Learning from a Saint who Put Theology Into Action

Today we continue our regular series called "Learning from the Saints." Our guide is expert Bert Ghezzi, a dear friend of mine and the author of numerous books including Voices of the Saints, Saints at Heart, and Discover Christ: Developing a Personal Relationship with Jesus.

His newest book is The Saints Devotional Bible, which illuminates the Scriptures with the saints' own reflections. You can learn more about Bert and his work at BertGhezzi.com.

Today, Bert profiles St. Anselm of Canterbury, a twelfth-century Doctor of the Church.

In his life and work, St. Anselm seems to have blended perfectly the Christian essentials of prayer, thought and action. As a monk, he learned the discipline of prayer and won respect as a gifted preacher. As Abbot of Bec in Normandy (1078-1093), he formed others in the spiritual life and wrote theological treatises that are still read with profit today. As Archbishop of Canterbury (1093-1109) he plunged into English politics and defended the Church against the incursions of Kings William II and Henry I. We would do well to imitate his balance even in small ways, assuring our attention to spirituality, study and service.

History applauds Anselm as the best theologian between St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. He preferred to defend the faith by using reasonable arguments instead of relying on the authority of Scripture. "Faith seeking understanding" was his life theme. In the Monologion and the Proslogion, Anselm offered rational proofs for God's existence.. And the Cur Deus Homo?, his most famous book, explained that the Incarnation was necessary to atone for humankind's outrageous offense of God's majesty.

As a pastor and teacher, Anselm held forward-looking views. For example, his biographer, Eadmer, tells how the saint chided another abbot for his brutish treatment of boys:

"Now tell me, if you plant a tree shoot in your garden, and straightway shut it in on every side so that it has no space to put out its branches, what kind of tree will you have in after years when you let it out of its confinement?

"'A useless one, certainly, with its branches all twisted and knotted.'

"Without doubt this is what you do with your boys. They are planted in the garden of the Church, to grow and bring forth fruit for God. But you so terrify them and hem them in on all sides with threats and blows that they are utterly deprived of their liberty. And being thus injudiciously oppressed, they harbor evil thoughts like thorns. They cherish these thoughts so passionately that they doggedly reject everything that could minister to their correction.

Thus, feeling no love or pity, good will or tenderness in your attitude towards them, they have in the future no faith in your goodness but believe that all your actions proceed from malice against them. The deplorable result is that as they grow in body so their hatred increases, together with their apprehension of evil. They have been brought up in no true charity towards anyone, so they regard everyone with suspicion and jealousy."

Also forward-thinking in his opposition to slavery, in 1102, he got an ecclesiastical council at Westminster to pass a resolution against it.

No diplomat, Anselm knocked heads with Kings William II and Henry I over their insistence on investing bishops with the staff and ring, the spiritual signs of the episcopal office. Twice over this issue he was forced into exile. Ultimately Pope Paschal arranged a compromise that became a model for settling the issue in other countries: the king would have the right to choose the bishop and the Church would invest him with the spiritual signs of office.
Anselm died at Canterbury on April 21. 1109. He was named a Doctor of the Church in 1720.

"My soul, have you found what you are looking for? You were looking for God, and you have discovered that he is the supreme being, and that you could not possibly imagine anything more perfect. You have discovered that this supreme being is life itself, light, wisdom, goodness, eternal blessedness and blessed eternity."

— St. Anselm of Canterbury

(Image Credit: The Beauty and Mystery of Life)

Read more from Bert at his website www.BertGhezzi.com, or check out his many books on Amazon.

Posted on: April 22, 2013 in Blog, Learning from the Saints
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Learning from Saints Who Transformed Their Culture

His newest book is The Saints Devotional Bible, which illuminates the Scriptures with the saints' own reflections. You can learn more about Bert and his work at BertGhezzi.com.

Today, Bert profiles Sts. Cyril and Methodius, two ninth-century missionaries.

We honor the brothers team of St. Cyril and St. Methodius for introducing Christianity into eastern Europe, translating the Bible in to the Slavic language, pioneering the celebration of the liturgy in the vernacular, and founding Slavonic literature. So the church has named them the Apostles of the Slavs and, with St. Benedict, the patron saints of Europe.

Today we can regard them as patrons for the New Evangelization. They model for us Pope John Paul II’s directing to develop new “methods and expressions” for transforming our culture though evangelization.

Cyril (baptized Constantine and not called Cyril until just before his death) and Methodius were ordained priests in Thessalonica and then moved to Constantinople. Around 863, the emperor sent them as missionaries to Moravia. Rotislav, the local ruler, wanted them to teach in the vernacular, which brothers were well equipped to do as they had learned Slavonic as boys. With great enthusiasm, Cyril and Methodius plunged into the work, translating some of the Bible and the liturgy into Slavonic. In the process they created an alphabet, later developed into the Cyrillic alphabet, which laid the foundations for all Slavic literature.

When German missionary bishops refused to ordain their candidates, Cyril and Methodius headed toward Byzantium for help. But when they reached Venice, the pope summoned them to Rome. They presented him with the alleged relics of St. Clement I, and he received the brothers with great honor. However, after becoming a monk, Cyril died in Rome in 869. In the following passage, his biographer reconstructed his last moments, including his celebrated prayer for Christian unity:

"When the time came for him to set out from this world to the peace of his heavenly homeland, he prayed to God with his hands outstretched and his eyes filled with tears: ‘O Lord, my God, you have created the choirs of angels and spiritual powers; you have stretched forth the heavens and established the earth, creating all that exists from nothing. You hear those who obey your will and keep your commands in holy fear. Hear my prayer and protect your faithful people, for you have established me as their unsuitable and unworthy servant. Keep them free from harm and worldly cunning of those who blaspheme you.

"Build up your church and gather all into unity. Make your people known for the unity and profession of their faith. Inspire the hearts of your people with your word and your teaching. You called us to preach the gospel of your Christ and to encourage them to lives and works pleasing to you.

"I now return to you, your people, your gift to me. Direct them with your powerful right hand, and protect them under the shadow of your wings. May all praise and glorify your name, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Once he had exchanged the gift of peace with everyone, he said: ‘Blessed be God, who did not hand us over to our invisible enemy, but freed us from his snare and delivered us from perdition.’ Then he fell asleep in the Lord at the age of forty-two."

The pope consecrated Methodius the archbishop of Sirmium, empowering him to build a native Slavonic clergy. He returned to Moravia where he labored for sixteen years, opposed at every turn by his German counterparts. He had to fight to maintain the vernacular liturgy, but won his battle in 880 with the support of the pope. And before his death in 884, Methodius had translated almost the entire Bible into Slavonic.

(Image Credit: Voices from Russia)

Read more from Bert at his website www.BertGhezzi.com, or check out his many books on Amazon.

Posted on: February 12, 2013 in Blog, Learning from the Saints, Saints
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Learning from a saint who was a “Mother” of the Church

His newest book is The Saints Devotional Bible, which illuminates the Scriptures with the saints' own reflections. You can learn more about Bert and his work at BertGhezzi.com.

Today, Bert profiles St. Syncletica, a fourth-century mystic and desert prophetess.

The poignant sayings of the desert fathers have charmed many of us. But I suspect fewer among us have encountered the desert mothers. These dedicated lay women of the fourth and fifth centuries left the world for simplicity and solitude in the wilderness.

St. Syncletica When the church scans the centuries for women who could be named doctors of the church, it should take a good look at these desert “ammas.” Their grace-filled writings rival in wisdom those of the fathers. I nominate for consideration Syncletica, a beautiful and gifted woman who lived at Alexandria, Egypt, in the fourth century.

As the daughter of wealthy Macedonian parents, marriage into a high-society family was Syncltica’s expected course. But as a young girl she had pointed her life in a different direction by promising to live single for Christ. When Syncletica’s parents died, she inherited their fortune and responsibility for her blind sister. Like Anthony, she distributed her wealth to the poor and abandoned the seductions of the world. Together with her sister she went to live in an unused burial chamber on a relative’s estate. With a priest as her witness, she cut her hair to signify her break with ordinary society and renewed her vow of virginity.

Many women sought Syncletica’s counsel. Although reticent at first to give much advice, as she matured in holiness, she felt freer to teach others. Here is a sampling of her very practical sayings that she characteristically illustrated with homey metaphors:

“In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek. As it is said, Our God is a consuming fire (see Heb 12:24): so we must kindle the fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.

“If you have begun to act well, do not turn back through constraint of the enemy, for your endurance destroys the enemy. Those who put out to sea at first sail with a favorable wind. Then the sails spread, but later the winds become adverse. Then waves toss the ship, and the rudder no longer controls it. But when in a little while there is calm, and the tempest dies down, the ship sails on again. So it is with us, when we are driven by the spirits who are against us. We hold to the cross as our sail and so we can set a safe course.

“It is dangerous for anyone to teach who has not first been trained in the practical life. For someone who owns a ruined house and receives guests there does them harm because of the dilapidation of the dwelling. That one causes loss to those who come. By words a person may convert them to salvation, but by evil behavior, he injures them.”

In Syncletica’s eightieth year, a disease infected her lungs and cancer began to devour her larynx and mouth. Gradually she lost her speech, but her biographer says her calm endurance of excruciating pain spoke plainly to all. She died around 400 at the age of 84.

“We have a most experienced pilot at the helm of our vessel, Jesus Christ, who will conduct us safe into the haven of salvation, if our sluggishness does not cause our own ruin.” — St. Syncletica

(Image Credit: The Practical Catholic)

Read more from Bert at his website www.BertGhezzi.com, or check out his many books on Amazon.

Posted on: January 8, 2013 in Blog, Learning from the Saints, Saints
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Learning from a Saint Acclaimed as Bishop Before Being Baptized

His newest book is The Saints Devotional Bible, which illuminates the Scriptures with the saints' own reflections. You can learn more about Bert and his work at BertGhezzi.com.

Today, Bert profiles the magnanimous St. Ambrose, the fourth-century Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students.

“Ambrose for bishop!” someone shouted, and the whole assembly picked up the chant. St. Ambrose was flabbergasted. He was only a catechumen, thus not yet baptized, and had no desire to become bishop. As the governor, he had come to the church in order to pacify the Catholics and the Arian party as they chose a new bishop for Milan. Ambrose tried to evade the election, but the people prevailed. He was first baptized, then a week later was consecrated bishop on December 7, 374.

Ambrose’s first action as bishop was to divest himself of his wealth. He gave his money to the poor and his property to the church. He appointed St. Satyrus, his brother, to be his administrator, so that he could focus on the spiritual welfare of his people. Realizing that his Christian education was incomplete, he immersed himself in the study of Scripture and the church fathers.

As bishop, Ambrose modeled prayer, kindness, and holiness for his flock. His door was always open, and every day people lined up for his help and counsel. When St. Augustine visited Milan in 386, Ambrose was instrumental in his conversion, probably as much by his witness as his words.

In his extensive writings in defense of the faith, Ambrose successfully used his classical education to give rational explanations of Christian truths. But his teaching always had a practical side, as the following selection shows:

“Perhaps you wonder, ‘Why are the wicked joyous? Why do they live in luxury? Why don’t they have to strive like I do?’

“The reason is that they who have not signed up to strive for the crown are not required to undergo the labors of the contest. Those who haven’t gone down to the track don’t smear themselves with oil, nor get covered with dust.

Trouble comes only to those on their way to glory. The perfumed spectators prefer to watch, not to join in the struggle, nor to endure the sun, the heat, the dust, and the rain.

“So those who have devoted themselves to pleasures, luxury, robbery, gain, or honors are spectators rather than combatants. They have the profit of labor but the not the fruits of virtue. They love their ease. By cunning and wickedness they heap up riches. But they will pay the penalty of their iniquity, though it be late in coming.

Their rest will be in hell, yours in paradise. Thus, Job said beautifully that they watch in the tomb (see Job 21:32), for they cannot have the calm of quiet rest that he enjoys who shall rise again.”

St. Ambrose was embroiled in the high politics of the Roman Empire. He resisted the attempts of powerful Arians to get control of church buildings. And within a decade he had purged the Arian heresy from Milan.

In 383, the Empress Justina sent him on a diplomatic mission to prevent the usurper Maximus from attacking Rome. Ambrose successfully persuaded him to confine himself to Gaul, Spain, and Britain. When the Christian emperor Theodosius had 7,000 Thessalonians executed as a reprisal, Ambrose required him to do public penance. He once said, “The emperor is in the church, not over it,” and he stuck by it.

St. Ambrose died on Good Friday, 397.

O God, Creation’s secret Force,
Yourself unmov’d, all motion’s source,
Who from the morn till evening’s ray,
Through all its changes guid’st the day:

Grant us, when this short life is past,
The glorious evening that shall last:
That by a holy death attain’d
Eternal glory may be gain’d.

—St. Ambrose

(Image Credit: Western Humanities)

Read more from Bert at his website www.BertGhezzi.com, or check out his many books on Amazon.