Comments on: Part III: Why we only carry Faith and Life and Image of God Religion Series or… http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/2006/10/17/part-iii-why-we-only-carry-faith-and-life-and-image-of-god-religion-series-or%e2%80%a6/ If it\'s Catholic we\'ll talk about it and probably sell it. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:38:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: aquinasandmore http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/2006/10/17/part-iii-why-we-only-carry-faith-and-life-and-image-of-god-religion-series-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-426 aquinasandmore Fri, 17 Nov 2006 22:10:53 +0000 http://catholicinformation.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/part-iii-why-we-only-carry-faith-and-life-and-image-of-god-religion-series-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-426 If the text had at least mentioned a prerequisite of being in Heaven as a condition to being in a litany, I would agree. However, the entire lesson spent a great deal of time talking about living heroes so I think that the simple explanation was far too vague for the kids to understand. If the text had at least mentioned a prerequisite of being in Heaven as a condition to being in a litany, I would agree. However, the entire lesson spent a great deal of time talking about living heroes so I think that the simple explanation was far too vague for the kids to understand.

]]> By: Eric http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/2006/10/17/part-iii-why-we-only-carry-faith-and-life-and-image-of-god-religion-series-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-425 Eric Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:35:29 +0000 http://catholicinformation.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/part-iii-why-we-only-carry-faith-and-life-and-image-of-god-religion-series-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-425 Actually, the text is correct in saying the litany can contain people other than saints, assuming that by "saints" you mean only those we generally refer to as canonized saints. Those who have been beatified can be included under certain instances. Patriarchs and prophets can be included, as can angels. Mary is often not thought of as a saint by many. So perhaps the simplified explanation is OK. Actually, the text is correct in saying the litany can contain people other than saints, assuming that by “saints” you mean only those we generally refer to as canonized saints. Those who have been beatified can be included under certain instances. Patriarchs and prophets can be included, as can angels. Mary is often not thought of as a saint by many. So perhaps the simplified explanation is OK.

]]> By: Imelda http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/2006/10/17/part-iii-why-we-only-carry-faith-and-life-and-image-of-god-religion-series-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-427 Imelda Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:57:55 +0000 http://catholicinformation.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/part-iii-why-we-only-carry-faith-and-life-and-image-of-god-religion-series-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-427 The trend toward blurring the meaning of sainthood and devaluing the Saints of the Church is disturbing. A few years ago at the Easter Vigil, during the Litany of the Saints, we were shocked to hear the names of Albert Schweitzer, Chief Joseph and Ghandi sung along with St. Peter, St. Michael and the Blessed Mother. Seems this mischief was sprung on the poor priest whose face clearly revealed his surprise at the inclusion of those people. Saints are those who did ordinary things extraordinarily well for the love of Jesus Christ. They were not saints until they reached Heaven. Only those identified by the Church are to be mentioned in the Litany of the Saints. The aforementioned people may have done good things for their fellow man, but that was not sufficient to include them in the litany. We should look to the Saints as models of virtue. They were not mere humanitarians, but were also people of prayer, people who lived for Christ and for others; people who fell into temptation but with God’s help pulled themselves up and began again. Many of them suffered greatly but realized that through their suffering they would be purified for their final reward. And countless numbers died for the Faith and won Sainthood through their martyrdoms. On earth we are hopefully saints-in-the-making, but let us always reserve judgment of sainthood to the Church. The trend toward blurring the meaning of sainthood and devaluing the Saints of the Church is disturbing. A few years ago at the Easter Vigil, during the Litany of the Saints, we were shocked to hear the names of Albert Schweitzer, Chief Joseph and Ghandi sung along with St. Peter, St. Michael and the Blessed Mother. Seems this mischief was sprung on the poor priest whose face clearly revealed his surprise at the inclusion of those people.

Saints are those who did ordinary things extraordinarily well for the love of Jesus Christ. They were not saints until they reached Heaven. Only those identified by the Church are to be mentioned in the Litany of the Saints. The aforementioned people may have done good things for their fellow man, but that was not sufficient to include them in the litany.

We should look to the Saints as models of virtue. They were not mere humanitarians, but were also people of prayer, people who lived for Christ and for others; people who fell into temptation but with God’s help pulled themselves up and began again. Many of them suffered greatly but realized that through their suffering they would be purified for their final reward. And countless numbers died for the Faith and won Sainthood through their martyrdoms.

On earth we are hopefully saints-in-the-making, but let us always reserve judgment of sainthood to the Church.

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