Saints Dropped From Calendar - How To Explain

[ASimpleSinner]

It is a source of great frustration and annoyance to me to hear people inaccurately say (often in reference to Saint Christopher) "After Vatican II they got rid of a whole bunch of saints that were just myths!" or "They decanonized Saints Christopher & Philomena!"

A lot of people "knowingly" repeat this disinformation, having heard it or been taught it in a vaiety of places. (The pastor at my Catholic grade school explained Saint Chrisopher was "just a legend" to us as school children. I suspect he will be VERY suprised one day.)

Suprisingly, an article on wikipedia on Saint Valentine seemed to get the matter right

In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feastday of Saint Valentine on 14 February was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on 14 February." (Calendarium Romanum ex Decreto Sacrosancti Œcumenici Concilii Vaticani II Instauratum Auctoritate Pauli PP. VI Promulgatum (Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, MCMLXIX), p. 117 )

I generally like to point out that the revisions made certain feasts optional, but no such "decanonization" took place.

How do you respond when you hear this?

[Br. Rich SFO]

Originally Posted by ASimpleSinner

a source of great frustration and annoyance to me to hear people inaccurately say (often in reference to Saint Christopher) "After Vatican II they got rid of a whole bunch of saints that were just myths!" or "They decanonized Saints Christopher & Philomena!"

A lot of people "knowingly" repeat this disinformation, having heard it or been taught it in a vaiety of places. (The pastor at my Catholic grade school explained Saint Chrisopher was "just a legend" to us as school children. I suspect he will be VERY suprised one day.)

Suprisingly, an article on wikipedia on Saint Valentine seemed to get the matter right

I generally like to point out that the revisions made certain feasts optional, but no such "decanonization" took place.

How do you respond when you hear this?

I generally explain that there are many local, and regional Saints known in their areas but unknown in the rest of the world. With thousanfs of Saints and only 365 days minus Sundays and other Holy Days it leaves a bit of a quandry, do the math! Somebody is going to get bumped from the universal calendar, but still honored locally or regionally.

[ASimpleSinner]

Originally Posted by Br. Rich SFO

I generally explain that there are many local, and regional Saints known in their areas but unknown in the rest of the world. With thousanfs of Saints and only 365 days minus Sundays and other Holy Days it leaves a bit of a quandry, do the math! Somebody is going to get bumped from the universal calendar, but still honored locally or regionally.

Correct me if I am wrong, but individual orders (Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, etc.) generally have the perogative to commemorate in their monasteries and parishes saints & beati from their own orders, don't they?

Where I sometimes attend morning Mass, one of the Dominicans does seem to make a habit of making even a brief mention of the Dominican saints of the day at the end of his sermon (brief bio sketch usually). I always enjoy that.

[FCEGM]

Originally Posted by ASimpleSinner

Correct me if I am wrong, but individual orders (Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, etc.) generally have the perogative to commemorate in their monasteries and parishes saints & beati from their own orders, don't they?

Yes, that's correct. As you've observed with the Dominicans, some lesser-known Saints and Blesseds will be commemorated who were members of the Order. With the Discalced Carmelites, it's the likes of Saints Raphael Kalinowski, Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi, Albert of Trapani, Teresa Margaret Redi, and Albert of Jerusalem who will remembered at the altar; also a special commemoration on July 23rd of Our Lady, Mother of Divine Grace.

[RobNY]

Originally Posted by ASimpleSinner

Correct me if I am wrong, but individual orders (Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, etc.) generally have the perogative to commemorate in their monasteries and parishes saints & beati from their own orders, don't they?

Where I sometimes attend morning Mass, one of the Dominicans does seem to make a habit of making even a brief mention of the Dominican saints of the day at the end of his sermon (brief bio sketch usually). I always enjoy that.

I think Bl. Henry Suso was commemorated recently at the Dominican priory I attend. It's nice to see all the saints and everything, but sometimes I just want a nice, simple ordinary day in the breviary.

I'd say the best way to explain would be to do the Thomas Aquinas explanation. Take what is true from what they say and affirm it completely. In the case of St. Valentine or St. Christopher, tell them that they are and remain saints, but that the mythological/legendary details about their lives are de-emphasized.

Does that make sense?

-Rob

[missal]

Originally Posted by RobNY

I think Bl. Henry Suso was commemorated recently at the Dominican priory I attend. It's nice to see all the saints and everything, but sometimes I just want a nice, simple ordinary day in the breviary.

I'd say the best way to explain would be to do the Thomas Aquinas explanation. Take what is true from what they say and affirm it completely. In the case of St. Valentine or St. Christopher, tell them that they are and remain saints, but that the mythological/legendary details about their lives are de-emphasized.

Does that make sense?

Yes, that does make sense, Thank you

-Rob

[Rawb]

I tell people that no, the saint was not de-canonized, but that the calender was changed to more truly celebrate the universality of the Catholic Church, specifically by removing saints specific to regions or orders, and adding in lesser known Saints.

[bpbasilphx]

**"They decanonized Saints Christopher & Philomena!"
**

St. Christopher is still on the Byzantine Calendar--9 May I believe.