After Vatican Council 2, the veneration of saints does not make much sense to me; Saints should not even be put up on an altar! Saints should be on a pedastal in the body of the Church among the people to serve as a testimony of their exemplary lives. Most people do not even know anything about St Anton and St Sebastiao; and they are the popular ones. Traditions handed down?
A lady (whom I respect much) from my village in Goa once wrote to me for contributions to rebuilding the St Sebastian Chapel which is in my home plot of land; saying it was our chapel and I myself coveted the same, in the years gone by. I had to say to her that she being an enlightened person should lead the people to devoting their time and money and energy to doing things which would be far more useful to our Community. And that veneration and or worship should be limited to the 'three' in the 'Holy Trinity'. And that the 'Holy Spirit' is everywhere for those who call upon Him.
Every one of us has the potential to be a Saint if one wants to be. Why not pray directly to God or to Jesus or empower oneself thru the Holy Spirit?? The blessed virgin Mary as mother of God i.e. Jesus has to be the greatest Saint. Why then do we need Italian saints and French Saints and even Indian Saints. I feel we do not need them at all. Indian persons have not been recognised, not because of racism as such but it's because of the wrong norms in the colonial times and still prevailing. That's history! Now let us work to change these perceptions for the Christian Good.
Some persons on the net are always talking of whites and browns and blacks and so on; in the process they are themselves showing up as 'racist' with their chant!! I personally do not perceive any one as white or black! But I see persons as good or bad; enlightened or ignorant, modern or traditional, and so on. Then there are some persons always talking against Capital and their systems and yet continue to live and thrive in these countries.
There are many many thousands of real saints who have not been recognised and never will be; Its because a real saintly person in life will never want to be put up on an altar and abused, as an idol!
We are going back to Pagan idolatory! The Saints never intended that. Lets produce saints in the classroom, on the roads, in the workplace, office or shop, in whatever endeavor of human activity we find ourselves in. Lets tell the church to do away with the saints business as formatted at present rather then ask for an Indian Saint. That will make my day! We do not need them; Church bldgs will be more roomier! We can all be saints; and then we can sing: what a wonderful world this is!!
Work and or study should be the religion in the public domain; saintly and Godly religions should not manifest itself outside the home or place of worship; it only makes for conflict.
Bye, Cheers. Nascimento Caldeira ( Nasci)
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