It's been a while since I posted, hasn't it? I think I even missed a Monday or two didn't I? It's a shame, because there's a lot to share.
Commenting on current events: Did you hear that Popes JP2 and Pius XII are going to be declared venerable? And, in Notre Dame interest, Bl. Br. Andre CSC will soon be made a saint as his second miracle was recognized! How exciting!
Matthias and I are at his mom's now (just got in last night) for a much needed Christmas vacation. Upon reading the above news, we started discussing the habit people have of calling Bl. Andre "Blessed *Brother* Andre." Will we call him Saint Brother Andre too?
I've noticed people do this with Mother Teresa (see, there I go). Why not just Bl. Teresa?
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to be a more modern phenomenon. How many saints or beati can you think of who we call by their title as well as "saint" or "blessed?" The ones I can think of lived with in the last century or two.
Basil Moreau seems to have taken a pass on this little trend. I think I've only heard "Blessed Father Moreau" once.
Why is that? Familiarity with these people as Brother, Mother, Father, etc?
I know it's not exactly the same, but how about the Cure of Ars? Surely there have been other Cures in Ars since St. John Marie left this world.
Thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
If its Saint Brother Andre I will die of laughter.
BTW ummm you should have taken a trip to town to say hi!!!
I really hate that we ever called him Blessed Brother Andre. There were a couple CSCs who would call him Bl Andre Bassette, which is much more appropriate.
I actually did hear a lot of people saying Blessed Father Moreau...
It's just a bunch of 'New Springtime' Catholics who are 'taking ownership' of the faith without actually consulting tradition...sigh.
I think the saddest part is how much Pius XII is getting overlooked or even hated. "How dare he be put on the same level as John Paul the Great [sic]?"
And aren't the two problems related? Both stem from a privileging of the familiar, of the things closest to our own subjective experience. This isn't always bad, but when it leads us to forget, ignore, or even despise the rest of tradition, then it is eminently dangerous. Our generation of 'New Springtime' JP2G Catholics are going to destroy the Church if we continue to ignore anything that happened in the Church before we were born.
Come to think of it, one doesn't usually say "St. Pope Leo the Great" or "Bl. Pope Pius IX." But everyone says "Pope St. Pius X." I had never thought of this before. I really don't know what to say about its origins or implications. It is an interesting observation, however.
There are actual Catholics bad-mouthing Pius XII? Alphonsus must read much different journalism than I.
Supposedly the profession initials are not to be used for founders and so "Blessed Basil Moreau" would not be "Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC" but in published material it was decided that CSC would be added to help people make the connection and therefore know better who he is as a founder.
In the parish children would refer to me as Deacon Michael, but upon ordination to the priesthood a few children called me "Father Deacon Michael". So, sometimes those titles fall slowly.
cheers.
mbw
Post a Comment