In my Catholic Faith, Saints are regarded as Holy, Virtuous and exceptional in their walk of love for God. We are all called to be Saints, regardless of our vocation in life. Even in married life. Married Christians as one ancient author tells us, are ordinary people with an exceptional destiny. Having intimate happiness of the family, its love of God that brings us closer to him. Souls who live not of the things of this world are products of humility, one of the 7 virtues of the Holy Spirit.
Heather King is a contemplative laywoman and an author who recently quoted G.K. Chesterton, “A Man never feels so small as when he knows he is necessary.”
“Courage means a strong desire to live taking a form of a readiness to die”.
Regardless of one’s faith, each person is called to be a saint. To recognize that in life, nothing is coincidence but rather our choices that we make which produce either good or bad consequences.
Yes, I know that not everyone in the world is Catholic. That there are different faiths, and that each one believes according to one’s own beliefs. I guess what I would say is that if one was to follow just the Commandments laid before us thousands of years ago, how much better our world would be. When one acts on kindness, compassion, empathy, or concern for others, I cannot believe that their life is a life of ugliness. In Psalm 119 we learn that the Commandments are summed up in the “Command to Love.” Love is not mere sentiment. Love requires that we refrain from everything that would harm another, and choose to do whatever will serve the other person’s true well being.
Let me share with you the story of two Saints that were married, understanding first of all the above of what constitutes a saint
Saints Artemius and Candida (Third century)
Peter and Marcellinus were jailed under the watch of Artemius, whose daughter, Paulina, was troubled with an evil spirit. Seeing this, Peter offered to make Paulina well by the power of God. But Artemius mocked Peter and his “all-powerful God” who left his faithful ones in chains. “My God has the power to set me free”, said Peter, “but his will is that by way of a transitory passion we arrive at eternal glory.” Artemius replied, “If I clamp double chains on you and your God frees you and cures my daughter, I will believe in Christ immediately!
That night Peter appeared in Artemius chamber bearing a cross and clad in dazzling white. Artemius fell to the ground and Paulina was healed. Artemius and wife Candida and all his household were baptized at the hand of Marcellinus Artemius then freed all the prisoners under his watch, permitting Marcellinus to baptize those who desired it. When these dramatic conversions came to the attention of the Roman prefect, he punished all of them. The sword cut down Artemius. His wife and daughter were crushed to death under a load of stones. Marcellinus and Peter were beheaded in a forest outside of Rome.
So as you see, there was nothing miraculous that these two souls did Artemius and Candida, but they showed Courage, “ a strong desire to live taking a form of a readiness to die for their faith.
Those in our current times who have been beheaded for believing in a faith that for those who committed the horrible act do not understand. Artemius and Candida were married and who became Saints, and so it is that “One Can Be A Saint and Be Married”.
This is an interesting true story. I guess I’ve never thought about whether saints were married or not. I know that a saint has to walk closely with God and live a life of impeccable character and devotion to God. As Danny said, Jesus calls the church his bride. The church is not a physical place but is the people whose souls are united in belief and worship of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Yes, the Church is Christ bride, Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit are the church as well as those who make up the church and are called to be Saints. We all are called to be in Communion with the Saints. Every Soul regardless.
Marriage is indeed a vocation and a true sacrament administered to one another with God’s grace and blessings. There is no mistake that Jesus uses the analogy of His church as His bride. Couples ordained by God to be husband and wife are also ordained to be saints in truth and love! Thanks Nightingale for framing this.