If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which
God has passed through history, we truly see
that here is a force for good.
God has passed through history, we truly see
that here is a force for good.
— Pope Benedict XVI
Despite being raised a Roman Catholic, I struggle—as most Americans do—with believers.
Believers who practice what they preach have my admiration; but far too often your garden-variety believer turns out to have worse moral failings than the rest of us. He just doesn't know it.
More than most Americans, when it comes to religion's role in society, I tend to agree with Napoleon: "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."
Saints, nonetheless, captivate me.
The Catholic Church recognizes over 10,000 of them.
Saints are venerated by the church for "heroic sanctity." They're history's first responders, only with missals.
And saints are often "patrons"—sponsors of causes and cities and professions, and guardians of individuals when they're caught in a bind.
Catholics celebrate saints' feast days, take their names at confirmation, and pray to them when they're wanting.
Saints' life stories are generally fascinating.
One of the 10,000 saints I just discovered is Hieronymo Girolamo, St. Francis of Jerome.
A Jesuit in the 17th century, Hieronymo spent 40 years of his life preaching in the rural areas surrounding Naples, where his sermons would draw as many as 15,000 listeners.
His followers said he had god's gift on the soapbox and would often drag sinners before him, so they could hear his outdoor sermons. He spoke of the wickedness of sins, the need for repentance, the suddenness of death, the tortures of hell, and the salvation in Jesus.
Hieronymo spoke 40 times a day, always choosing streets and crossroads where recent crimes had been committed. Whenever he concluded, the crowd would crush forward to kiss his hand or touch his garments and beg forgiveness of their sins.
"He is a lamb when he talks, but a lion when he preaches," listeners said, "not a mere mortal, but an angel expressly sent to save souls."
Hieronymo also earned a reputation for miracle-working—a requirement for sainthood.
He was said to have received communion directly from Jesus Christ. He was also witnessed asking a prostitute's corpse where its inhabitant was and receiving the answer, "I'm in Hell!"
Hieronymo preached in the streets until the age of 73. "As long as I keep a breath of life I will go on," he said. "Even if dragged through the streets, I will thank God. A pack animal must die under its bundle."
He died in 1716 and was canonized 123 years later.
By my count, Hieronymo delivered well over 670,000 sermons during his lifetime.
