Friday Five: Saints

In a weekly book study I lead, we have been reading and discussing Enduring Grace: Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics by Carol Lee Flinders, which is about seven saints, even though two of the seven (Mechthild of Magdeburg and Julian of Norwich) are not “officially” saints (as ordained by the Roman Catholic Church). The wisdom of these women connects with me now in a deep way.

I suggest that this Friday Five we look at SAINTS, official and unofficial. “In Catholic theology, saints are a special class of believers who have been canonized. Canonization is the process by which the Catholic Church confers sainthood upon a person based on that person’s special deeds. It is an honor bestowed posthumously. In contrast, the Bible views every Christian as a saint, as someone set apart for God’s work. Ephesians 4:12 teaches that the spiritual gifts are given ‘to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.’ Clearly, the ‘saints’ are ordinary Christians involved in service in the church.” (Read more: http://www.compellingtruth.org/Christian-saints.html#ixzz3fRwXnIry)

1. What do you think of saints?

2. Who is your favorite saint? Why?

3. What do you imagine the “Communion of Saints” to be?

4. Share a quote or a book you like about saint(s).

5. Share a picture relating to a location or to a saint that you have visited or would like to visit.

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