saints and sinners- St Augustine

St. Augustine (354-430) lived in what is now modern day Algeria. Probably the most influential philospher/theologian of the early church. Click here to read more about Augustine.

“This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.”

*saints and sinners- Ignatius and the Jesuits

With a catalyst of Ignatius and his six friends who founded the Jesuit order, the gospel and it's freeing for the sake of love of neighbor has (and continues) to shape and challenge our collective life together on this blue boat we call earth.

Probably one of the best films ever produced about spiritual life and the struggles of church, culture, and personal freedom and responsiblity. Certainly one of the best musical scores for film ever written.

saints and sinners- St Ignatius of Loyola

Another saint of Spanish origin who lived at the time of the reformation. Founder of the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, the largest of Roman Catholic monastic orders.

“Teach us to give and not to count the cost”

*saints and sinners- St Patrick's Breastplate

saints and sinners- St Patrick

Irish saint of great reknown who was a missionary at the end of the 4th and start of the 5th century. Click here for more history.

Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

saints and sinners- St Teresa of Avila

Laughter Came From Every Brick

Just these two words He spoke
changed my life,

"Enjoy Me."

What a burden I thought I was to carry--
a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me, "I know a song,
would you like to hear it?"

And laughter came from every brick in the street
and from every pore
in the sky.

After a night of prayer, He
changed my life when
He sang,

"Enjoy Me."

saints and sinners- St Teresa of Avila

Not Yet Tickled

How did those priests ever get so serious
and preach all that gloom?

I don't think God
tickled them
yet.

Beloved--hurry.

*saints and sinners- St Teresa of Avila

Clarity is Freedom

I had tea yesterday with a great theologian,
and he asked me,

"What is your experience of God's will?"

I like the question-
for the distillation of thought hones thought in others.
Clarity, I know, is freedom.

What is my experience of God's will?

Everyone is a traveler. Most all need lodging, food,
and clothes.

I let enter my mouth what will enrich me. I wear what
will make my eye content,
I sleep where I will
wake with the
strength to
deeply
love

all my mind can
hold.

What is God's will for a wing?
Every bird knows
that.

saints and sinners- St Teresa of Avila

Another Spanish mystic/poet(1515-1582), Teresa's work is marked by a deep desire for unity with God in all things to be realized through prayer and meditation.

From a distance all want to enter His house.
Once near, watch out for the guard dogs--
both four-legged and two.
Some of them are
crazy as
hell.

*saints and sinners- St John of the Cross

St John of the Cross was involved in the reform movement in Spain among his particular monastic order, the Carmelites. Kidnapped, imprisoned and beaten by a group of rival monks he penned the poem found below about this experience.

St John of the Cross was excommunicated by one pope during his lifetime for his work of reform but subsequently canonized by papal decree 131 years after his death.

I Cobbled Their Boots

How Could I love my fellow men who tortured me?

One night I was dragged into a room
and beaten near death with
their shoes

striking me hundreds of times
in the face, scarring me
forever.

I cried out for God to help me, until I fainted.

That night in a dream, in a dream more real than this world,
a strap from the Christ's sandal
fell from my bleeding
mouth,

and I looked at Him and He
was weeping, and
spoke,

"I cobbled their boots;
how sorry
I am.

What moves all things
is God."

History, and the realization of Christ's kingdom among us ultimately prove us all to be both saint and sinner. How else can a man be found the most egregious of sinners (excommunitcated) only to be named as the noblest of saints (canonized)? How else can one pope defame in the name of Christ and another acclaim as the purest of instruments of Christ? Is one wrong and one right? Or somehow, in some mysterious way where God moves all things, are they both wrong and right?

And in the middle of all history, we have a Lord who IS Truth Itself, who weeps for cobbling their shoes, apologizes for their actions, and dies for their (and all of our) sins.