Which apostle do you most identify with?

[hamburglar]

It’s hard for me to compare myself to anyone with an St. before their name…

 

[Ghoti]

It’s hard for me to compare myself to anyone with an St. before their name…

I agree with regard to myself…

But as for the saint I aspire to, I’d say it would be John. The only Apostle who didn’t desert Jesus, one of the two who went to the tomb, the one who took care of Jesus’ mother, the one who was “beloved”.

It’s an example to aspire to.:getholy:

Paul, for some reason, I find too arrogant. “You all should be like me. I am perfect in my humility.” I know that’s an extreme interpretation, but I think his personality might be why Jesus waited until *after *His ascension to call him…

 

[stuart12]

Saint Peter, he was a good man but at times cowardly and scared of putting all his faith in Jesus. I was like that (maybe a bit still like that now), I didn’t want to turn over my life to the Lord and had many moments of ‘‘why am I doing this at this age?’’. Like him when he denied our Blessed Lord three times, I have many times been reluctant to stand up infront of others and confess my faith. After my confirmation at the Easter Vigil, I believe that I ahve the courage to go on and over come difficulties and give the ‘‘reason for the hope that is in (me)’’. Before that, I still considered myself a good person, however one that was not worthy of the name of ‘Christian’.

 

[lampstand]

St. Matthias. I always had admiration for him, since he came in to replace Judas.

 

[bwhite06517]

I identify with St. Peter.

The word “Peter” is also akin to ‘impetuous’ - Peter was the one to jump out of the boat and start walking on the water to Jesus; Peter was the one to say “You are the Christ” - and then a few minutes later says “No Lord, that won’t happen to you” as Jesus talks about going to the cross (and Jesus says “Get behind me Satan”); he (as has been mentioned denied Jesus; he gets questioned by Jesus “do you love me” three times.

Peter (like me) can be impetuous - can do things without thinking - and just when you write him off as a buffoon, he does the right thing for the right reason!!!

 

[RodneyJ]

Thomas…

This man did a lot of thinking, which sometimes made him doubt a lot, but when it come down to it, his heart was what led him. John 11:16 shows that perfectly where he is willing to die with Jesus, whom he also just simply couldn’t wrap his mind around.

Basically, I know He is my Lord, but I have my doubts, yet, I am still willing to die with Him.

That’s a nice example.

 

[brigid12]

I think Saint Andrew is a bit of an unsung hero. After all, he led Peter to Jesus, and he too was crucified.

I have a tendency to gravitate toward “underdogs” so maybe that is it. 'Course being a St. isn’t totally an underdog, but still…

 

[rebusrms]

Since I suffer from severe depression I understand Paul’s anguish over his prayer for removal of his thorn in his side. Though he prayed faithfully the thorn remand. Praise God that it did, since it keep Paul humble and close to Christ. I have no other place to go but to Christ in humility. My Uncle would say I most align with Paul through our conversion stories. I was a generic run of the mill Southern Baptist and just recently surrendered my life to Christ and joined the Catholic church. That is something that my uncle would tell you he never saw coming but because of his prayers I was humbled and came to the truth of the Catholic church.

 

[brigid12]

Paul, for some reason, I find too arrogant. “You all should be like me. I am perfect in my humility.” I know that’s an extreme interpretation, but I think his personality might be why Jesus waited until *after *His ascension to call him…

I also have a real difficulty understanding St. Paul and I’ve felt similarly about his humility. Apparently, Jesus decided He could use him and I certainly can’t second guess His judgement. I would really like to someday reach an understanding of that, on earth I mean.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I also have a real difficulty understanding St. Paul and I’ve felt similarly about his humility. Apparently, Jesus decided He could use him and I certainly can’t second guess His judgement. I would really like to someday reach an understanding of that, on earth I mean.

…as was being pointed out in another thread, our saints are not perfect, rather faulted, failing human beings who were heroic in virtue…eventually! Our saints journeyed to sanctity, very few were born holy…many are great penitents. St. Paul and St. Augustine are two well known ones who became foundational theologians to Catholic and general Christian thought and theology. St. Paul not only served The Lord, he was cruelly martyred and willingly for him. His writings are beautiful and very humble, at least I find them so…e.g. “why is it that I find myself doing those things I have made up my mind not to do” …that’s a pretty straight admission and self revelation reflecting a very humble disposition.
We have some pretty wonderful women penitent saints too - probably not all that well known however. Will find some out if anyone would like details.
Many of our saints called themselves nasty names…“miserable worm” was St. Teresa’s term for herself at times…these terms by our saints were not just pious platitude, such saints were conscious of their disposition as sinners - loved, forgiven and restored sinners.
I am a great fan of St. Paul which is probably why I am so touchy on the subject, Brigid…please forgive me!

Quoting Ghoti

Paul, for some reason, I find too arrogant. “You all should be like me. I am perfect in my humility.” I know that’s an extreme interpretation, but I think his personality might be why Jesus waited until *after *His ascension to call him…

I am wondering if there is anything in particular in St. Paul’s writings that lead you to the above interpretation?

I know that’s an extreme interpretation, but I think his personality might be why Jesus waited until *after *His ascension to call him…

I had a gigle at that, Ghoti…if Jesus had called Paul before the Ascension, do you think Jesus may have walked up to him punched him in the nose to wake Paul up to himself and stop murdering Jesus’s followers, rather than knocking the poor man off his horse? …all in jest! But I am most curious as to why you should think St. Paul was lacking in humility?

Edit A list of male and female pentitent saints…3pages of them. I dont have time to check them, about to loose my Edit feature I think.http://www.catholic.org/search_site.php?search_term=penitent&qqq=Saints
You may need to past the link into your browser

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ll go with Barsabbas Justus, the one who lost the coin toss to Matthias, but by implication remained a faithful follower and witness of Christ, although not an apostle, and most likely shared in their martyrdom.

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

I identify strongly with St. Peter for the way that I have turned my back on my Lord in the past. I am somewhat of a hothead and probably would have cut off the soldier’s ear then 20 minutes later denied Jesus. I tend to think Peter was bi-polar.

I also identify with St. Matthew and in his vocation and love to write. Matthew’s gospel seems to be the most logically laid out and I am a logical thinker for the most part.

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

In particular, when I contemplate the Luminous Mystery of the Transfiguration, I understand Peter’s words so well, because I probably would have said something similar – It is so good for us to be here in this Glory! Let’s stay!

I feel exactly the same after adoration. Please stop time and let me stay!

 

[tessi]

I identify with Judas.