

Episode 599: The Horrible Lives and Deaths of the Saints - The Middle Ages
39 snips Dec 6, 2024
Dive into the darkly fascinating lives of Christian saints from the Middle Ages! Discover the bizarre tales of Saint Homobonus and his generous spirit, alongside the rebellious Vilgefortis who defies societal norms. The hosts explore the gruesome practices of martyrdom and the eccentricities of saints like Joseph of Cupertino, all while weaving in humor. Through witty anecdotes, they challenge traditional sainthood, revealing the absurdities and cultural quirks of these revered figures. Get ready for a wild ride through history!
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Two Paths to Sainthood
- Sainthood has two paths: martyrdom (one miracle) or non-martyrdom (two miracles).
- As martyrdom became less common, the Church broadened sainthood criteria to include virtuous individuals.
Centralizing Sainthood
- Early saints were chosen locally, allowing Christianity to spread organically.
- Later, the Church centralized canonization to control doctrine and maintain relevance.
Source Material and Contradictions
- The podcast's source is "Saints of the Later Middle Ages" by Andre Vauchez.
- The hosts acknowledge varying and often contradictory accounts of saints' lives and miracles.