We are a society obsessed with heroes. We lionize athletes, actors, entertainers--anyone who has achieved widespread, even if temporary, notoriety. Protestant Christians are strangely loath to observe the sanctoral cycle, the annual commemoration of the lives of Christianity's pioneers. The feast days in honor of the saints are not occasions to worship the honoree, but are perfect occasions to remember the stories and examples they provide us.
The Handbook of the Christian Year describes the importance of remembering the saints: "Properly understood, however, the saints are manifestations of the continuing work of Jesus Christ in human life. Holy men and women are not testimonies to works-righteousness but to the transforming grace of God." The saints are the ordinary men and women who believed God enough to dedicate their lives to Him. The saints are the ordinary men and women to believed God enough to die for Him. These ordinary men and women did more than achieve personal, fleeting fame; they were instruments of God in their world. Now those are real heroes.
This calendar can help you remember when to study the heroes of the faith.
February 24 Matthias
March 19 Joseph
April 25 Mark
May 1 Philip and James the Less
June 11 Barnabas
June 24 John the Baptist
June 29 Peter and Paul
July 22 Magdalene
July 25 James
August 15 Mary
August 24 Bartholomew
September 21 Matthew
October 18 Luke
October 23 James, brother of Jesus
October 28 Simon and Jude
November 1 All Saints
November 30 Andrew
December 21 Thomas
December 26 Stephen
December 27 John the Evangelist
December 28 Holy Innocents
Resources:
Hickman, Hoyt L.; Saliers, Don E.; Stookey, Laurence Hull; and White, James F. Handbook of the Christian Year. 1986. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN.
The Handbook of the Christian Year describes the importance of remembering the saints: "Properly understood, however, the saints are manifestations of the continuing work of Jesus Christ in human life. Holy men and women are not testimonies to works-righteousness but to the transforming grace of God." The saints are the ordinary men and women who believed God enough to dedicate their lives to Him. The saints are the ordinary men and women to believed God enough to die for Him. These ordinary men and women did more than achieve personal, fleeting fame; they were instruments of God in their world. Now those are real heroes.
This calendar can help you remember when to study the heroes of the faith.
February 24 Matthias
March 19 Joseph
April 25 Mark
May 1 Philip and James the Less
June 11 Barnabas
June 24 John the Baptist
June 29 Peter and Paul
July 22 Magdalene
July 25 James
August 15 Mary
August 24 Bartholomew
September 21 Matthew
October 18 Luke
October 23 James, brother of Jesus
October 28 Simon and Jude
November 1 All Saints
November 30 Andrew
December 21 Thomas
December 26 Stephen
December 27 John the Evangelist
December 28 Holy Innocents
Resources:
Hickman, Hoyt L.; Saliers, Don E.; Stookey, Laurence Hull; and White, James F. Handbook of the Christian Year. 1986. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN.
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