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THE SAINTS: STORIES, IMAGES, MEDITATIONS

Ultimo Aggiornamento: 10/03/2012 14:55
26/08/2006 23:08
 
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This thread is for sharing about our favourite saints; those who have been our friends along the way, those whose names we chose in confirmation, and any holy pictures, icons or images which inspire us.


This is my favourite image of the Divine Mercy. It was painted in Vilnius under the direction of St Faustina. She wept with disappointment as she thought it didn't represent Our Lord as she saw him - but how could it? If the face is superimposed onto the face of the Holy Shroud, it matches perfectly.
26/08/2006 23:54
 
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Great idea Clare! [SM=g27811]

This is St. Bernadette. I chose to use her name as my Confirmation name. I first heard of her when I saw the film "Song of Bernadette" as a little girl. I was touched by her story and faith, I had then read more about her. Ever since then, I have asked for her to intercede with God on the needs of my family, friends, and my own personal needs. Because of her intercession, I heartfully believe that because of her, I no longer suffer from anxiety attacks or bouts of depression, nor do I need to take any more medication for it.
Thank You St. Bernadette.

[Modificato da PhoenixRising 26/08/2006 23.55]


"To believe in the brotherhood of man without the Fatherhood of God would make men a race of bastards." -Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

27/08/2006 19:31
 
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I chose the name Teresa at Confirmation. I'd always liked the sound of her, she was a strong woman yet very human as well. It was only recently however that I started to read her, which is just as well as I don't think that the 'Interior Castle' would have made much sense to me before now. A friend of mine said sniffily that Teresa was out of vogue in the 20th century, but if she's gone out of fashion, I would say that it's time to bring her back. She's so wonderfully straightforward and unfaddish, and her description of prayer is so much more helpful than the old Purgative-Illuminative-Unitive chestnut. I read Garrigou-Lagrange on prayer and just didn't get it. But of course, it's not a question of right or wrong, just what suits you. And Teresa suits me right now. I'm so glad I chose her!

27/08/2006 19:54
 
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One of my favourites


I've chosen Noli Me Tangere for my first picture here. This is because I've always been moved by Mary Magdalene's awe/fear/joy when she saw The Risen Lord!!!!!!
Thank you, Wulfrune, for starting this most precious thread.
Love always - Mary x [SM=g27822]

27/08/2006 20:15
 
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Mary.... I'm totally gobsmacked...... that is also one of my top faves.... yet it's not widely known - what a coincidence.... I saw it at the National Gallery some years ago and it stayed in my mind until I managed to dredge up a photo on the internet, print it off and it's on my wall beside me as I write... I know it's a bit trivial, but I love it that Our Lord is in pink - the little blobs on his robe are actually golden.

I love icons, yet am only beginning to understand the theology behind them. I love this one, which has been a great comfort to me personally and saw me through a tough time.



Our Lady the Joy of all that Sorrow (19th century) - the picture depicts Our Lady comforting the sick and suffering who surround her - they are on dry barren ground, reflecting the harshness of their situations. I would like to have a larger poster of this so I could read what they are all saying!
27/08/2006 20:34
 
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Icons
Clare, the icon you posted reminded me of some of the icons we have around our home. I have a smaller version of this one on my desk. I bought it because it was meaningful, and beautiful.



And here is a description of it, from the website I bought it from:

Veneration for this icon has long been associated with intercession on behalf of those suffering spiritually from hardness of heart to convert them to a better Christian life!

Esteemed by Catholic and Orthodox Christians Holy Virgin Mary icon, named "Softening of Evil Hearts" [Umiagchenie Zlyh Serdets- in Russian].
Icons of the 'Seven Arrows' and 'Softening of Evil Hearts' depict the Mother of God with seven swords pointed at Her Soul. They reflect the saying of the Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord when Saint Simeon prophesied that the soul or heart of the Mother of God would be pierced with a sword. There was a veneration for the seven main sorrows of the Mother of God.
The number seven can also stand for the idea of completeness of the pain of the Mother of God which She felt during Her Son's Passion.

[Modificato da PhoenixRising 27/08/2006 20.37]


"To believe in the brotherhood of man without the Fatherhood of God would make men a race of bastards." -Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

27/08/2006 21:11
 
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GREAT THREAD!!!!
Wulfrune, what a wonderful idea to open this thread. Thank you! This is just what this Protestant needs to learn more about saints. I know the names of many saints, but how does one get to know more about the theology around them, as Wulfruna mentioned?
Maryjos, the Noli Me Tangere is known to me and I have always loved it. One of the most moving Gospel parts anyhow. [SM=g27836]

27/08/2006 22:15
 
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Praying to God through the Saints
Well, I had a quick Google about the theology of praying through the saints, and came up with this

The Saints
We can ask any person in heaven, any saint, to join us in prayer.
This includes our relatives who have gone before us.

We do not pray to the saints in the sense that they have any power of their own. We ask them to pray with us to God, just as I can ask you to pray with me to God. We do assume that they can hear us, and, because they are with God, and lived very good holy lives, we feel their prayers joined to ours will be powerful. God would be inclined to listen to such good people who are close to him. However, we do not think it is necessary or essential to pray to saints. Our one mediator is Jesus who is the bridge between us and God. He is really the essential conduit. However, we venerate saints, which is not to say that we give them adoration or honor due to God alone. It means we honor them as people who successfully cooperated with God's grace in this life and are among the great cloud of witnesses in heaven. [See sec. 2683 of the catechism.]They succeeded in Christian life. They say to us that we can succeed too if we persevere. They are fully totally human and their lives give us hope for ourselves, that we too in our own time and place can do God's will successfully.

The whole page looks interesting and covers a lot of really nice ground concerning prayer, which is a subject that many people grapple with
Awaken to Prayer


This kind of icon is sometimes called Our Lady of Tenderness, or Sweet Kissing. I found it on the site above.

Phoenix: Your icon is really lovely!! And wouldn't you know - it's so relevant it bowls me over. I'm praying for someone who is full of anger and hate to have a softening of heart. It truly is harder to wage peace than war, but so worth it!!!

[Modificato da Wulfrune 27/08/2006 22.22]

27/08/2006 22:49
 
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Late last summer a Catholic friend asked me to pray for her about something. I said I would. She asked me to pray to Our Lady for intercession. Then just as quickly she said, "Oh that's right, your Methodist." We had a long discussion about saints and veneration versus God and worship. So I did as my friend asked. Feeling extremly weird I asked Our Lady to intercede for my friend. Then I asked her something for myself. Within 24hours I had my answer. It wasn't a lightening bolt from Heaven... or trumpets blaring... rather it came very quietly and gently... like a new mother would caress her newborn. My 2nd encounter to a saint was Mary Magdalene. I feel a very close connection with her... the name I took at confirmation was Marie... in honor of all the Marie/Maria/Mary's out there!!!

27/08/2006 22:57
 
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I think everyone's heart needs to be soften to some extent. [SM=g27819]

One thing that has always fascinated me is the phenomenon of bodily incorruption. Catholicism is the only religion that has this. I found an interesting link about the phenomenon, and it has the back stories of the various Saints who have this, and some pics of their incorrupt bodies. I also found a link for a book about it as well. [SM=g27817]


St. Bernadette


St. Catherine Laboure (1806-1876).


http://www.livingmiracles.net/Incorrupt.html


http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/123/

[Modificato da PhoenixRising 27/08/2006 23.05]


"To believe in the brotherhood of man without the Fatherhood of God would make men a race of bastards." -Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

28/08/2006 00:48
 
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Thank you, guys/gals
Wulfruna, Phoenix, Nan, thanks for your links and explanations. I'll make a study of this. Wulfruna, the praying "to" saints is something I couldn't understand, for the simple reason that I haven't been brought up with it. I just couldn't understand why we can't pray directly to God in the name of Jesus Christ. Why still more (other) "pathways"? I thought. But I understand now that it is actually a plea for help additional to our own praying?

I wrote on another thread once that I still have this feeling that the souls in Heaven should be set free from "earthly worries", so to speak. I'll feel almost guilty to ask my parents in heaven to pray for me any more - they have done enough praying for me while still alive! This is how my old brain works. I just want them to have peace now. But,on the other hand, I pray for them - asking God to let them know I love them still and to thank them for what they have to me, etc.

There must be some Biblical basis for this tradition of asking for intercession of the saints. I'll probably find it when I try the links. Thanks again.
28/08/2006 06:45
 
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Wonderful idea Wulfrune to open this thread. I love stories about saints. If you want we can exchange images, articles, whatever you want....

This is St. Rosa of Lima, I'll try to find out her history in English and post it here. She was the first not european woman to be canonized
Teresa, maybe you know her as she is "patroness" of Philippines, don't you?

[Modificato da @Nessuna@ 28/08/2006 7.28]

28/08/2006 07:43
 
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28/08/2006 12:57
 
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Incorrupt bodies


Here is a photo I took of Blessed Pope John XXIII, whose body has now been transferred to Saint Peter's and has had a rail and kneeler placed before it, for prayer. The face has had some substance put on it to make it smooth and light - a bit like alabaster. I noticed that Saint Clare, in Assisi, also looks different now: her face has been similarly covered. The last time I saw her body, her face was quite brown - but incorrupt.

This is becoming such a fascinating thread! I think I shall have to develop an awareness of the theology of icons. Those you have posted so far are beautiful. Our Lady always brings comfort - but gently and not always noticeably. She doesn't come like thunder! I talk to her every day at Mass and light a candle; I need her help at the moment, as I'm assailed by something wicked. Prayers please!
Love and Peace - Mary x [SM=g27822]

28/08/2006 15:14
 
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What a splendid idea to start this thread! [SM=g27811]
I'm sure many of us has patron saints that are not widely known. This can be a good opportunity to meet other fantastic people "up there" and learn a lot from their witness to faith.

I myself have a couple of saint patrons, some known and some rather unknown, whom I ask for intercession when I am in any kind of difficulty (that's what friends are for, right? [SM=g27828] )
Or I simply talk to them when I happy.

I've got busy at work right now, but I will gladly share "my saints" with you [SM=x40791]

28/08/2006 16:32
 
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St Pio
Yes please Sue and Nessuna, do share stories of your special saints with us.

It's time we brought out the Padre, I think!!! I know he's very dear to many people here. I would love to visit San Giovanni Rotondo and Pietrelcina.

When I discussed the possibility of this thread with Teresa, we thought it would be good to post pictures that people could print off to make holy pictures for private use. It's well known that there aren't a lot of photos of Padre Pio around, and we are all familiar with the most popular ones, eg:


so here are some possibly less familiar ones







And finally..... as if we needed proof of the good sense of the Italian people....


[Modificato da Wulfrune 28/08/2006 16.35]

29/08/2006 01:57
 
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Crochet, I found something on the Biblical basis of the Intercession of the Saints on a Catholic answer site:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Intercession_of_the_Saints.asp

Thus, in Psalm 103 we pray, "Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!" (Ps. 103:20–21). And in the opening verses of Psalms 148 we pray, "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!"

Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us. In the book of Revelation, John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8). Thus the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth.

Angels do the same thing: "[An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God" (Rev. 8:3–4).

Jesus himself warned us not to offend small children, because their guardian angels have guaranteed intercessory access to the Father: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 18:10).

Because he is the only God-man and the Mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (1 Tim. 2:5), but this in no way means we cannot or should not ask our fellow Christians to pray with us and for us (1 Tim. 2:1–4). In particular, we should ask the intercession of those Christians in heaven, who have already had their sanctification completed, for "[t]he prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects" (Jas. 5:16).


I hope this helps. [SM=g27817]

Clare, I found a pic of St. Pio with his Stigmata visible. Lupe, the link about St. Rose was very interesting.


"To believe in the brotherhood of man without the Fatherhood of God would make men a race of bastards." -Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

29/08/2006 02:57
 
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Thank you very much, PhoenixRising for the link and the extracts. It is kind of you. [SM=g27823]
29/08/2006 06:14
 
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All of us Benaddicts know how much Papa admires St. Augustine. I have been reading Papa's book, "Co-Workers of the Truth", a collection of extracts from his writings and homilies arranged one per day throughout the year. Look what Papa has to say about St. Augustine in the entry for August 28. Does it remind you of anyone we know and love?

"He could have been an aristocrat of the spirit, but for the sake of Christ and for the sake of his fellow men, in whom he saw Christ coming toward him, he left the ivory tower of the gifted intellectual in order to be wholly man among men, a servant of the servants of God. For the sake of Christ he emptied himself of his great learning. For the sake of Christ he became increasingly an ordinary person and the servant of all. In doing so he became truly a saint." Dogma und Verkundigung, p. 415

29/08/2006 16:15
 
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great thread!i always ask St.Therese,Padre Pio and St.Jude for thier intercession [SM=g27821]
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