Saints Behaving Badly

"Saints Behaving Badly" by Thomas J. Craughwell

Introduction:

"Saints Behaving Badly" is a book that presents in contemporary writing style the lives of sinners-turned-saints. If the traditional manner of narrating their lives included popular legends and pious stories, the book's presentation includes background information from social and historical sources. It is these socio-historical references that contemporary readers will discover the human side of each saint. In some, there is even a spirit of light humour. The author of the book, however, does not downplay the traditional stories surrounding the saint's life; he situates them according to the actual context of past Catholic culture, with concrete references to the country of origin of each saint.

The book narrates the lives of 28 saints, who even with their initial "bad behavior", were able to change their sinful ways, and lead very holy lives until the last remaining years of their life. These stories can inspire and encourage anybody interested. And the message by author Craughwell is simple: "there's hope for all of us".

A sample of 28 sinners-turned-saints

In the author's sample list, he did not include St. Mary Magdalene - the woman from whom Jesus exorcised seven devils. Because the author uses modern tools in interpreting Scripture, and also employs historical methods of analysis, he explains how tradition sees St. Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, and how modern tools of interpreting scripture presently reveal that she is not. It is this way of presenting the lives of the saints that the author opens our eyes to new ways of seeing the saints: both in their holy and human sides - yet keeping a balance, so that as a whole, their life is viewed as a witness to God's life-changing power.


As one follows the list given by the author and the "sin title" next to each saint, one may be surprised to learn that many of these saints started as cutthroats, crooks, trollops, con men, and devil worshippers. Beginning in the front flap of the book cover, the author mentions three of these gallery of sinners-turned-saints: St. Olga, who unleashed a bloodbath on her husband's assassins; St. Mary of Egypt, who walked the streets looking for new sexual conquests; and St. Thomas Becket, who despite being rich, refused to give his cloak to a man freezing to death in the street.

Saints featured in "Saints Behaving Badly"

• St. Matthew, Extortionist


• St. Dismas, Thief


• St. Callixtus, Embezzler


• St. Hippolytus, Antipope


• St. Christopher, Servant of the Devil


• St. Pelagia, Promiscuous Actress


• St. Genesius, Scoffer


• St. Moses the Ethiopian, Cutthroat and Gang Leader


• St. Fabiola, Bigamist


• St. Augustine, Heretic and Playboy


• St. Alipius, Obsessed with BloodSports


• St. Patrick, Worshipper of False Gods


• St. Mary of Egypt, Seductress


• St. Columba, Warmonger


• St. Olga, Mass Murderer


• St. Vladimir, Fratricide, Rapist and Practitioner of Human Sacrifice


• St. Olaf, Viking


• St. Thomas Becket, Hedonist


• St. Francis of Assisi, Wastrel


• Blessed Giles of Portugal, Satanist


• St. Margaret of Cortona, Rich Man's Mistress


• Blessed Angela of Foligno, Gossip and Hedonist


• St. Ignatius of Loyola, Egotist


• St. John of God, Gambler and Drunkard


• St. Camillus de Lellis, Cardsharp and Con Man


• St. Philip Howard, Cynic and Negligent Husband


• St. Peter Claver, Dithering Novice


• Venerable Matt Talbot, Chronic Alcoholic

Summary:

This book will give us new eyes to see that not all saints started right and ended right. Although saints like Catherine of Siena, Dominic Savio, and Bernadette Soubirous were already filled with God's spirit early in life, other saints started either worldly lives or as sinners like the 28 lives in this book's pages. The 28 true stories in this book help us realize that the call to follow Christ is made to every man and woman and to every situation in life - even to one who has trodden a sinful journey. And the 28 lives featured in these pages tell us of a God whose mercy and compassion can powerfully change lives of sin, to lives of holiness, that can influence many to follow, as they chose to follow Christ. If you by chance to get a copy of the book, you not only enjoy, because of many humorously written passages, but you really get inspired!

Three Degrees of Knowledge According to St. Isaac the Syrian

Introduction

The "In Search of True Wisdom" speaks of a character named Father Panteleimon. Father Panteleimon spoke of three degrees of knowledge according to the teaching of St. Isaac the Syrian. The three degrees of knowledge lead to growth in divine knowledge of God according to the Orthodox tradition.

Profane knowledge

The first degree of knowledge is called profane knowledge. This knowledge is obtained in a university degree - in the arts or the sciences. This knowledge is basic and important because it is necessary for communicating with one another in society - to work together and build families, homes, businesses and industries.

Knowledge acquired through prayer

The second degree is knowledge acquired through prayer, watching, fasting, studying the Sacred Scriptures, and learning from the Fathers of the Church. This knowledge awakens in man a greater desire for things spiritual. This second degree involves a greater sense of detachment from the world and its familiar activities.

Theoria

The third degree of knowledge is what St. Isaac the Syrian calls theoria
. Theoria is divinely infused knowledge - an experiential connatural love-knowledge that only God can give. This third degree of knowledge is a gift from God which can be received through "a glimpse", a "spiritual taste". Usually, it is known during a prolonged retreat.

St. Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, Feast Feb 21

Feast day, February 21

Born at Ravenna and educated by his archpriest brother

St. Peter Damian was born of poor parents at Ravenna, Italy, in 1007 A.D. Orphaned when very young, one of his brothers took him in but put him to work with heavy chores like tending a herd of swine. Another brother, who happened to be the archpriest of Ravenna, took pity on Peter. He recognized Peter's intelligence and arranged for his education by sending him to good schools. In recognition for his brother's kindness and goodness, Peter adopted his brother's name, Damian, as his surname. After his education at Faenza, and then at Parma, Peter became a professor of great ability.

Joined the Benedictines at Fonte Avellana

In 1035 A.D., St. Peter Damian entered the Benedictines of Fonte Avellana, living as a hermit and devoting himself to the intensive study of Scripture. St. Peter adapted to this life eagerly, and slept so little that he developed severe insomnia. Despite this suffering, he was able to study the Bible so well that he became well-versed in the Scriptures. Peter was well admired by his fellow monks who unanimously recommended that he become abbot upon the superior's death. Though St. Peter was reluctant to assume the position, when it became a matter of obedience, he indeed succeeded the abbot when the abbot died in 1043 A.D.

Abbot and cardinal-bishop of Ostia

St. Peter Damian proved to be a well-loved superior. He founded five other monasteries, and appointed priors, who led monastic communities under St. Peter's general direction. In his leadership abilities, St. Peter Damian was known to be uncompromising toward worldliness and denounced the practice of simony. In 1057 A.D., he was named cardinal-bishop of Ostia by Pope Stephen IX. However, when he attempted to resign his diocese, his request was refused at first during the papacy of Nicholas II. He finally was able to persuade the next pope, Pope Alexander II, so that he may return to a simple monastic way of life. But, Pope Alexander II permitted St. Peter Damian to resign with the condition that he shall make himself available if his help was needed.

Ecclesiastical involvement even upon retiring to monastic life

After Peter Damian retired to the life of a monk, Pope Alexander II did indeed call upon Peter from time to time. St. Peter Damian still had to return to his work of ecclesiastical reform. He opposed the antipopes, especially Honorius II, and engaged in several papal diplomatic missions to France and Germany. He went to King Henry IV of Germany to persuade the King to abandon his plan to divorce his wife, Bertha. At another diplomatic mission, the Pope also sent Peter to Ravenna to settle troubles after the archbishop had been excommunicated. When St. Peter arrived at Ravenna, he found the archbishop had already passed away, but he imposed suitable penances on the accomplices for the archbishop's crimes.

Written works of St. Peter Damian

St. Peter Damian had many written works. In 1051 A.D., he wrote the book Liber Gomorrhianus. This book attacked the many vices of the clergy, especially clerical marriage. Two years later, St. Peter also wrote Liber Gratissimus - a defense of the legitimacy of ordinations even when money was paid to obtain the office of priesthood. Of the many letters that he wrote, some one hundred seventy are still existing today. Also extant are his fifty-three sermons, seven biographies (including one of St. Romuald), and other writings on purgatory, the Eucharist, and clerical celibacy.

Death and elevation to the title Doctor of the Church

After his mission to the diocese of Ravenna, St. Peter Damian got ill while travelling back to his monastery. He made it to a monastery outside Faenza, where he died on the eighth day of his illness, with the monks gathered around him saying the Divine Office. It was February 22, 1072 A.D. For many years, devotions to St. Peter Damian were celebrated where he lived and worked. Though he was never formally canonized, in 1828 A.D., Pope Leo XII extended his feast to the Universal Church and declared him a Doctor of the Church. The Church celebrates his feast every February 21.

Edited from the following sources

• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• The Doctors of the Church vol 2, by John F. Fink
• A Year With the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
• Saints for Our Times, by Ransom