Book Comment: Lives of the Saints

 

In his book, Lives of the Saints, Richard McBrien discusses the various understandings of the meaning of the word “saint,” the various Christian and non-Christian spiritualities, canonization of the saints from a Roman Catholic perspective, biographical pictures of the lives of the saints are given, arranged by the yearly Roman Catholic calendar and the calendars of the Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, as well as other “historically significant holy persons.”

A final section of tables includes a list of feast days of the saints, and the patron saints of places, causes, occupations, etc.

The book will be interesting to general readers interested in Christian history. The book does not have to be read sequentially; you can start on any page and skip around as you wish. There is a glossary and indices of subjects and names.

As with most books such as this, what you get from the book depends on what you bring with you. You may not agree with everything the author says. Luke (see below) advises you to think for yourself.

Information you will need to search for this book: McBrien, Richard P., Lives of the Saints from Mary and St. Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001)

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A general caution: books may give you wonderful new insights and explanations of subjects, but you should never base your Christian beliefs on any one book or the teachings of one person, no matter who they are. All teachings must be consistent with scripture. Read as the Bereans did, with discernment. “… for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 NASB

Any doctrines must be consistent with the historical full body of Christian thought. Doctrines or teachings inconsistent with scripture in any way must be rejected. You would not eat cheese which had a fuzzy fungus growing on it.

Mother Teresa About Animals

"(Animals) too are created by the same hand of God which created us.  As we humans are gifted with intelligence, which the animals lack, it is our duty to protect them  an to promote their well-being.  We owe it to them as they serve us with such docility and loyalty." Mother Teresa, quoted in a 1972 letter from a Kentucky woman who had written to her.  The letter appeared in St. Anthony Messenger (2003).  The letter is referenced in the 2009 book, Will I See My Dog in Heaven?  God's Saving Love for the Whole Family of Creation, by Jack Wintz, a Franciscan.

Mother Teresa on Prayer

To Mother Teresa, a reporter asked, “What do you say to God when you pray?” Her simple answer was, “I don’t say anything; I just listen.” He then asked her, “Well, what does Jesus say to you?” And Mother Theresa answered, “Oh, He doesn’t say anything, either. He just listens.”

How Much He Trusts Us

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.  I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." Mother Teresa

It Is His Work

"I don't claim anything of the work.  It is his work.  I am like a little pencil in his hand.  That is all.  He does the thinking.  He does the writing.  The pencil has nothing to do with it."  Mother Teresa

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Epenetus: The first Christian convert in the Roman province of Asia. Romans 16:5

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu: (b. 1910, Kosovo – d. 1997; aka. Mother Teresa; Blessed Teresa of Calcutta) In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India.  The ministry of the organization focuses on the sick, poor, orphaned and dying.

Louis Zamperini: (b. 1917, New York, USA) Olympic runner, WWII pilot, prisoner of war, Christian inspirational speaker.  In 1998, he carried the Olympic Torch in Nagano, Japan.  In 2008, he was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

Richard Melville Hall: (b. 1965, New York, USA; aka. Moby) keyboardist, guitarist, drummer, singer, songwriter, disc jockey, vegan.  He performs in the following music genres: electronic dance, electronica, pop rock, and ambient.

Simon Kimbangu: (b. 1887, Congo Free State – d. 1951)  Founder of Kimbanguism (The Church of Jesus Christ on Earth by His Special Envoy Simon Kimbangu, a member church in the World Council of Churhces).  Baptist preacher and healer, nationalist.

  

Wiping the Leper's Sores

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."  Matthew 25:31-46

"I see God in every human being.  When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself.  Is it not a beautiful experience?" Mother Teresa (1910-1997)