Pope proclaims 19 new saints

Herald Sun ^ | 21 December 2005

[Aussie Dasher]

POPE Benedict XVI has authorised the proclamation of 19 new saints and blesseds, the first such decree of his papacy which began in late April.

The list named two future saints, a Polish priest from the 15th century and an Italian nun from the 16th century. The number of blesseds included nine Italians, three Germans, three Spaniards, a Dutchman and an Indian. The Indian priest, Agostino Thevarparampil, who died in 1973, was the most recent person to be named a blessed. Thirteen others were also from the 20th century.

The process of recognising the saints and blesseds, either for their heroic actions or martyrdom or intercession in a miracle, was begun by the late John Paul II, who died on April 2.

During his papacy, John Paul II canonised 482 saints and beatified 1338.

Benedict has confirmed all the sainthoods and beatifications begun by the late pope, with one exception. Earlier this year, he cancelled the expected beatification of a Frenchman, Leon Dehon (1843-1925), a Catholic social thinker whose anti-Semitic writings had initially escaped the notice of the review commission.

Benedict has already launched the process of beatification for John Paul II, bypassing the canon law that traditionally requires waiting five years after a candidate's death to open the process.

[Señor Zorro]

Actually, you're not praying to a saint, you're praying to God through the intercession of that saint.

I fail to see how that truly makes a difference. You are, then, praying to the saints to pray for you.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Jesus Christ is my mediator--I need no other.

[guinnessman]

I'm glad you're reading Timothy 2:5-6. While you're at it, maybe you could read Timothy 2:1-4, which is right before it.

"First of all, then, I ask that supplications, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone, for kings and all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved, and to come to knowledge of the truth."

If God wants us to pray for others while we're on earth, why aren't we allowed to pray for others while we're in heaven? Personally, I see no problem with living fraternity with the saints in heaven. Are you planning on being a loner in heaven?

[Conservative til I die]

Quite pious of them, isn't it? Seems they should be more concerned with their own salvation.

DOesn't seem they have to worry about it, since they're already saints. Regardless of what they do after they saint themselves.

[Conservative til I die]

If God wants us to pray for others while we're on earth, why aren't we allowed to pray for others while we're in heaven? Personally, I see no problem with living fraternity with the saints in heaven. Are you planning on being a loner in heaven?

I always find it interesting that many Bible only Protestants have a bad habit of quoting the verse they like and pretending the one preceding it and the one following it don't exist.

[bonfire]

ahhhhhh....but he already IS a Saint :)

[aMorePerfectUnion]

FF,
My comments did not reference catholics at all. The topic is about saints. I commented that the Bible describes ALL true believers as saints. ALL. In that sense, the Pope has nothing to do with either recognizing them or designating them. I've nothing against catholics, especially having been raised as one. I appreciate the foundation of belief that was instilled in me from an early age. It prepared me to accept God's free gift.

merry Christmas!
ampu

[Desdemona]

Well, at least 66 books of it. And unfortunately that's all you have.

And most don't want to believe how those were chosen, let alone the other seven.

[Desdemona]

I'm glad you're reading Timothy 2:5-6. While you're at it, maybe you could read Timothy 2:1-4, which is right before it.

Bump. Details, details.

[FFIGHTER]

Disagree with scripture?, No, just the philster distortion and interpretations of modern day Philistines. Insult? No, just observation.

[Lazamataz]

Pope proclaims 19 new saints

I don't see *my* name in the list.

And I am certainly made up of precurser Saint chemicals.

[highlander_UW]

Disagree with scripture?, No, just the philster distortion and interpretations of modern day Philistines. Insult? No, just observation.

Your ignorance of scripture seems to be the root of your vitriol. Perhaps at this Christmas time you might find time to spend some of it in the scriptures...and you will discover that believers in Christ are referred to as the saints...and none of the cases was a Roman pope involved as a prerequisite.

But honestly, it seems pointless to continue any sort of discussion with you on the scriptures as you do not evidence any familiarity with them nor any concern with the glorious truths God provides in them.

[NCC-1701]

"...Pope proclaims 19 new saints

It is a good start, they need a quarterback, an offensive line, and to replace half the defense...."

I believe the Saints didn't have a winning year until Pope John Paul II showed up in NOLA in 1987. If so, that in itself should count as one miracle needed for sainthood.

[FFIGHTER]

I am redemed by the blood of Jesus, not through sola scriptura. I will pray for your eternal soul.

[highlander_UW]

I am redemed by the blood of Jesus, not through sola scriptura. I will pray for your eternal soul.

All prayers are welcome, although I'd request that they be directed to God and not a human. But you seem confused regarding sola scriptura...no one has brought that up as a topic here...although sola fide might be what you were aiming for.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

[BikerNYC]

Benedict has confirmed all the sainthoods and beatifications begun by the late pope, with one exception. Earlier this year, he cancelled the expected beatification of a Frenchman, Leon Dehon (1843-1925), a Catholic social thinker whose anti-Semitic writings had initially escaped the notice of the review commission.

I wonder what else has escaped the notice of the review commission.

Has anyone been declared a saint, only to have that title taken away at a later date?

[FFIGHTER]

No, Sola Scriptura(Scriptures) and Sola Fide(Faith Alone)or Faith without works; i.e. Talk the talk, but don't walk the walk.

James 2:14-26
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;" notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, "Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Matthew 7:21
"Not every one that saith unto me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 19:16-21
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" And he said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." He saith unto him, "Which?" Jesus said, "thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." The young man saith unto him, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Catholics prayers are only directed to God through his grace and glory granted by him alone, not directly to Saints or the Blessed Mother (Mary) we seek intercession and invocation of the faithful here on earth and in heaven for they are one body with Christ. To ask saints both here on earth and heaven to pray for us, to God, not that God may know our petition from them, but that their prayers and the merits of our prayers be efficacious.

"And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel" (Revelation 8:3-4).

[highlander_UW]

No, Sola Scriptura(Scriptures) and Sola Fide(Faith Alone)or Faith without works; i.e. Talk the talk, but don't walk the walk.

You seem to be trying to wind this into some debate other than my original, and accurate statement. Not really interested, sorry...but I am quite familiar with the topics of sola scriptura and sola fide.

Catholics prayers are only directed to God through his grace and glory granted by him alone, not directly to Saints or the Blessed Mother (Mary) we seek intercession and invocation of the faithful here on earth and in heaven for they are one body with Christ.

As an ex-catholic I know this isn't true in general, but glad to hear it from you personally. But I would point out that it's counter-biblical to seek intercession from anyone but Jesus...who is our ONLY intercessor.

To ask saints both here on earth and heaven to pray for us, to God, not that God may know our petition from them, but that their prayers and the merits of our prayers be efficacious.

The apostles asked Jesus to teach them to pray and what He taught had nothing to do with praying to dead saints or angels, asking them to intercede for them.

Listen, my original point was that all believers are saints...it does not take some special pronouncement from the pope or anyone else to make one a saint. You have changed the topic from that to the efficacy of praying to saints and angels asking them to pray for us. Perhaps you made this change in topic because you sensed you had no case on the original point...but you've moved to another losing point. It seems pointless to go around and around on these topics. I know that I'm right in these two regards...and it's also equally likely that you're not going to change your views because you see yourself as some defender of the RCC...even though my original point was not an attack on the RCC but rather a statement of fact that you took offense at.

[Señor Zorro]

If God wants us to pray for others while we're on earth, why aren't we allowed to pray for others while we're in heaven?

That's not the issue. It is supplication being offered TO the saints, not BY them. As I posted before, there is ONLY ONE mediator between God and Man: Jesus Christ.

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?" Isaiah 8:19 (emphasis mine)

I assure you, I do not plan to spend eternity in a glorified monastary cell. Hope to see you there.

[Señor Zorro]

Kind of like when you ask someone to pray for you, it's akin to accessing for intercession from Saints.

Not quite. The saints, in this case, are dead. That makes all the difference in the world.

[Primetimedonna]

This seems like the right thread to ask a question I've had for quite awhile. Many years ago, it was announced that St. Christopher was no longer a saint...not sure of why, but he and several other saints were dethroned (bumped down?) and I remember many people were concerned since he had been such a visible presence (all the car medallians and St. Christopher medals.) My husband began referring to the medal I gave him when he went into the service in the Vietnam era as his Mr. Christopher medal. On another FR thread a few months ago someone told me that he was still a saint, but not the highest degree of saints. Now I'm a product of the Baltimore Catchism days, and don't remember anything about degrees of saints. Does anyone out there have the scoop about Christopher's status?

Many thanks.....inquiring minds want to know.