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Being a Catholic, this means something to me. A man who gaves his life to help sick people:Priest who aided lepers in Hawaii to become saint (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090221/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_saint - broken link)
Oh, good. Seriously. I went to Mass on Feb 15 while on the other side of the country and the homily was about how the marginalized found a home in the Lord, and it specifically talked about the leper colony on Molokai in the Hawaiian Islands. If I recall, Fr. Damien contracted the disease and died from it while helping those with leprosy. Well, it's good to see the Church does some things right.
Can someone explain what that really means? If he is now declared a "saint", what does that mean for him? Is it like getting a posthumous honorary degree?
Can someone explain what that really means? If he is now declared a "saint", what does that mean for him? Is it like getting a posthumous honorary degree?
Are you asking for real or are you just being a smarta$$?
Are you asking for real or are you just being a smarta$$?
I'm asking for real what you believe. What does this mean for the particular person? Does God give them a special station because humans have bestowed this honor on them? I've never understood what happened after they were called saints.
I'll be clear that I am not Catholic...and do not believe that WE have the ability to declare who are and are not saints. I'm curious though what your belief is.
Greetings to all those who want to understand sainthood.
God and God alone makes saints--and He makes them while they are still alive! Read the epistles--
1. "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints" (Rom. 1:7)
2. "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" . . . God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son" (1 Cor. 1:2-9).
3. "To the church of God which is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in Achaia" (2 Cor. 1:1).
4. "To the saints who are in Ephesus" (Eph. 1:1).
5. "To the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi" (Phil. 1:1).
6. "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:21).
7. "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse" (Col. 1:2).
There are many, many more references in the NT to saints. They all refer to living, breathing people--believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, called by God through grace to be saints. All true believers are saints. If one is not a saint before He dies, He will never be one!
My intent is not to attack Catholics but to defend God's Word and to make clear that it is God and God alone Who has the right and the power to make of anyone a saint.
It is with that attitude that I speak out against any who would dare to put themselves in the place of God and dare to claim for themselves powers only He possesses. The "pope" is a mere man--a man who exalts himself. He wears regal clothing, sits upon a royal seat, is crowned with a jeweled crown, and delights in the worship he unjustly receives. Christ wore common clothing, had no place to lay His head, was despised and rejected, and wore a crown of thorns. He alone is worthy to receive honor and glory and praise!
It maddens me and saddens me to see this mere man dare to claim the power and authority to declare someone a saint--after that one is DEAD! It is through Christ's shed blood and through His shed blood alone that anyone becomes a saint--by grace through faith and NOT of works (Eph. 2:8, 9). Again, the Scriptures NOWHERE even suggest that anyone can be declared a saint after he is dead. All who are ever saints are alive! And all who are saints are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ before their deaths! This is what the Bible clearly teaches.
Sincerely,
Preterist
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