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Your thoughts about defining martyrdom reminded me of another saint-or-not nit-picking matter.

Three years ago when I was writing my book on Thomas Kempis, I kept encountering the question: why was Thomas not canonized? And the answer was a revelation: it seems that when his tomb was first opened, there were scratches on the inside of the wooden coffin lid—meaning that apparently he had unintentionally been buried alive and, of course, had tried to escape. But the narrow (minded) theological issue was that since he had lived beyond burial, there was no way of knowing whether he had remained pure and saintly till his actual death or whether he may even have cursed God or sinned in other ways between burial and death—so his ultimate sanctity could not be guaranteed. Hence, no canonization.

Perhaps the hesitation in formally naming a living person a martyr is that there could still be plenty of chances of "going bad" between her/his living martyrdom" and death, or of the discovery of other less-than-worthy activity in his/her life past. (Also the reason why tradition used to be that a saint could not be canonized until at least fifty years after death.)

Fr. John-Julian, OJN
The Order of Julian of Norwich
Hartland, Wisconsin, USA
johnjulianojn@sbcglobal.net
12 October 2015

The Greek root of 'martyr' means 'witness,' not 'dead person,' so I think 'martyr' is a very apt title for one who, for the sake of conscience, suffers any sort of harm, including loss of employment.

The Rev. Annette Chappell, SCP
Sherwood Parish, Cockeysville MD
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
12 October 2015

(ed: Thank you for pointing out this editoral oversight)

I like the old word 'Confessor' as one who publicly confesses or manifests the behaviors & attitude of one's Christian belief & faith.

Clint Capers
St. Alban's
Waco, Texas, USA
clint.capers@yahoo.com
12 October 2015

 

I would be interested in knowing more about the seal 'Transiens Adiuva Nos' and if this seal has been replicated in any form that may be purchased. I have been involved in sending medical supplies and equipment to El Salvador in the past years and would like to know more about the history of the Seal of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

Harvey Alexander Smith
Palm Harbor, Florida, USA
12 October 2015

(ed: If anyone has information on this, please send it to editors@anglicansonline.org with "Seal" in the subject line, and we will forward it to Mr. Smith)

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