"martyrs"

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Theologian Thursday: Saint Valentine

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It should come as no surprise that I chose to look at St. Valentine today. It is his feast day, after all.

The difficulty I found, however, was figuring out who exactly he is. The conflicting stories and accounts of St. Valentine--indeed, multiple St. Valentines, since it was quite a common name--are rivaled only by those surrounding St. Nicholas. And even then, most of the legends are talking about the same person.

Sidenote--isn't it interesting how the saints who have the most mainstream appeal and recognization are also the ones whose stories are so muddled? It's like a strange and unfortunate game of theological telephone. We'll see what I come up with for St. Patrick (spoiler alert: nothing to do with snakes).

Here's what we do know--Valentine was a Roman priest who was beheaded on February 14, 269. He is recorded in St. Gregory's sacramentary of martyrs and other martyrologies.

That's about it.

He is the Patron Saint of bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, plague, and travelers.

How Valentine's festival day became associated with love and romance is one of those weird, convoluted histories which you can never be quite sure of. Some sources say that he was an extraordinary lover of God and people, but honestly I don't expect anything less from a priest--especially a saint. Additionally, it seems there was a pagan ritual held in mid-February that included drawing of names and goddess worship having to do with Juno Februata. But even that is an uncertain legend and a tenuous link. Chaucer also had something to do with conflating St. Valentine and courtly love in Parlement of Foules, but it's unclear what led him to make that connection.

All this to say, this is another saint-related holiday in which the actual saint has hardly any relevance.

Happy Valentine's Day!
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All Saints' Day

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Being that today is the Feast Day of All Saints, I felt it would be unfair to do my usual Theologian Thursday thing and spotlight an individual when the Church is celebrating all the saints.


Depending on tradition--Western, Eastern, Protestant, Catholic--as well as geography and culture, there are so many ways we are celebrating and remembering today. We rejoice in the hope of heaven--that there are beatified saints enjoying the divine presence of God as we speak. We give thanks and revere those martyrs who died for their faith, and ours. And we encourage each other, for we are all saints and members in the Kingdom of God, and remember our brothers and sisters who are no longer with us.

And while my own understanding of heaven is perhaps not orthodox--and certainly not concrete or solidified--I can participate in this feast day, remembering the saints in love and hope and celebrating those saints by whom I am surrounded.

So I offer this prayer of Teresa of Avila on this special day:


“O holy souls that now rejoice without fear of losing your joy and are forever absorbed in the praises of my God! Happy indeed your lot! How right that you should employ yourselves ceaselessly in these praises! and how my soul envies you, free as you now are from the affliction caused by the grievous offenses which are in these unhappy days are committed against my God! No longer do you behold all the ingratitude of men and their blindness nor the multitude of souls being carried away by satan.

O blessed heavenly souls! Help us in our misery and intercede for us with the divine Mercy, so that we may be granted some part of your joy and you may share with us some of that clear knowledge which is now yours.
And You, O my God, make us understand what it is that You give to those who fight manfully through the dream of this miserable life. Help us, O loving souls, to understand what joy it gives you to behold the eternity of your bliss and what delight to possess the certain knowledge that it will never end.

O blessed souls, who knew so well how to profit by the gifts of God, and to purchase with this precious ransom so delectable and enduring a heritage, tell us how you won through Him such an eternal blessing! Assist us, since you are so near the Fountainhead. Draw water for those of us on earth who are perishing with thirst.”


Amen.

 Wishing all you saints a blessed day!
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Theologian Thursday: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)

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This is the last post in my Month of Martyrs series. I hope you enjoyed it!


Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Germany to a prominent family--his mother was a countess and his father was a well-known neurologist. He was one of eight children, and he was actually a twin!

When he was 17, Bonhoeffer began studying theology at Tubingen University, and a year later entered the University of Berlin. This began his struggle between the liberal theology popular at the time (and taught by his professors, which included Harnack--who at one point was the director of the Royal Library in Berlin) and the neo-orthodoxy espoused by Karl Barth, to which he had taken a liking.

Bonhoeffer also studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York, and did much work with churches in Harlem. This created in him a deep, abiding love for African American hymns and spirituals.

After various teaching and ministering positions around Europe, when the Nazis came to power in 1933, he became an immediate enemy of the regime, speaking out against Hitler's grab for power, the persecution of the Jews, and the Nazis' effect on the German church.

Bonhoeffer became an integral part of the Confessing Church, and was eventually barred from teaching in German universities or print or publish anything. The Confessing Church was also made illegal in Germany, and many of its pastors were imprisoned. He then began the underground Finkenwalde Seminary, to continue teaching in resistance to the Nazis.

He joined the Abwehr, which was a German intelligence organization that developed multiple plots to assassinate Hitler. His involvement in the organization and their failed assassination attempts is what eventually got him arrested, and after two years of imprisonment he was hanged on April 9 1945 at Flossenburg concentration camp.

Bonhoeffer's prophetic voice and focus on a practical, worldly theology and his emphasis on Christians (of all kinds) living out the gospel of the cross of Christ is what makes him still relevant today. Furthermore, his intolerance for injustice and his bravery in the face of outright evil is something we can all admire.

If you're interested in learning more, I highly recommend the documentary Bonhoeffer. It's on Netflix instant stream!

What you should read:

  • The Cost of Discipleship
  • Letters & Papers from Prison
Ratings:
(To read more about my Theologian Rating System, click HERE)
Gender Equality:
Bonhoeffer taught both men and women at Finkenwalde Seminary, and I'm sure he felt that women had just as much business living the Christian life and following the way of Jesus than men.
Environmental Sensibility:
I think with the influence of liberal theology, Bonhoeffer had a fairly positive notion of the redemption of all creation.
Heretical Tendencies: 
Even though the German "Church" anathemized Bonhoeffer and the rest of the Confessing Church, I think it's pretty clear who the real heretics were.
General Badassery: 
It's hard to do justice to how completely badass Dietrich Bonhoeffer is. He is a true hero of the faith and gave his life resisting real evil in the world.

“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.” 
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Theologian Thursday: Joan of Arc (c1412-1431)

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This is the fourth post in my Month of Martyrs series. Stay tuned for the last post next week!
To be honest, most of my previous knowledge about Joan of Arc was from that episode of Wishbone.

 
Don't judge. You know what I'm talking about.

But really, even though she wasn't exactly a theologian, she was a martyr, and she's a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, and I think her story is important for a number of reasons.

The gist of Joan of Arc's history is that she was born when the French were losing the Hundred Years' War, she received a vision when she was about 13 of Saints Margaret, Catherine, and Michael, who told her that God said to get the English out of France, so despite the fact that she was a girl of rather low standing, she made it into the army, rallied the troops (even captured a fortress by herself), and ultimately increased the morale of the French enough for them eventually to win the war (20 years after her death). She was captured by the Burgudians, purchased from them by the English, and subsequently tried for heresy and burned alive at the stake.

Here's why I think Joan of Arc is interesting: While I admire her determination in the face of adversity and the fact that she did what she thought was right despite the men in charge not taking her seriously, she essentially turned what was a war born of royal family drama into a holy war.

Of course, as a pacifist, I hate the whole idea of "holy war." BUT it's interesting to me that her being so sure that God wanted the French to win was what gave her army the passion it needed to actually be victorious. AND this idea is still prevalent today--everyone thinks God is on their side.


Ratings:
(To read more about my Theologian Rating System, click HERE)
Gender Equality:
Joan of Arc clearly did not let the fact that she was a woman get in the way of her doing what she needed to do. Even though she was at times purposefully left out of important military meetings and rarely taken seriously (especially at the beginning of her involvement in the war), she went ahead with whatever she wanted, which was usually smarter than what the men had planned. She went as far as to keep her hair cut short and dress in men's clothing in order to quit being sexually objectified (this even ended up being part of her heresy charge).
Environmental Sensibility:
Can I skip this one today? She supposedly hung out in the forest around a "Fairy Tree" as a child. So I guess she liked nature OK...?
Heretical Tendencies:
She was tried as a heretic in England, but the heresy she was charged for is based mostly on her experiences of voices and visions, but I'm pretty sure there were English people having visions that weren't tried as heretics. My feeling is that by "heretic" they meant "French patriot."

General Badassery:
I don't think this is really a surprise. Joan of Arc was a badass, plain and simple. When she was imprisoned by the Burgundians, she jumped out of a 70 foot tower to escape. She did her thing. HBIC for sure.

"I am not afraid... I was born to do this."
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Theologian Thursday: Ignatius

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This is week 3 of 5 in my Month of Martyrs series. Yes, I finally decided how long this series will go--and lucky for me August includes 5 Thursdays! Still open for suggestions in the comments, through email, or on Twitter.


As you might guess from the icon above, Ignatius died by being "thrown to the wild beasts," AKA eaten by lions.

He was pretty stoked about it too--in his letter to the Romans he says, "May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me." He also hoped that they would be extra hungry. To be a martyr was the most noble and enviable of deaths.

Ignatius was BFFs with Polycarp, and also an disciple of the Apostle John. Furthermore, tradition and legend hold that he was the child whom Jesus held in Mark chapter 9 when he told his disciples "Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name receives me. And whosoever shall receive me receives not me but him that sent me" (though this is admittedly probably not really true).

Ignatius was the Bishop of Antioch and wrote many letters of encouragement to those to whom he ministered. The things he was most concerned about were church unity and guarding against heresies (which troublingly included Judaism). He is considered the first person to use the term "catholic" (καθολικός) to describe the universal Church.

Ratings:
(To read more about my Theologian Rating System, click HERE)
Gender Equality:
I tend to believe that even though historically patriarchy has always been pretty bad and thoroughly engrained in ancient societies, the early Christian church valued women's participation in the formation of this faith community, and that you can see glimpses of it despite things like solely male literacy and androcentrism. For example, in Ignatius's letter to Polycarp he actually mentions women (albeit in relation to husbands), and not unfavorably: "Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit."
Environmental Sensibility:
I feel like I say this every week lately, but care for the environment just was not an issue at the time. He really didn't say anything about it. Unless you count offering his body as food for the wild beasts.
Heretical Tendencies:
Being so early in the Christian tradition, and such an integral part of building up and maintaining the burgeoning community, he cared to much about getting things right to have any part in questionable doctrine. He was quite clear about what was right and what wasn't, and encouraged Christians to always trust their bishops (he was one, after all).
General Badassery:
Dude got eaten by lions. He was an early church triple threat: apostle, bishop, and martyr.


"Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth, is brought to an end."
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Theologian Thursday: Justin Martyr (100-165)

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Justin is among the first of the apologists of the church. He studied philosophy extensively--Platonism, Stoicism, and others--and eventually came to the conclusion that Christianity was the best school of thought. He argued for the marrying of philosophy and religion, even asserting that many philosophical ideas (like the immortality of the soul) actually came from Jewish Scripture. In my opinion, that's a bit misguided since as far as I know the Jewish Scriptures don't teach or assume the immortality of the soul at all. But anyway.

Justin went so far as to say that Socrates was a Christian, because he lived by reason--the Logos which would come into the world and by which Christians also live. Justin was especially focused on God as this Logos.

The Apologies were the beginning of a long tradition of mashing up philosophy and Christianity and asserting that Christianity is really based on reason. Tertullian would take issue on this later, saying "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" Justin Martyr is like a really really early forerunner of CS Lewis.

The reigning Hellenistic government of the time, headed by Marcus Aurelius, didn't see eye to eye with Justin or the Christians though, confused by the fact that they refused to worship the emperor and therefore seen as "atheists"--since the "God" they said to worship didn't seem to exist.

Justin and Friends were questioned and ultimately beheaded in about 165.

What you should read:
Ratings:
(To read more about my Theologian Rating System, click HERE)
Gender Equality:
With Justin's emphasis and love for the classic philosophers, I'm certain that he did not escape their influence in regard to hating women. Especially with his propensity for Platonic thought.
Environmental Sensibility:
Along the same lines as his views toward women, I believe that Platonic ideals and even Stoicism are rather harmful to any sort of appreciation for the Earth--they lead the person to value the mind and the "spirit" over above the body, or indeed nature as it is.
Heretical Tendencies:
I think Justin's beliefs are fairly orthodox--even (or maybe especially) today. He is considered a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches.
General Badassery:
He was very well educated, wrote a ton, and had a huge part in the way the church relates to philosophy. He may not have faced any wild beasts, but martyrs get four stars by default.

A Justin Martyr quote to finish:
"We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the goodly precepts of Christ, that they may become partakers with us of the joyful hope of blessings from God, the Lord of all."
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Theologian Thursday: Polycarp (c. 70-155)

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This is the first in a series I'm starting on martyrs of the church. I'm not sure how many I'll be doing; probably just continue for a few weeks until I get sick of it. If there's anyone you want me to profile, let me know in the comments or on Twitter or email (kosinski@uw.edu).


Polycarp was a disciple of the apostle John, a bishop in Smyrna, and was the author of some of the oldest surviving writings of the early church.

Polycarp was martyred for refusing to "swear by the fortune of Caesar"--because he refused to pledge his allegiance to anyone but Christ. Before he was arrested, he had a vision that his pillow was burning, and so was convinced that he was to die by fire. The proconsul gave him many opportunities to change his mind and renounce Christianity, but he would not, and was sent to be burned alive.

The story goes that they set him on a pyre, but when it was lit the fire could not touch him, so he had to be killed by a sword.

What you should read:
Ratings:
(To read more about my Theologian Rating System, click HERE)
Gender Equality:
It's unclear exactly how favorably he viewed women, but I suspect that women were still quite involved in ministry and church life in this early time of Christianity. Additionally, in his letter to the Philippians, he seems to recognize quite a bit of female autonomy--that women learn "to walk in the faith that hath been given unto them."
Environmental Sensibility:
To be honest, I couldn't find anything regarding Polycarp's view of nature. Like others in his time, it doesn't seem to be an important issue.
Heretical Tendencies:
Polycarp worked hard to establish an orthodoxy in the burgeoning Christian community. He was an important influence to other great early theologians like Irenaeus and Tertullian, who set the standard for much of early Christian thought.
General Badassery:
Polycarp knew that his martyrdom was imminent, and yet he did not shy away from what he believed was right. He faced his arrest and trial with grace and courage. And even when the soldiers went to nail him to the stake in the pyre, he told them it was not necessary, that "he who gave me to abide the fire will also allow me, without the security of your nails, to remain on the pyre without moving." What a badass!

Here's a Polycarp quote for the road:
"He that hath love is far from all sin."