As the Bollandists have clearly shown in their 70 volume "Acta Sanctorum", most of the ancient and early medieval saints and martyrs are legendary people. We cannot dig in their pasts simply because we have only hagiographical tales which, as a primary sources, have the same historical reliability of that of a fairy tale. :-)
Greetings to you in beautiful Italia. You are right about a good deal of this, but it is interesting that historians have done a pretty good job of ferreting out the truth from the myth when it comes to figures like St. Francis of Assisi. There is enough data to allow the hagiography to be read critically, and when you do, what remains is still a remarkable Christian life, just not a perfect one.
It is my believe that as Christians we are all Saints. Paul address the Churches as Saints. You not need to meet special requirements. You just need be a Christian.
preacherman is right... saints = all true Christians. When we make it something other than this, I think we make unbiblical distinctions between people.
As the Bollandists have clearly shown in their 70 volume "Acta Sanctorum", most of the ancient and early medieval saints and martyrs are legendary people. We cannot dig in their pasts simply because we have only hagiographical tales which, as a primary sources, have the same historical reliability of that of a fairy tale. :-)
ReplyDeleteBest from Italy,
Antonio Lombatti
Antonio:
ReplyDeleteGreetings to you in beautiful Italia. You are right about a good deal of this, but it is interesting that historians have done a pretty good job of ferreting out the truth from the myth when it comes to figures like St. Francis of Assisi. There is enough data to allow the hagiography to be read critically, and when you do, what remains is still a remarkable Christian life, just not a perfect one.
I miss Italia :(.. can't wait to come again.
Blessings,
Ben W
I hope they aren't using the same criteria on the "saints" that the Jesus Seminar used on Jesus.
ReplyDeleteNick
It is my believe that as Christians we are all Saints. Paul address the Churches as Saints. You not need to meet special requirements. You just need be a Christian.
ReplyDeletepreacherman is right... saints = all true Christians. When we make it something other than this, I think we make unbiblical distinctions between people.
ReplyDelete