Why We Love The Saints

A favorite topic of non-Catholic when we are discussing the things of Christ with them is the presence of “statues” in our Churches. Some of them even consider them “idols” and call us “idol worshippers”. They misunderstand the practice of Catholics to asking various Saints to intercede for us in Heaven and attribute things to it that we as Catholics don’t believe…we’ll address that in another article.

The other reason we have “icons” (not statues) in our Churches goes to the very meaning of the word. An “icon” is defined as a picture or object that serves as a reminder of something. The icons of the Saints, Mary and Joseph remind us of the fact that we too can live lives that are both honoring to God and examples to those around us and who may come after us. Just as human families have photos and albums of their grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles to remind them of their roots so too do we. The icons are our Family Album of Faith.

I’d like to take the time to look at the lives and sayings of two of the most well known Saints… even outside the ranks of Catholicism: Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Augustine of Hippo.

Saint Francis of Assisi

When Francis was born he was named Giovani by his mother, but when his father returned from France he changed his name to Francesco. He didn’t want a holy man in the family but a man of culture and of business…both of which Francis became in his adult life. Francis wanted fame and power and so he joined in the Crusade against the Muslims. But before he got to fight he had a dream from the Lord telling him he had it all wrong. He was to dedicate his life to the service of the Lord and helping the poor.

He founded the Franciscan Order. He has always been one of my favorite saints particularly since he is always pictured with birds and animals around him. I was very happy when Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose his name by which to be called as Pope. Saint Francis wrote many things, but the one that most people remember him for is his “Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace” prayer.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

May that be our prayer each day for, as the Lord Jesus said in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall see God”.

There is much more on Saint Francis on the Catholic.Org website.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Like Saint Francis, Saint Augustine came from a fairly well off family. He was born in Africa, the son of a godly mother, but he didn’t turn to Christ at an early age. He spent most of his young adult life in drunkenness and loose living. But eventually as a result of the prayers of his saintly mother, Monica (she is also a canonized Saint) and the influence of a great mentor, Saint Ambrose, he came to dedicate his life to the Lord. After his baptism he became a priest, a bishop and one of the most important Christian writers of all time. His writing are recognized not only with the Catholic Church (he is considered a “Doctor of the Church”) but also in Evangelical Christian circles as well. They consider his writing on salvation as foundational to the Protestant Reformation.

Among the writings attributed to him is a phrase well known to those involved in Apologetics ministry. His “In Essentials: Unity, In Non-Essentials: Liberty and in all things: Charity” is one of the most quoted phrases along with 1 Peter 3:15. A few of his other quotations:

“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance,
but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.”

“Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead, He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?”

“Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you.”

“Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.”

“A Christian should be an Alleluia from head to foot”

More about Saint Augustine (and all the Saints) on the Catholic.Org website also. I also want to point you to the articles of Debra Booton McCoy on this subject. She has written some very good articles on other Saints. http://www.catholic365.com/author/debra-booton-mccoy/

It’s small wonder that we have the icon of such men and women in our Family Album of Faith. There are hundreds more whose life and example motivate and encourage us in our personal walk of faith. This is why we love the Saints!