tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post7230465933227066688..comments2024-03-21T12:32:39.345-05:00Comments on Frankly Speaking: Frankie Valli and the Cult of the SaintsFrank Bellizzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949066335378651585noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-67629757787570590112017-11-15T13:25:53.798-06:002017-11-15T13:25:53.798-06:001. The Body of Christ is alive both here and in He...1. The Body of Christ is alive both here and in Heaven.<br />2. When we ask our friends here on earth to pray for us, God listens.<br />3. Why wouldn't He do the same when the saints in HeVen pray for us?Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15760681825349512364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-1883133085968576212017-11-11T10:47:37.565-06:002017-11-11T10:47:37.565-06:00Justin, thanks for your comments on this. About th...Justin, thanks for your comments on this. About the terminology "cult of the saints": I think it does suggest some ideas to our ears that may or may not be there. Either way, it's one of those phrases that's deeply entrenched, and academics know what you mean by it. So it's handy in that way. As you know, there are about a billion Roman Catholics running around these days and they don't all believe the same things. My impression is that for some, RC sanctity carries some ideas and practices that are off base, and that's putting it mildly. In his book "Religion and the Decline of Magic," Keith Thomas compared late-medieval Catholicism to primitive African religions. That's over-the-top, in my opinion. But I do think there are aspects of appeals to the saints that are more about power and resemble magic more than faith. Thanks again. All the best to you.Frank Bellizzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07949066335378651585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-39586928418916814312017-11-10T15:00:02.585-06:002017-11-10T15:00:02.585-06:00I have to say since making my initial response, I&...I have to say since making my initial response, I've visited with some practicing Catholics who have changed my perception of "what is happening on the ground." I think my prior assessment of what Catholics "really believed" was grossly oversimplified and probably unfair. While I don't like the language of a "cult" of the saints...the basic idea of the communion of the saints and the idea that my grandfather can pray for me now, as he prayed for me before, I find quite comforting and natural to the biblical text. Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03864163540223829339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-320853775746521482017-10-22T20:03:58.352-05:002017-10-22T20:03:58.352-05:00I discovered the saints (canonized) over 15 years ...I discovered the saints (canonized) over 15 years ago and countless times, they've assisted me that I call them my brothers and sisters. They've become my dear friends and when I reach heaven, i truly believe we'll recognize one another. Of course, they will help me get there. Franceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15760681825349512364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-55438914827152760262016-06-02T15:35:34.703-05:002016-06-02T15:35:34.703-05:00Thanks for the response. I guess I've just ne...Thanks for the response. I guess I've just never understood (from an efficiency mindset) why the cult of the saints would persist for the types of reasons you outline. If one is going to set aside all the substantive theological reasoning/rationale anyway, I guess I'd expect a bland sort of "Jesus, save me this one last time..." prayer that so many of us Protestants offer. <br /><br />I can see why a person might be attracted to the cult of saints IF they take seriously (1) the importance of having other Christian pray for them (James 5:16), as well as (2) the notion that one's membership in the Church is not revoked upon death. However, this level of theological reflection/devotion doesn't seem to be what's taking place "on the ground," so the whole thing remains rather curious to me.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03864163540223829339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-71441498898575865592016-06-02T15:26:29.019-05:002016-06-02T15:26:29.019-05:00Hi, Justin.
If I'm understanding your questio...Hi, Justin.<br /><br />If I'm understanding your question correctly, I would say that the popularity of the cult of the saints, even among lapsed Roman Catholics, has to do with the immediate possibility of appealing to celestial power in time of need. Compare: I think it's very likely that someone who was raised Protestant might occasionally pray, especially if in a bind, in spite of the fact that they no longer read the Bible or attend church. One strong appeal of the cult of the saints is that each saint has a specialty or two. Remembering who to turn to for a particular need, and then appealing to that saint is very common especially in old-school Roman Catholicism.Frank Bellizzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07949066335378651585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10020592.post-1888666050610837932016-06-02T09:48:33.444-05:002016-06-02T09:48:33.444-05:00What do you attribute that interest to, Frank? An...What do you attribute that interest to, Frank? Any theories?Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03864163540223829339noreply@blogger.com