Paul Exhumed?
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ABC reports:
Vatican archaeologists have unearthed a sarcophagus [stone coffin] believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul that had been buried beneath Rome's second largest basilica.Read more.The sarcophagus, which dates back to at least A.D. 390, has been the subject of an extended excavation that began in 2002 and was completed last month, the project's head said this week.
posted by JT at Wednesday, December 06, 2006
16 Comments:
Oh dear, not another idol for the vatican to venerate & worship.
Even if it is the remains of the Apostle Paul, so what?
Q: What good are Paul's bones if you cannot touch them?
:-)
Of course reliqueries are made out of the most valuable materials of the day. So the one they'll construct for Paul will most likely be made out of compromise, subjectivity and ambiguity.
“Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered - 1Sa 28:15
Glennsp -
Venerate, not worship. Different things altogether (for Catholics, anyway).
tope~
Could you tell me the difference between "venerate" and "worship" in practical terms? The dictionary I checked didn't seem to carry a distinction between the two.
Thanks.
Presumably DNA testing was carried out to make sure it was Paul.
On a related subject, Josephus mentions 45 Galilean towns, the Talmud lists 63 Galilean towns, but neither mentions Nazareth.
DNA testing nice,
Glad to know we had some of Paul's blood to do a match with. I'm sure we'll be able to tell he drank frequently and he drank well, ie he was Reformed :)
mark&maki -
The distinction is between the Greek terms latria and dulia. Latria means 'worship' in the sense of adoration, and it belongs only to God. Dulia means 'worship' in the sense of giving honor to someone - e.g., calling someone "your worship" does not mean one literally worships that person. In English, Catholic teaching generally distinguishes between worship (latria) and veneration (dulia). That's why you'll often hear the statement that Catholics venerate saints, but don't worship them.
I stand by what I said - venerate & worship.
Glennsp -
Of course, you're free to think that you know what Catholics believe better than we do :)
So, do the Catholics venerate or worship Mary?
Tope, my comments are in relation to what I see R Catholics doing, not what the individuals may or may not believe
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Debbie,
I don't know if you were asking me, but in the Catholic Church (and also among the Eastern Orthodox) Mary receives hyperdulia. This is beyond ordinary veneration (dulia), but is still not worship (latria, which is where the word idolatry comes from).
Mary is considered especially worthy of veneration, to a degree that other saints are not. This is because she is considered to be the first Christian (the first person to say 'yes' to Christ) and because she gave birth to Christ.
I think one of the easiest ways to show that Catholics do not woship Mary is to look at the words of the most comon prayer to Mary:
"Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."
Its clear to see that the language is not worship.
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