www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Is the Roman system of canonization outdated?

Dearest Zenovia,

Well, I believe God wishes everyone to have their own independent country! Including the Irish!

If you are not an historian, then Todd is no expert on Uncreated Grace! (I know of no higher compliment!)

Your question on Henry VIII is interesting. France seemed to have much more opposition to the destruction of the Catholic Church than England - but this opposition was largely in western France that had really been vivified spiritually by the preaching of St Louis de Montfort - it was no accident that the symbol of the Vendean fighters was the Sacred Heart and this comes from the Montfortian tradition.

Savonarola was a fiery preacher of reform and was VERY pious. His example made the millionaires and aristocracy of his day give up their wealth to put on the Dominican habit of the Province that he was in charge of. Those who couldn't quite manage to part with ALL of their wealth entered the Dominican Third Order so as to be buried with the Dominican habit on.

Those who gave up books and jewelry to be burned publicly did so as a result of his preaching. His followers already honoured him as a holy man while he was still alive.

And one of his followers left Italy and became Orthodox in Russia. He was canonized an Orthodox saint in 1988 - St Maximos the Greek. Orthodox writers in the 19th century quoted Savonarola and extolled his sanctity and useful spiritual suggestions (a popular one among the Orthodox writers was Savonarola's recommendation to carry, on one's person, a little skull and when we are tempted to sin, we should take it out and gaze upon it - and so the temptation will go away).

Cheers,

Alex

I have found that some of Pope John Pauls canonized saints were the most practical- of course the biggies like St. Max Kolbe (martry of charity during WWII) and St. Faustina(Divine Mercy) and Padre Pio(stigmata and confessor), Edith Stein, St. Juan Diego (Our Lady of Guadalupe) and of Mother Theresa. But I like the less known ones better.

St. Molla Gianna died 1962. Mother of four and a physician she died after giving birth to her fourth. She refused to abort her child and save her life, thereby dieing one week after birth from complications. Prolife Martyr? and one who can inspire the women of this time what real femininity means.

St. Joshephine Bakhita. Africa slave from Darfur. After being set free and converting, I believe that she became a religious. She died 1950's. Do we need to learn from her humility and ability to offer up a life of horror?

Blessed Kateri. Native American martyred for her faith. She prayed the rosary on stones.

Blessed Jean Jugen. She took care of the elderly and gave them dignity. What a message in a time where euthanasia rules the day!

Blessed Franscisco and Blessed Jacinta of Fatima. A reminder that children and their innocent simplicity are what we should strive to make our faith. Unfortunately, we live in a society that wants our children to be as sick and perveted as possible from such an early age.

St. Josemaria Escriva, he spread the consciousness that we are all called to holiness irregardless of race, class or age.

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich ( I thought her writings were where Gibson got some of the passion from-but maybe I am wrong) told of the sorrowful passion of our Lord and lived it in her body.

Blessed Junipero Serra was a real example of Christian missionary spirit.

Quite a diversity there in age, race, country of origin and reason for cannonization. And most of them really speak to this age and this time, if we only take the time to learn their stories.

Hopal,

Let us not forget Blesseds Theodore Romzha and Basil Hopko.

Dr. Alex, Anhelyna, et al would like us to remember:

Blesseds Kilment Sheptyts'kyj, Mykola Charnetskyj, and Omeljan Kovc.

Blessed Omeljan is one of my favorites as he is like the Greek Catholic St. Max Kolbe. He was shot at and eventually imprisoned for helping save Jewish people in WWII. He was martyred in the ovens at Majdanek.

I did not know about these saints. Is there a website for them?

Also, he made St. Therese a Doctor of the Church. I think that took a bit of doing. She wasn't known for her scholarliness but her Autobiography of a Soul, is a book every Catholic should read. She does clearly define the short path to heaven.

Holly

I will be curious to see of Benedict has the courage to look into the cause for Cardinal Kung of China-talk about a real hero for the faith. I had the pleasure to sup with his family recently and what a story. What faith and courage...and what a tragedy that the Vatican is not taking a stronger stance against the false Chinese Catholic Church.

Hopal,

One, you can ask Dr. Alex (Orthodox Catholic) he can give you more info.

Two, my resource:

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexsnt.htm

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte60.htm

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc99.htm

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb4i.htm

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintt42.htm

I hope those help!

Thank you. I printed out those excerpts and added them into the liturgical year file that I have created for the kids. Everyday I pull out the saints of the day and read them to the kids, so this will be perfect.

Holly

Holly,

Is this a file of Byzantine saints and info for the Byzantine liturgical year? If you are willing to share it with other families, I have an outlet you could do so through, maintaining your authorship.

If you are interested, please PM me.