Hedonist, prostitute, satanist, thief - not all saints were role models. On the contrary! The liturgical calendar is full of figures who managed to mess up before the canonization. And these sinners were the worst of the worst ...
1. Saint Augustine of Hippo - sex addict
Today he is mentioned in the same breath among the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. Before Augustine found his calling, however, he indulged in several sins of youth (and even more than a few). This may be even more surprising as his mother was Saint Monica, patroness of married women.
However, as Wojciech Galant cautiously noted:"The reckless young man did not use his mother's teachings, but devoted himself to a riotous and dissolute life." In his childhood, Augustine had a problem not only with keeping clean ( in the relationship for a cat's paw even had a child who he abandoned to pursue a career in Rome ) - it would be difficult to call him an exemplary Christian.
At one point he even joined the Manichaean sect, who were generally regarded as pagans and heretics. The main person himself reportedly usually prayed with the words: "Convert me God, but not yet" . Well, he actually converted in the end…
St. Augustine liked to say, "Convert me God, but not yet."
2. Saint Olga - a mass murderer
She had over 5,000 people on her conscience (some of them she buried alive) - and yet she was included in the group of saints of the Orthodox Church. By what miracle?
In defense of her, it can be said that she acted out of affect. The crimes she committed were caused by the righteous anger that burned in her after her husband died , killed during the Drewlan uprising. And since her retaliation against the direct perpetrators was not enough and she was drenched in blood for all Iscorpio? Well, revenge - like love - can be blind.
On the other hand, after conversion and baptism it softened. Filled with enthusiasm, she founded more churches, including in Kiev and Pskov. She also tried (although initially with poor success) to convert her subjects . However, Thomas Craughell notes that:
Russians and Ukrainians honor her as a person who "first entered the Kingdom of God from Russia" and give her the title of "Equal to the Apostles" because she instilled the Christian faith in their lands .
St. Olga - the murderer
3. Saint Fabiola - bigamist
Life was not kind to Fabiola. Although she came from a respected family (she was a patrician), her honor was repeatedly tarnished by her husband - a serial traitor. According to Saint Jerome, the man allowed himself to jump to the side so often that "not even a prostitute or a slave could match this number" .
In fact, it is hardly surprising that his wife finally couldn't stand it and divorced him. There was only one problem. Thomas Craughwell reports:
While Catholics may separate from their spouses, they cannot divorce them and remarry. Christ personally forbade it in St. Matthew. Fabiola, however, opposed this law. She was still young and had a hard time living without a man so she got a civil divorce and again married to another, better man.
The punishment for bigamy was the prohibition of receiving the sacraments. In addition, with her re-marriage, Fabiola, as a high-born Roman woman, caused quite a scandal. Fortunately, both spouses soon went to the other world, and she was able to undergo penance, which opened her way to holiness.
Copy of JJ's picture. Henner from the 19th century depicting St. Fabiola
4. Saint Maria Egyptian - prostitute
The adultery of Saint Fabiola against the background of what Saint Mary the Egyptian was doing is very pale. The latter was to confess to Father Zosima (who later related everything to Saint Sophronius):
When I was twelve, having rejected my parents' love, went to Alexandria and lost my virgin purity there. Without shame and horror, I cannot even mention the indecency I have committed. Seventeen years of indulging in terrible sins.
She is said to have been particularly attracted to the seduction of young men:"There is no word of mouth or unspeakable iniquity that I would not have taught them." She did not charge money for her services - she was more interested in pleasure than in profit. Ultimately, however, she converted and repented of her sins:she spent 47 years in isolation in the desert. Interestingly, today she is the patron of… actors.
5. Holy Dismas - The Thief
In Polish tradition, he is sometimes called a villain - which is actually very close to the truth. For Dyzma was one of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus. So why did he become a saint? The answer can be found in the Bible. The Evangelist Luke wrote:
One of the criminals who were hanged [there] taunted him:"Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us ”. But the second, rebuking him, said:"You do not even fear God, although you suffer the same punishment? We - fairly, because we receive just punishment for our deeds but He has done nothing wrong. " And he added:"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replied, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise".
St. Dyzma was one of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus
* Blessed Bartholomew Longo - Satanist
Although technically Bartholomew Longo is not a saint, he undoubtedly deserves a place in this infamous ranking. The one coming from a very religious Italian family made a mistake in his youth:he took part in anti-clerical speeches, was fascinated by the occult, organized spiritualist sessions, and at one point even became ... a Satanist! Marek Woś writes about him:
Bartol's radical actions were appreciated by the highest authorities of a secret organization. (…) Bartolo was gradually involved in its activities.
After the end of the devil's novitiate it was time for the ordination which Bartolo would receive as a future priest of the new religion. It was an extremely gruesome show (...). Bartolo fell into a spiritist trance .. Pythagoras, Confucius and Caiaphas spoke through his mouth, or rather demons claiming to be them.
However, he finally got bored with celebrating the black mass and, at the urging of his relatives, he converted. He joined the Dominican laity and, as a third tier, took the name of Brother of the Rosary.
Bibliography:
- T. Craughwell, Saints non-saints On mischievous rogues, cheaters and followers of Satan who, however, became saints , Esprit 2007.
- The Gospel of St. Luke , Millennium Bible , Pallottinum Publishing House 2003.
- W. Galant, The Treasury of the Lord's Saints. Lives of saints for all days of the year with the addition of short teachings and prayers. Decorated with engravings for every day , Catholic Proud Dissemination of Kżążek Ferdynand Studt 1910.
- M. Woś, Bartolo Longo. From the priest of satan to the apostle of the rosary , Publishing House Rosemaria 2012.