Saints Alive

Saints are a mysterious brood. I envision them like the distant cousins that are discussed but live too far to come to the family gatherings.  You hear of their adventures through the one aunt that keeps in contact but you've never spoken with them. You don’t know whether to be envious of their remoteness or sad that they will never hear Aunt Meredith snoring after the meal or hear Uncle Wayne’s stories of riding the rails.

There’s yet another Lenten study I found that lends itself to lively conversation, witty banter, rivalry and an occasional wager – rarely Lenten adjectives, but it is balanced by the true mission, to share historical accounts of 32 selected saints. http://www.lentmadness.org Day by day one saint’s biography is aligned with another saint and after reading each saint’s transformation and effect on others, the reader votes for the one they believe should advance to the next bracket. Yes, bracket like college basketball’s March Madness. Eventually one saint will be acknowledged with the golden halo – the pinnacle of the exercise. People, like me, who couldn't pick Saint Hildegard out of a lineup are beginning to welcome them into their living rooms.

Today’s readings explored Gregory and Brendan. Gregory the Illuminator was instrumental in bringing Christianity to the people of Armenia, which was the first nation to embrace Christianity as its official religion. TMZ might gleefully mention that he and his wife were examples of the first “consciously uncoupling” as they each wanted to enter monastic life. Brendan the Navigator earned his name by traversing the British Isles and founding monasteries. He started looking for the legendary land across the Atlantic when he was 80 years old and inspired Christopher Columbus 900 years later. TMZ would pounce on the sound bite that Brendan, an adventurer, bragged about never stopping to ask for directions. Irish, adventurer, stubborn - I had to vote for family.

Some say that there must be proof of miracles before gaining the title. Some say saints that have gone ahead of us can still intercede for us today. Some say we can learn what God is like by examining a saint’s life. Some say we are all saints.

I am more like the distant cousin who sees names in the family tree, but never got to put a face with the name. But I am coming home, to meet our saints.