Monday, May 9, 2011
Quick Scripture Question:
Why does St. Paul call the people he writes his letters to "saints"? I was listening to R.ay Comfo.rt for fun today (I grew up in a totally Catholic culture, and didn't even hear the word Protestant until I was in 6th grade, so I find listening to Protestants fun and fascinating, since it's a totally foreign mindset to me. lol), and he said something like, "Saints aren't people in heaven surrounded by fat baby cherubs. Don't believe me? Look in Colossians, etc, etc." I would love to have an answer for this, since I've always kind of wondered about it, and it's bound to come up in conversation with Boomz' Protestant family someday. :) Thank you!
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From a footnote in Romans 1 from the USCCB site:
ReplyDeleteCalled to be holy: Paul often refers to Christians as "the holy ones" or "the saints." The Israelite community was called a "holy assembly" because they had been separated for the worship and service of the Lord (see Lev 11:44; 23:1-44). The Christian community regarded its members as sanctified by baptism (Romans 6:22; 15:16; 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26-27). Christians are called to holiness (1 Cor 1:2; 1 Thes 4:7), that is, they are called to make their lives conform to the gift they have already received.
What Katherine said. :) And also, there is a difference between saints with a capital "S" and a lower case "s" (kind of like there is a difference between "tradition" with a capitol "T" and a lower case "t"). Saints with a capital S are the ones you are initially thinking of... the ones we know are in heaven due to careful review of their lives and miracles. The rest of the faithful are generally referred to as "saints", at least for now. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you both so much! I guess I was thinking it had to be one or the other, but that's not a very Catholic way of thinking, is it? :) Catholics are "both/and", not "either/or"! :)
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