Justin Appel

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the feast of St Thecla, a first-century saint, a witness to St Paul’s preaching, one who suffered persecution for her faith, and who is called “equal to the Apostles” in the Eastern Christian tradition along with the likes of Photine and Mary Magdalene.

Listening to the traditional stories associated with Thecla, makes me think about the basic question: who are saints, and what is our relationship with them? This is an important question to ponder, especially since saints are often bracketed as semi-mythical figures or watered down as inspirational examples of action. Saints are so much more than this.

Saints are fundamentally familial holy characters—they are friends of God, and they are people whom we may trust and ask for prayers. The first part of this statement is important: saints are real individuals who were known in their local community for being holy. Do you know a holy person? I don’t mean a “nice” or “inspiring” person, or somebody who follows rules, or someone who is particularly knowledgeable or who says “the right things.” Holy people cultivate real Christlikeness to the point that others seek them out, even by walking into the wilderness or into the forest or to remote islands to find them. It’s telling that holy people are sometimes found in these places.

Why do people seek out saints? Probably because one can sense their humility, genuineness, and love. They are trustworthy people who show us how to live, sometimes against societal norms and values. They are people you ask for prayers when it matters. You can see that something is completely different and real about them and you long to participate somehow.

Fundamentally, saints confirm our belief in the resurrection. We believe that saints of ages past are not dead but in God’s presence and available to us as we pray. We can ask for their prayers with confidence, trusting in their love for us and for the God to whom we all belong, because the saints are alive.

Yours in Christ,

—Justin