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NanaR
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jun 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 149 |
| First Name: | Ruth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Born JW, born-again Catholic (Tiber Swim Team 2008) |
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Posted: Sun Dec 16th, 2007 03:03 pm |
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Friends:
I read on another board that the Church celebrates feast days in honor of "Adam" and "Eve". Now, in the listing of saints, I found a St. Adam and a St. Eva, but they were NOT our first parents Adam and Eve.
The person who posted on the other board seemed to think that the original couple are Saints to the Church.
Is this the case? If it is, what is the basis for their sainthood?
Thanks.
Ruth
____________________
When you bend down to help someone up, that is the best exercise for your heart. -- Fr. Noe, 2007
http://nanaruthann.blogspot.com
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1790 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Sun Dec 16th, 2007 04:21 pm |
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Adam and Eve are not on the Latin Rite calendar of saints, either old or new. In fact, St. John the Baptist, St. Joachim and St. Anne (the parents of the virgin Mary) are the only pre-Christian saints widely recognized in the west. Nor is there an official record of canonization for any of them. (The canonization process was started only about 1,000 years ago, so it does not cover the early days of Christianity. The ancient saints were “canonized” by popular acclaim, and Adam and Eve would probably have received their honor in this manner.) This does not mean, however, that they are not considered saints, because some of the Old Testament figures are considered saints without recourse to legalities. I have read that some of the Fathers of the Church and other ecclesiastical writers from the medieval period, especially of the eastern Church, considered them saints. If you check one of the Eastern Catholic calendars, you may find Sts. Adam and Eve listed there. They also honor other Old Testament personages, such as Abraham, King David, and the prophet Elijah, as saints.
While there is no real evidence for sainthood for our first parents, there is also no scriptural or theological reason to deny it. The bible records only their sin; it does not tell their whole lives. It is quite plausible that they repented and were saved. Everyone who is saved, recognized or not by man, is a saint.
David
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5079 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sun Dec 16th, 2007 06:54 pm |
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NanaR wrote: I read on another board that the Church celebrates feast days in honor of "Adam" and "Eve". Now, in the listing of saints, I found a St. Adam and a St. Eva, but they were NOT our first parents Adam and Eve.
The Orthodox do recognize St. Adam the Martyr who, along with his companions, was killed on Mt. Sinai in the 400's. I couldn't find a St, Eve at all.
I did find "Sunday of Cheesefare" which is the commemoration of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. No meat is permitted to be eaten during Cheesefare Week.
In the west, I notice that Catholic Community Forum's list of saints does include Adam. The listing is here. Recognition of Eve is here. The date of their memorial is December 24th. Also on CCF, I found a very interesting story on the life of Adam, which you'll find here.
CCF does not list a reason why Adam and Eve would be considered saints, except that Adam is considered one of the Old Testament patriarchs and Eve the mother of humankind.
I was not able to find reference to Adam and Eve in any other list of saints I checked.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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