Antidote to our Toxic Culture

Is there a way to mitigate against the polarizing, toxic culture we live in, the culture that daily imposes itself on our children? I think there is. The antidote is found in an ancient proverb:

“The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” ~ Proverbs 10:7

What if, each week, you spent a few minutes reading about a recognized hero of the church, going as far back as the early fathers of the faith through the present time?  If you’re like me, you’d wonder, who are these heroes? Not simply the contemporary ones, but those from ancient church. And, once found, where do I go to get a short biography of their life, a picture of what makes them stand out as inspirational, as models worth following? *

Many of these heroes are identified as saints. What did they do that has led to this distinction, this honor?

One writer puts it this way:

The one essential condition in the life of every saint which made it possible for the life of heaven to begin on earth was the one which we seek so madly to avoid, the one universal fact which faces every single soul on earth- suffering. They weren’t angel-faced, spineless people. They were human, of flesh and blood. Very human at times, beaten, wounded, scarred, for saints always bear the stigmata of their Lord. When they were persecuted, what did they do? They returned love, invincible, divine love, purified of self, and in union with their crucified Lord, they received their foretaste of Heaven. This is the mystery of the cross. The saints got their love on Calvary. That is where you and I must get it too.   

                                                                                     ~ The Presence by Berthold von Schenk

As you finalize your curriculum for this upcoming school year, consider including the saints!

Thanks for reading!

Curt Bumcrot, MRE

*One book that features one-to-two page biographies of the saints is Celebrating the Saints by William Weedon. I highly recommend it.

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There’s still time to sign up for one of final three remote group tests. The test dates are:

August 30 – September 6 – September 13

Click HERE to learn more and register.