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Anglicans add Roman Catholic saints to calendar

The latest edition of the newspaper The New Zealand Catholic has the following story:

CHRISTCHURCH – Blessed Mary MacKillop and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta could soon feature in Anglican liturgies in New Zealand.

In 2006, the Rev. Bosco Peters, Christ’s College chaplain and webmaster of the ecumenical liturgy site www.liturgy.co.nz, proposed a motion to that end at the Christchurch diocesan synod.

If the formal approval process is completed, these names would join other post-reformation Catholics in New Zealand’s Anglican calendar.

A New Zealand Prayer Book – He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa, published in 1989, has Sts John Vianney, Maximillian Kolbe, Rose of Lima, Teresa of Avila, Martin de Porres and Francis Xavier in its calendar, as well as Mother Suzanne Aubert, founder of New Zealand’s only religious order – the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion.

“There is no thought that holiness is limited to Anglicanism,” Rev. Peters said.

He also proposed C.S. Lewis and Taizé’s Br Roger be added to the calendar.

New Zealand’s Anglican church produced its first revised calendar in 1972, including post-Reformation Catholics.

Before then it used material from older Church of England calendars, which included pre-Reformation saints, but not the later Catholic figures.

The formal process for approval requires passing a bill at General Synod, positive votes at diocesan synods and equivalents, a confirmation by a newly-elected General Synod and a year’s wait to see if there are any appeals.

“After this is becomes part of our binding shared liturgical life,” he said.

The move has yet to go through General Synod a second time, but Rev. Peters said it is uncontroversial.

Readings and prayers for the relevant days are being prepared for the celebration of the Eucharist, he said.

by MICHAEL OTTO

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14 thoughts on “Anglicans add Roman Catholic saints to calendar”

  1. thomas Warner, M.D.

    I don’t think the Catholic Church claims ownership of any saints including those of the post-reformation period.

    Viva Cristo Rey!

    TW

  2. Juan C. Marrero

    I am susprised that St. Therese of Lisieux is not included. She is the most international of modern saints.

  3. I praise this effort of the Anglican Church. May these Saints and all those now in Gods kingdom intercede that “We all may be one” Kevin

  4. Adding a dedicated Jesuit like Xavier to their calendar is an admission of the reality of the Papacy.

    Amen
    First steps toward reunification?
    Praise Jesus

  5. Neither is holiness limited to Catholicism. A saint is a saint, is a saint…and so ad infinitum; the more bona fide saints, the better.
    We need all the holy intercession we can get.

  6. I as a cradle Roman Catholic and amateur historian have a reverent fondness for King Charles the Martyr, the only formally canonized saint of the Anglican Church. It has been said that the purity of his life, and duty to his vocation of King was a spiritual compensation of sorts for the venal Henry VIII, who caused the tragedy of the English reformation.

  7. Interesting. They are fantastic role models, and I am happy for the Anglicans. However, I still stick to the belief that the Catholic Church should copyright Saints and Holidays so they can make a fortune. Copycats. Just kidding!!

  8. Courtney and Juan, if you follow the discussion on this site, there is no reason not to add Therese of Lisieux when this site discusses the October saints in order to present names for the revision.

    John, to clarify, Francis Xavier is not being added. He is already there. Ignatius of Loyola is also on the Church of England calendar. I presume, with your interest, that you have read “The gift of Authority“.

  9. God created us all, therefore, we are all his children. So the saints should be recognized as the Church of England is doing. Thanks be to God

  10. Marco Antonio Rosas

    I think that holiness is not reserved to the Roman Catholics. Also, the Anglicans come from the first missionary efforts in IV Centurty England, that is where English Christianity began not after the Reformation of Henry VIII. I am a Mexican Anglican or Episcopalian, proud mof the Catholic tradition of the Anglicvan Communion as well as proud of the Refomation that also hasinfluenced our liturgy and theological practices. Even non Christians can be named holy. What really matters is the testimony of life and their deeds.

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