Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Behold, we account them blessed who have endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate.
In the Podcast, we talked about Saints and Heroes. They are valuable because they embody and demonstrate virtues that we wish to internalize to ourselves—like the Prophets referred to in James’ Epistle, who demonstrate suffering, labor, and patience.
Most Catholics choose a patron saint when they are confirmed. I taught 8th grade pre-confirmation classes last year and I really enjoyed my student’s take on the saints, and even learned some new ones: St. Thecla, and St. Dismas to name just two. I have also heard it said that we don’t choose the Saints we have devotion to, but they choose us. These Saints are intended to be our friend, our confidant, and our encouragement. We can pray for their intercession, study their lives and live by their example. And we can have confidence in knowing they are close to God!
Do you have a patron saint, or if not a saint, a hero whom you look up to and who inspires you? What about them inspires you, what values would you like to internalize from them? How do they influence your life?
When you have pondered that, ponder this as well: Why do you think they chose you?
St. Joan of Arc! :-) And St. Peter is my confirmation saint. St. Joan is definitely a hero and example for me. As is St. Peter, but I know more historically and experientially about Joan in my devotional life.
Well, I was going to say St. Joan of Arc, too, but someone beat me to it, lol! Seriously though, she and St. Therese are my "saintly sisters" and I couldn't do without them!
I am not Catholic, as I think you know, but Hildegard of Bingen has been a hugely influential saint in my faith life. Discovering a woman of deep faith who accomplished all that she accomplished--from herbal medicine to mystical imagination--purely for the love of both God and Creation changed this little Protestant's entire outlook on Christian history. 🌿
I’m a convert to Catholicism, so I was late to getting a patron saint. But I suppose that had some upside since it meant choosing as an adult with a little more self-knowledge. My patron is Saint Jerome. I admired his scholarship, his certainty, and also I admit I like his aggressive style.
St. Joan of Arc! :-) And St. Peter is my confirmation saint. St. Joan is definitely a hero and example for me. As is St. Peter, but I know more historically and experientially about Joan in my devotional life.
Well, I was going to say St. Joan of Arc, too, but someone beat me to it, lol! Seriously though, she and St. Therese are my "saintly sisters" and I couldn't do without them!
Adopted by St Thomas More and Flannery O’Connor. Couldn’t ask for more! No pun intended.
I am not Catholic, as I think you know, but Hildegard of Bingen has been a hugely influential saint in my faith life. Discovering a woman of deep faith who accomplished all that she accomplished--from herbal medicine to mystical imagination--purely for the love of both God and Creation changed this little Protestant's entire outlook on Christian history. 🌿
I’m a convert to Catholicism, so I was late to getting a patron saint. But I suppose that had some upside since it meant choosing as an adult with a little more self-knowledge. My patron is Saint Jerome. I admired his scholarship, his certainty, and also I admit I like his aggressive style.