|
|
Article: Saints Without Sanctimony
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- April 6, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
|
For saints, Easter and its liturgies have historically taken
precedence as the major moment to reaffirm the joyfulness of the
Christian faith. The Nativity, Pentecost and other holy days are
celebratory events, but the Resurrection is more: indispensable for
the creed and a nature-based lifting of post-winter spirits.
Easter's joyfulness can be taken on the word of Saint Luke,
the physician who ended his 24-chapter Gospel with a description of
Jesus the resurrected and the spiritual health of the followers: "He
blessed them {and} parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
. . . {They} returned to Jerusalem with great joy."
So began the community of saints and believers, marked ...