332. St.

Theresa (October 17), the patroness of Spain, is represented in Christian Art

kneeling in prayer, with an angel a short distance above piercing her heart with a
flametipped arrow, in token of the Divine love with which she was animated. The
Carmelite Convent which she founded at her birthplace, Avila, in Castile, is now her
shrine. The nuns, it may be added, never occupy the choir-stalls in the chapel, but sit
on the steps, because, as they say, the angels were accustomed to sit there whenever
the saint attended Mass. (Died 1582.)

328. St. Francis d'Assisi (October 4th), the founder of the Franciscan Order of
Preaching Friars (see 31), has for his attributes in Christian Art a lamb and a lily, the
emblems of meekness and purity, and the stigmata, or five wounds of the crucified
Christ. We are told in the legend that it was manifested to him in his cell that he
should be transformed into a resemblance to Christ, "not by the martyrdom of the
flesh, but by the might and fire of Divine love." When the vision had passed away, he
discovered that in his hands, feet, and side he carried the wounds of the Redeemer.
(Died 1226.)

314. St. John the Baptist (August 29th) is represented in Christian Art at all times in a
coat of sheep-skins, in allusion to his life in the wilderness. (Beheaded 31.)
. St. Thomas (December 21st) was a fisherman; yet his attribute in
Christian Art is a builder's square. The reason of this is explained in
the following account of the Golden Legend. During the time that
Thomas was at Csarea, the Lord appeared to him, saying, "The King
of the Indies, Gondoforus, hath sent his provost, Abanes, to seek for
workmen well versed in architecture, who shall build for him a
palace finer than that of the Emperor of Rome. Behold, now, I will
send thee to him!" In obedience to this Divine command, Thomas
presented himself to Gondoforus, who gave him much silver and
gold to build for him the sumptuous palace he coveted during his
enforced absence in a distant country. At the end of two years he
returned, but instead of a palace he found that Thomas had
bestowed all the silver and gold entrusted to him upon the sick and
the poor. Thereupon Gondoforus cast him into prison, to await a
horrible death. Meantime, the king's brother died, and Gondoforus

resolved to build for him a magnificent tomb. But the dead man
suddenly appeared to his brother the king, andsaid, "The man whom
thou wouldst torture is a servant of God. Behold! I have been in
Paradise, and the angels showed to me a wondrous palace of gold
and silver and precious stones, and they said, 'This is the palace
that Thomas the Architect hath built for thy brother, King
Gondoforus!'" Then the king hastened to deliver Thomas out of
prison. And Thomas spoke to him thus: "Knowest thou not that those
who would possess heavenly things have little care for the things of
this earth? There are in heaven rich palaces without number, which
were prepared from the beginning of the world for those who
purchase the possession through faith and charity. Thy riches, O
king, may prepare the way for thee to such a palace, but they
cannot follow thee thither!" This beautiful story is fittingly illustrated
on one of the stained-glass windows of Bruges Cathedral, the gift of
the Builders' Company of that city. St. Thomas is the patron of
masons and builders for the reason just stated

CONGREGATIONFORTHECAUSESOFSAINTS

REFLECTIONBYCARD.JOSSARAIVAMARTINS
Thelivesofthesaintsshowtheworld
"thedivineinthehuman,theeternalintime'

1."AllittakestomakeamanasaintisGrace.Anyonewhodoubtsthisknowsneitherwhat
makesasaintnoraman",PascalobservesinPenseswithhischaracteristictrenchantstyle.I
startwiththisobservationtopointoutthedualperspectiveofthesereflections:inthesaintthe
celebrationofGod(indeed,ofhisGrace)combineswiththecelebrationofman,withhis
potentialandhislimitations,hisaspirationsandhisachievements.
Themanyobjectionstodaytotheconceptsof"holiness"and"saint"arewellknown.Much
criticismisalsolevelledattheChurchforhertraditionalanduninterruptedpracticeof
recognizingandproclaimingsomeofhermostoutstandingchildrenas"saints".Somehave

insinuatedthatthespecialimportanceJohnPaulIIhasgiventobeatificationsand
canonizationsandthegreatnumberofthemduringhispontificatemightmaskanexpansionist
policyoftheCatholicChurch.Othersconsiderthattheproposalofnewblessedsandsaints
fromsuchdifferentbackgrounds,nationalitiesandculturesismerelyaploytomarket
holiness,toassuretheleadershipofthepapacyincontemporarysociety.Lastly,somesee
canonizationsandthedevotiontosaintsasananachronismleftoverfromreligious
triumphalism,foreignorevencontrarytothespiritanddictatesoftheSecondVatican
Council,whichplacedsogreatanemphasisonthevocationtoholinessofallChristians.
Itisobviousthatanexclusivelysociologicalinterpretationofthissubjectwouldrisknotonly
beingreductivebutalsomisleadingforanunderstandingofthephenomenon,whichisso
muchafeatureoftheCatholicChurch.
2.IntheApostolicLetterNovoMillennioIneuntewhichthePopepresentedtotheChurchat
theendofJubileeYear2000,heplacesprofoundemphasisonthetopicofholiness.Among
the"greathostofsaintsandmartyrs"whichincludes"Popeswellknowntohistoryorto
humblelayandreligiousfigures,fromonecontinenttoanotheroftheglobe","Holiness",John
PaulIInotesinhisLetter,"hasemergedmoreclearlyasthedimensionwhichexpressesbest
themysteryoftheChurch.Holiness,amessagethatconvinceswithouttheneedforwords,is
thelivingreflectionofthefaceofChrist"(n.7).
TounderstandtheChurch,weneedtobeacquaintedwiththesaintswhoarehermosteloquent
sign,hersweetestfruit.TocontemplatethefaceofChristinthechanging,diversified
situationsofthemodernworldwemustlookatthesaintswhoare"thelivingreflectionofthe
faceofChrist",asthePoperemindsus.TheChurchmustproclaimthesaintsandshemustdo
sointhenameofthatproclamationofholinessthatfillsherandmakesher,precisely,ameans
ofsanctificationintheworld.
"Godshowstomen,inavividway,hispresenceandhisfaceinthelivesofthosecompanions
ofoursinthehumanconditionwhoaremoreperfectlytransformedintotheimageofChrist
(cf.IICor3:18).Hespeakstousinthem,andoffersusasignofhiskingdom,towhichwe
arepowerfullyattracted,sogreatacloudofwitnessesistheregiven(cf.Heb12:1)andsucha
witnesstothetruthoftheGospel"(LumenGentium,n.50).InthispassagefromLumen
Gentiumwediscovertheprofoundreasonforthedevotiontoblessedsandsaints.
3.TheChurchcarriesoutthemissionthedivineTeacherentrustedtohertobeaninstrument
ofholinessthroughevangelization,thesacramentsandthepracticeofcharity.Thismission
alsoreceivesasubstantialcontributiontoitscontentandspiritualincentivesfromthe
proclamationoftheblessedsandsaints,fortheyshowthatholinessisaccessibletothe
multitudes,thatholinesscanbeimitated.Theirpersonalandhistoricalrealityallowspeopleto
experiencethattheGospelandnewlifeinChristareneitherautopianorameresystemof
values,but"leaven"and"salt"thatcanbringtolifetheChristianfaith,withinandfromwithin
thedifferentcultures,geographicalareasandhistoricalepochs.
"Thefutureofhumanbeings"thelateCardinalGiuseppeSiriremarked,"isneverclear,forall

theirsinscorrodeallthepathsofhistoryandleadtoanintricatedialecticofcauseandeffect,
errorandnemesis,explosionsandinterruptions.Thecertaintythatthesaintswillcontinueto
accompanypeopleisoneofthefewguaranteesofthefuture"(IlPrimatodellaVerit,154).
4.ThephenomenonofthesaintsandofChristianholinessgivesrisetoasenseofwonderthat
hasalwaysexistedintheChurchandcannotbutamazeevenanattentivelayobserver,
especiallytodayinaworldcontinuouslyandrapidlychanging,culturallyfragmentedinvalues
aswellasincustoms.Fromwonderisbornthequestion:whatmakesfaithincarnateinallthe
latitudes,inthedifferenthistoricalcontexts,inthemostvariedcategoriesandwalksoflife?
How,withoutthedynamicsofpower,enforcedorpersuasive,cantherebesomanysaints,so
differentyetsoconsonantwithChristandwiththeChurch?Whatisitthatimpelspeople
freelytoacceptthefertileseedofChristianitythatsubsequentlydevelopsintosuchdiversity
andbeautyintheunityofholiness?Whatadifferencethereisbetweenglobalization,sucha
buzzwordtoday,andthecatholicityoruniversalityoftheChristianfaithandoftheChurch
whichlives,preservesandspreadsthatfaith!
TheinternationalscopeofCatholicism,notsoughtforpowerbutforserviceandsalvation,is
confirmedbythesaints,menandwomenwhocomefromthemostvariedhistorical
backgrounds.
ThisinternationaldimensionconfirmsthatholinessknowsnoboundsandthatintheChurchit
isfarfromdead;indeed,itcontinuestobevitallyuptodate.Theworldischanging,yetthe
saints,whilechangingwiththechangingworld,alwaysrepresentthesamelivingfaceof
Christ.Isn'tthisanunmistakeablecluetotheuniquevitality,halfculturalandhalfhistorical
"supernatural"istherightwordforusCatholicsoftheproclamationandofChristianGrace?
5.Inthecontextofthesethoughts,acommentonhowtheCatholicChurchrecognizesand
proclaimsblessedsandsaintswillbeofinterest.Iamreferringspecificallytotheworkofthe
CongregationfortheCausesofSaints,calledtostudyandtorecognizeholinessandholy
personsthroughameticulousandprudentprocedure,reinforced,renewedandrenewablein
time.
Saintsandholinessarerecognizedinanupwardmovementfromthebottomtothetop.Still
today,itisChristiansthemselveswho,recognizingthe"odourofholiness"byanintuitionof
faith,pointoutcandidatesforcanonizationtotheirBishopwhoisresponsiblefortakingthe
firststepintheprocessofcanonizationand,subsequently,tothecompetentdicasteryofthe
HolySee.NeithertheCongregationfortheCausesofSaintsnorthePope"invent"or
"fabricate"saints.TheHolySpirithasalreadysingledthemout,asallbelieversknowwell.
ThissameSpiritastheGospelsays"breatheswhereverhewills",anobservationtowhich
wehavegrownaccustomeddownthroughthecenturies,especiallytoday,sincetheChurchhas
spreadineverypartoftheworldandtoeverysocialclass.
Thissaid,itshouldberecognizedthatPopeJohnPaulIIhasmadetheproclamationofnew
blessedsandsaintsanauthenticandconstantmeansofevangelizationandteaching.Hehas
wishedtoaccompanythepreachingoftruthandoftheGospelvalueswiththepresentationof

saintswholivedthosetruthsandvaluesinanexemplaryway.Inthecourseofhispontificate,
from1978untiltoday,JohnPaulIIhasbeatified1,299persons,1,029ofwhomweremartyrs,
whilehehascanonized464,ofwhom401weremartyrs.Thenumbersoflaypeoplehehas
raisedtothehonourofthealtarsarefarmorenumerousthanonewouldthink:infact,268
blessedsand246saints,514laypersonsinall.
Withregardtothenumberofsaints,JohnPaulIIdoesnotignoretheopinionofthosewho
thinkthesearetoomany.Indeed,thePopementionsthisexplictly.Thisishisresponse:"Itis
sometimessaidthattherearetoomanybeatificationstoday.However,inadditiontoreflecting
reality,whichbyGod'sgraceiswhatitis,italsorespondstothedesireexpressedbythe
Council.TheGospelissowidespreadintheworldanditsmessagehassunksuchdeeproots
thatthegreatnumberofbeatificationsvividlyreflectstheactionoftheHolySpiritandthe
vitalityflowingfromHimintheChurch'smostessentialsphere,thatofholiness.Indeed,it
wastheCouncilthatputparticularemphasisontheuniversalcalltoholiness"(Opening
AddresstotheExtraordinaryConsistoryinPreparationforJubileeYear2000,1314June
1994;ORE,22June1994,p.8,n.10).
InTertioMillennioAdveniente,JohnPaulIIwrote:"Inrecentyearsthenumberof
canonizationsandbeatificationshasincreased.TheseshowthevitalityofthelocalChurches,
whicharemuchmorenumeroustodaythaninthefirstcenturiesandinthefirstmillennium.
ThegreatesthomagewhichalltheChurchescangivetoChristonthethresholdofthethird
millenniumwillbetomanifesttheRedeemer'sallpowerfulpresencethroughthefruitsof
faith,hopeandcharity,presentinmenandwomenofmanydifferenttonguesandraceswho
havefollowedChristinthevariousformsoftheChristianvocation"(TertioMillennio
Adveniente,n.37).
IntheApostolicLetterNovoMillennioIneunte,thePopealsonotes:"Thewaysofholiness
aremany,accordingtothevocationofeachindividual.IthanktheLordthatintheseyearshe
hasenabledmetobeatifyandcanonizealargenumberofChristians,andamongthemmany
laypeolewhoattainedholinessinthemostordinarycircumstancesoflife"(NovoMillennio
Ineunte,n.31).
Ofcourse,allthesebeatificationsandcanonizationsarealsoasignofthecapacityfor
inculturationinthelifeoftheChristianfaithandoftheChurch.
6.Iwouldlike,lastly,toreflectontheculturalcontributionmadebythesaints,bythe
devotionstothem,andbytheferventandseriousexaminationthatprecedesandaccompanies
theircanonization.
TheSecondVaticanCouncilaskedthata"carefulinvestigationtheological,historical,and
pastoral"shouldalwaysbemadeconcerningtheproposalofthedevotiontosaints
(SacrosanctumConcilium,n.23).ThisinstructionfoundtheCongregationfortheCausesof
Saintsalreadyprepared,andtodayithasbeenfullytested.
TheconcernforhistoricaltruthwasalwaysafeatureoftheworkoftheCongregationforthe

CausesofSaints.Alreadya"Decree"ofPiusXof26August1913,latersetforthintheCode
ofCanonlawof1917,requiredthecollectionandexaminationofallthehistoricaldocuments
concerningthecauses.ButthefundamentalinnovationwascontributedbytheMotu
Proprio"GidaQualcheTempo"("AlreadyforSomeTime")of6February1930,withwhich
PiusXIestablishedthe"HistoricalSection"fortheCongregationofRites,withtheroleof
makinganeffectivecontributiontothetreatmentof"historical"causes,thatis,thosewithout
contemporarytestimoniesofthefactsinquestion.Theservicerenderedlaterbythe"Historical
Section",knownfrom1969asthe"HistoricalHagiographicalOffice",wasextendedtoallthe
causes,even"recent"ones,increasinghistoricalcriticalsensitivityatalllevelsandinallthe
stagesoftheprocess.Lastly,theApostolicConstitution"DivinusPerfectionisMagister"of25
January1983,followedby"NormaeServandae"of7February1983,definitivelysanctioned
thespecificcontributionofmethodandhistoricalqualityinthetreatmentofthecausesof
saints.
Thehistoricaltruth,sodiligentlysoughtfortheologicalandpastoralmotives,wasalsohelpful
intheculturalpresentationofthesaints.Thenewblessedsandsaints"havecomeoutintothe
limelight"tobeexaminedandpresentedalsoashistoricallysignificantpersonages,avery
integralpartofthelifeoftheirChurch,theirsocietyandtheirtime.Interestinthemis
thereforenolongerrestrictedtotheChurchandbelievers,butnowextendstoallwhoare
interestedinhistory,culture,civillife,politics,pedagogy,etc.Inthisway,themissionofthese
extraordinarypeopleofGodcontinuesinadifferentyeteffectivewayforthegoodofthe
wholeofsociety.Itissignificantinthisregardthatitisnolongeronly"authorized
ecclesiastics"whoconsultthearchivesoftheCongregationfortheCausesofSaints,butalso
layscholarswhodoresearchtherefortheirdoctoraltheses,forhistorical,pedagogical,
sociologicalstudies,etc.,becausetheyfindawealthofhistoricallyreliablematerial.
7.Thereforeholiness,withitsownspecialquality,alsoaffectsculture.Thesaintshavemadeit
possibletocreatenewculturalmodels,newresponsestotheproblemsandgreatchallengesof
peoples,newdevelopmentsforhumanityonitswaythroughhistory.Onvariousoccasionsthe
HolyFatherhasstressedthattheheritageofthesaints"mustnotbelost;weshouldalwaysbe
thankfulforitandweshouldrenewourresolvetoimitateit"(NovoMillennioIneunte,n.7).
Thesaintsarelikebeacons;theyshowmenandwomenthepossibilitiesopentohumanbeings.
Theyarethereforealsoculturallyinteresting,independentlyofthecultural,religiousor
investigatoryapproachtothem.Agreat19thcenturyFrenchphilosopher,HenriBergson,
observedthat"thegreatesthistoricalfiguresarenottheconquerorsbutthesaints".Whereas
JeanDelumeau,ahistorianspecializingin16thcenturyCatholicism,invitedhisreadersto
notethatthegreatrevivalsofChristianhistoryweremarkedbyareturntothesources,thatis,
totheholinessoftheGospel,broughtaboutbythesaintsandbymovementsofholinessinthe
Church.
Inrecenttimes,CardinalJosephRatzingerquitecorrectlyassertedthat:"Itisnotthesporadic
majoritieswhichformintheChurchhereandtherethatdeterminethepathsheandwewill

take.Thesaintsarethetrue,crucialmajority,anditisfromthemthatwetakeourbearings.
Letussticktothem!Theyexpressthedivineinthehuman,theeternalintime".
8.Inachangingworld,notonlyarethesaintsnothistoricallyorculturallydisplaced,butI
thinkImustconcludetheyarebecominganevenmoreinterestingandreliablesubject.Inan
ageofthecollapseofcollectiveutopias,inanageofindifferenceandthelackofappetitefor
allthatistheoreticalandideological,newattentionisbeingpaidtothesaints,uniquefigures
inwhomisfoundnotatheorynorevenmerelyamoral,butaplanoflifetoberecounted,to
bediscoveredthroughstudy,tobelovedwithdevotion,tobeputintopracticewithimitation.
Wecannotbutbedelightedattherevivalofattentiontothesaints,becausethesaintsbelongto
everyone;theyareaheritageofhumanitythathasoutdoneitselfinadevelopmentwhich,
whilehonouringman,alsogivesglorytoGod,because"thegloryofGodismanalive"(St
IrenaeusofLyons,AdversusHaereses,IV,20:7).
Iwouldliketointerpreteverythingreflectedonhereinthelightofatrulyengagingmessage
oftheHolyFatherJohnPaulII.Inmyopinion,thismessagecangivethosewhoarereflecting
onthesubjectatleastanideaoftheSupremePontiff'svisionofholiness,inseparablylinkedto
thebaptismaldignityofeveryChristian.Thus,itcanalsoexplainbettertheroleofthe
beatificationsandcanonizationsinthepastoraljourneyoftheChurchduringthe25yearsof
KarolWojtya'spontificate.ItistheMessagefortheWorldDayofPrayerforVocationsin
2002:"ThemaintaskoftheChurchistoleadChristiansalongthepathofholiness....The
Churchisthe"homeofholiness',andthecharityofChrist,pouredoutbytheHolySpirit,is
hersoul"(Messageforthe39thWorldDayofPrayerforVocations,21April2002,nn.1and
2;ORE,5December2001,p.3).
IntheChurch,therefore,everythingandparticularlyeveryvocation,isattheserviceof
holiness!ItisundoubtedlyinthissensethatwhenwelookattheChurchwemustneverforget
toseeinherthefaceofthe"motherofsaints",whobringsforthafruitfulandmagnanimous
superabundanceofholiness.