I've lurked a bit now and then on this forum, but it's been a while since I last poked my nose in here. Since when has this daily posting of Saints started? Not to undermine the significance of these people's contributions, but it does make it more difficult to scan the forum questions.

Just my opinion, but perhaps this sort of thing would be better suited elsewhere? I know that sounds a bit harsh, but from what I've seen there aren't many responses at all to the postings, and this information can be gotten elsewhere, unlike the unique discussion that goes on here in this forum.

-- rw (person@earth.com), September 26, 2004

Answers

Jmj

An abbreviated form of the above comment was posted on one of the specific "saints/blesseds of the day" threads. I'm sure that my friend David (David@excite.com) will not mind if I quote here his reply to "rw" on that thread ...

"..Since when has this daily posting of saints started?" If you have to ask a question like that, than this shows you haven't been "lurking" too long around here.
If it bothers you that much, then I have a simple solution to your problem. Don't read the threads, because they are titled "todays saints and blesseds".

And now, I will myself address the points you tried to raise, "rw."

You wrote: "I've lurked a bit now and then on this forum, but it's been a while since I last poked my nose in here."

In my opinion, if you have merely "lurked a bit now and then" -- as opposed to contributing thousands of messages over the course of two to five years, as some folks here have done -- you have not yet earned the right to be so critical of others' threads -- or to demand that the forum take on a configuration that would please you. I consider your starting this thread to be quite an act of arrogance, under the circumstances. You didn't even bother to ask the purpose of the saints/blessed threads. You didn't ask if others like them or reap a spiritual profit from them.

You wrote: "Since when has this daily posting of Saints started?"

My dear "rw" ... when was the last time you lurked here -- more than three years ago???
The posting of the original versions of the "daily saints" threads began in August of 2001, and the lists went through very frequent updates in 2002 and 2003. [You can see the 365 old threads here.]
Late in June of 2004, because of many additions and corrections, I began to post a complete new series of daily threads. (I will probably never post another new series, but will update this new set as future beatifications and canonizations take place.) You can see the growing list of 90+ new threads here.

You wrote: "Not to undermine the significance of these people's contributions, but it does make it more difficult to scan the forum questions."

I will simply flat-out contradict you by saying that the daily threads do NOT "make it more difficult to scan the forum questions." You cannot offer a convincing argument to the contrary. As David explained, you can simply skip past these threads on the "Recent Answers" queue, and skipping past them would take you just a second or two per day. I simply cannot think of any reason for you to make this attack except that (1) you may be an anti- Catholic who hates the Catholic practice of veneration of saints, or (2) perhaps I refuted some error of yours in the distant past and this may be your way of seeking vengeance.

You wrote: "Just my opinion, but perhaps this sort of thing would be better suited elsewhere".

Please read about the purposes of the forum, "rw," and study the more than seven years of archived threads. You'll find that this is not a "one-dimensional" site. It is not a place where only the discussion of controversial topics take place. It is also a place where information has been shared, where prayers have been sought and promised, where advice has been sought and given, where threads in the nature of "spiritual aids" have been started, etc.. In keeping with the multi-dimensional form of the site, the daily saints/blessed threads continue to be posted -- mainly as spiritual helps.

Each day, these threads make some "regulars" and "lurkers" aware of wonderful people about whom they never knew before. Each day, they make readers marvel at the sacrifices others have made -- people who can be role models for us. Each day, they offer readers a chance to make a comment about one or more of the heroic people listed (their patron saints or otherwise). Each day, they offer each of us a chance to pray a unique "litany of saints." [As I proofread each thread just before posting it, I say, "St. A___, pray for us ... Bl. B___, pray for us. ... Etc.] I'll bet that other folks have found still more ways to use these threads.

You wrote: "I know that sounds a bit harsh, but from what I've seen there aren't many responses at all to the postings ..."

I consider the relative shortage of responses to be irrelevant. The value of a thread cannot be measured by the number of its responses. Moreover, as I mentioned above, this is not solely a conversational or debating forum. On some threads, zero or few responses are to be expected.

You wrote: "... this information can be gotten elsewhere, unlike the unique discussion that goes on here in this forum."

Here you make two errors:

(1) This precise information CANNOT "be gotten elsewhere." This forum's lists of saints and blesseds are formed from the "union" of lists found at multiple sites. There is no other Internet site's lists that are as complete (in terms of number of daily names) as this forum's lists. Moreover, the lists at other sites have either less information -- or [more often] a lot more information -- about each saint/blessed than the "micro-biographies" at this forum have. I tried to find a "happy medium" for readers of the lists, so that they would really know a little something about each hero -- but without being burdened by a great deal of detail.

(2) Contrary to what you stated, the "discussion that goes on here in this forum" is far from "unique." There are more than ten other active Catholic discussion forums wherein you can find similar "discussion." [The physical format here is unique, but not "the discussion."] If the saints/blesseds threads make you so unhappy here, "rw," I suggest that you track down those many other Catholic forums and find one that you like better than this one.

God bless you.
John

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 26, 2004.

rw, For what it's worth, I enjoy the Saints threads even though I may not post on them very often. Just because there are few posts does not mean there is no benefit gained. I think that they are a blessing to read, but the nature of the thread is not a question/discussion or debate, so there may be nothing to add. Occasionally I will ask a question, and I think you will find that Mr. Gecik is very knowledgeable or resourceful in finding answers on especially topics regarding the Saints.

Thank you John for all your work on the Saints threads. I for one appreciate reading them! God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), September 26, 2004.

I enjoy and look forward to the daily Saints/Blessed threads,In reading this thread i will sometimes look deeper into one of the Saints lives and find myself completely taken by there lives. I would have to say that yes this thread is very beneficial and am glad that J F Gecik takes his time to bring this to us daily. And just because a reply isn't always left,it does not mean the thread hasn't been read numerous times. God bless all who are inspired by are Saints. PAX VOBISCUM

-- Andrew m Tillcock (drewmeister7@earthlink.net), September 26, 2004.

I've got to agree with Emily, Andrew and I suspect many more. While I don't read every "Saints," post, I check them out from time to time, for various different reasons and find them interesting and informative. I don't think a week goes by that I don't check once or twice to see who is on the listing. I like knowing a bit about these exceptional people. They shouldn't be forgotten.

-- Jim (furst@flash.net), September 26, 2004.

I think they are a valuable part of this forum. It's great to have it come up every day as inspiration for us all.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), September 26, 2004.

John,

Do you rember about 2.5-3 years ago a guy named " Sam/Lance posted this same exact post? I wouldn't be suprised if it were him.

-- - (David@excite.com), September 26, 2004.

Settle... after all it's just my *opinion*. I'm not demanding the forum change to suit my style, I just thought I'd bring it up to see if anyone else shared my view. Obviously not, from the responses.

No, I'm not anti-Catholic, I'm simply a comment on the *readability* of the forum. Nothing at all to do with the content.

-- rw (person@earth.com), September 26, 2004.

John: It is good to hear from you, aside from your daily posts about the Saints and Blesseds. I miss your posts about clarifications on certain subjects pertaining to the Catholic Faith, where you are so well versed.

The thread about the Saints is is very useful to make the reflection St. Augustine used to make: QUOD ISTI ET ISTAE, CUR NON EGO? = What these men and women attained, what is to stop me from attaing it also? (Rough translation of the Latin phrase)

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 27, 2004.

Jmj

Dear Emily, Andrew, Jim, GT, David, and Enrique,
I am moved to tears by your support. I am so glad that I have made the effort to post the threads.

Yes, David, I do remember that amazingly similar thread from late in 2001, started by "Sam" (I believe), who appeared to be "Lance" (the self-styled "reiki master") in disguise. He may have been reincarnated now as "rw" (reiki wizard?). That 2001 thread and this one are the only attacks that have ever been made on the saints/blessed threads. It could be just too much of a coincidence.

Thank you, my longtime friend Enrique, for your praise and for that wonderful quotation from St. Augustine, which I had never read before. "QUOD ISTI ET ISTAE, CUR NON EGO?" Your translation indeed expresses the concept. The Latin literally means, "What those men and those women [did], why not I?" Yet how woefully I fall short in virtue and willingness to suffer! I am suddenly reminded of how, not long ago, I told a Catholic friend that I would probably never visit him in his predominantly Moslem nation, partly because of the danger of my being killed by anti-Americans there. Is this how St. Francis Xavier and some of today's martyrs looked at it? May God give me more fortitude.

And may he bless us all.
John
PS: No, "rw." It was well-explained that there was no validity in your comment about "readability," so there was no point in your mentioning it again. Perhaps you are making the mistake of starting daily at the home page, instead of at the recent answers page -- and this is giving you a very wrong impression about "readability."

-- J. F. Gecik ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 28, 2004.

Well; everybody is on a Latin kick. So:

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis ad capul tuum saxum immane mittam.

Meaning: I have a catapult. Give me all the money or I will fling an enormous rock at your head. Lol!

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), September 28, 2004.

I'm just glad to see John post! I won't go on about why John should post more.

Thanks, John.

.......................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), September 28, 2004.

John I really appreciate what you do too. I don't look at them every day, but I like to see the sheer number and variety of people who have been raised to the altars. Yes you're right you can't easily get this info elsewhere in such a readable form.

I think we should celebrate our saints more. Each year during the Easter Vigil, amid all the celebrations of Christ's Resurrection, do you know what really makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end? The Litany of the Saints. Hearing the roll-call of those holy men and women from every country and every century from the first to the 20th, asking all of them to pray for us, makes me realize just what it means to be a member of the Catholic Church, which has lasted despite everything right through 2000 years of history.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), September 29, 2004.

Eugene: dic mihi ubi et qomodo mittam tibi pecuniam meam ut saxum non projicias ad caput (non capul) meum.

Domminus te et omnes nos benedicat!!

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 29, 2004.

Thank you, John, for giving the exact translation of St. Augustine words. By the way at present I am giving a course in elementary Latin to some Law students in Oaxaca University. Since Latin is so much used in Western Laws (after all Roman Law is the basis for it) they asked me for that course and gladly I accepted.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 29, 2004.

John, you are right in that I am finding the forum hard(er) to read when viewed from the home page - the "recent answers" page is easier to visually filter (I never realised this). But I still hold by my view that it's harder to scan the "new postings" page.

Truthfully, I never intended to attack the thread content. And I'm not he/she/it who had posted something similar before - I only found out about this forum through my (Catholic) wife a few months ago.

-- rw (person@earth.com), September 29, 2004.

Thanks John! Those posts helped my husband and I choose a patron Saint for our son. I wouldn't have known where to start on my own. There are so many to choose from ! We chose St John the Apostle ! Not to mention we just love to read them. It's pretty interesting stuff ! Thanks again !

Enrique......I am "Latin dumb" ! I have enough trouble with English ! Hahaha.....My 15 year old daughter is the language buff in our house. She took Spanish 1 last year and Spanish 2 this year and studies it online and in books and when we go eat at Ameca she can now converse easily with the staff in their language. Now that she is fluent in Spanish she is going to start French. She said after she learns French she is going to learn German. I wish I knew someone around here that could teach her Latin. It is a beautiful language.

Have a great day Ya'll !

Thanks and glory be to God !

-- Suzanne (james-betsy@sbcglobal.net), September 29, 2004.

J.F.Gecik,Just keep up the inspiring posts. (If you post it they will come) Peace...........

-- Andrew m Tillcock (drewmeister7@earthlink.net), September 29, 2004.

+
Andrew,
I will turn your words around and say that your post is "inspiring." You give me enthusiasm and impel me forward. This time, I thank Rod, Steve, Enrique, and Suzanne for their kindness.

I was especially moved, Suzanne, by your mention of your son's [and my] baptismal patron saint. Enrique, you provide a great service by your teaching. I studied Latin for nine years (intending to teach it), but never entered your noble profession. Instead, I will be retiring tomorrow night from a different career with which I have been blessed for almost thirty years. Please say a little prayer that I may do only what is pleasing to God in my coming "senior" years.

God bless you.
John

-- ("jgecik@hotmail.com), September 29, 2004.

John,

You are a very blessed man to be able to retire so young in age and have great health, and not to mention you still look like you are in your early 40's built like a powerhouse.

I pray for you and yours.

-- - (David@excite.com), September 29, 2004.

rw-

I know what you mean, I didn't discover the "recent answers" page for quite somem time after finding this site. I really can understand how it might look to you if you only see the new posts.

No offence taken from your post. Now you know a better way to view this forum. I had the same experience.

-- Jim (furst@flash.net), September 29, 2004.

http://www.latin.org/english/index.shtml

Dear Suzanne: here is one of multiple websites where you can learn Latin. Your daughter will find many links and even easy reading selections in Latin. I reccomend her to learn Latin before French or other Languages. Once you know Latin learning Italian, Portuguese, French , Catalonian and many other languages becomes very easy. There are even Radio Stations that broadcast the daily news in Latin 24 hours a day.

Some people think that Latin is a dead Language. No way! There is a trend worldwide to make Latin, as it was in Europe up the XVI and XVII century, the language of Scholars, Philosophers,Teachers, Poets, Writers, Students and just curious people. Imagine going to study in different countries without having to learn different Languages! There are newspapers and magazines published in Latin in almost every country in Europe.

Faciamus Linguam Latinam iterum Universalem!!!

Enrique

One of my students was very happy when he saw Mel Gibson picture THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST because he understood much of what was said in Latin and that motivated him to go on with his learning.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 30, 2004.

John:

It comes a time in every man's life when he has to make difficult decisions. When I retired ten years ago I thouhgt that my teaching days were over. But it so happened that one way or another, I'm still teaching, if not on a day to day basis, but on a time to time basis. I don't regret it in the least, but as long as my work can help others I'll go on doing it. Bless the Lord that He has granted me this opportunity, and may He bless those that make me feel I still have something useful to do.

I wish you a happy and plentiful retirement.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), September 30, 2004.

John G., Thank you for your posts. I too miss your regular contributions. God Bless, John

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), October 02, 2004.

Gecik,

I enjoy your "Saints" posts. Good Luck in your retirement. I found many of your posts very enlightening in spite of our differences.

Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), October 03, 2004.