ‘makes’ saints, of course. The church merely identifies from time to time a few of these for emulation.”

The 10,000+ saints currently documented is not an exhaustive list of all possible saints. It just so happens that people who dedicate their entire lives to serving the Church (often ordained or the religious) in a specific way are more likely to have a biography that radically exemplifies devotion to the Word. They’re chosen because they’re models. One can enter Heaven in total and absolute obscurity, and I’d say that the virtue expounded by an obscure lay person is equally noble.

To fade into Heaven in relative obscurity is an acceptance of humility and a rejection of pride. I think there’s a fine line with sainthood between accepting models of virtue and hungering for worldly immortality. Just my opinion! Probably why Saint Pope John Paul II vehemently refused notions of sainthood for himself.

 

[Zipply]

I hope you’ll have a great time in Rome. Say hello to Pope Francis for me

Oh yeah, Rome is always good. Went to the Wed audience and was in a good spot, Papa drove right past me only a few feet away. Being a former Protestant, having a relationship with my Papa is very important to me now. I get sent to Italy by work frequently, so I’m lucky to be able to spend time in Rome every year. Today was in Bas. San Pudenziana, the site where St Peter said Mass in Rome. Awesome. Then to San Clemente to see Pope St Clement I and St Ignatius of Antioch. Tomorrow hope to see the Apostle Batholomew again.

 

[Jamma]

I am in Rome presently, typing on my iPhone in Hotel Emmaus next to the CDF gate. I strolled through the Borgo tonite before a supper of pasta carbonara, and was struck by the fact that ALL of the images of Benedict are gone. It’s all Francis, JPII and John XIII. There are more Paul VI images than Benedict! The Italians are hot and cold…and you can bet money on no sainthood for Benedict after he dies. Just not popular enough with Italians.

100000000 rupees if they have actually read his encyclicals, understood his hu, ility and knowledge, and , ost of all, his mega successful ecumenism.

 

[Weejee]

For Lay Saints!

Let’s continue to list the Lay Saints! That way we who never heard about them can learn.

In my home I have a “santo” of St. Isidore the Farmer. He was married to a lady called Maria de la Cabeza, who is also a saint. If I am wrong, correct me.

The reason my husband and I bought this “santo” in 1990, was that we were here in New Mexico visiting his mother, and we were so sick of the dry dusty landscape. Then we found the santo of St. Isidore, and he was standing in front of green hills, and we said, “This looks like New York!”

After that, I heard of St. Isidore and how he had faith God would help him with his hard, sweaty old farming chores, and the Good Lord gave him a break, so he could spend some time in prayer. You don’t get those breaks unless your faith is great!

I kept that Santo in all my New York kitchens for twenty four years. Never thought I’d end up dragging it back to Dusty old New Mexico with me!

 

[Weejee]

Uh oh. Cancer patients who become saints dying with no meds…

And here I was, dreaming of medical marijuana…

[SIGN]GROOVY ![/SIGN]