Whenever I check my blog stats, I automatically scan the search phrases that lead people into the light (a.k.a. the Sunshine). Some strange ones have been in the list, some so odd they would make any redhead blush. Here’s one from this week that I found intriguing, a search for “the patron saint of Multiple Sclerosis.”
I found this to be very interesting; interesting enough to do some digging. Apparently there isn’t a specific saint associated with M.S.; however there is a patron saint of neurological diseases: St. Bartholomew the Apostle.
To add to the interesting-factor, I searched for this information on June 11th, which in turn is the date St. Bartholomew is memorialized each year in Eastern churches (enter spooky music here). St. Bartholomew is also the patron saint of tanners (as in animal hide tanners, not sun worshippers) because historic representations indicated he was flayed alive and crucified hanging upside down. Most photographic renditions of the Saint show him with his own skin hanging over his one arm. It’s a natural correlation then for Bartholomew to be the patron saint of tanners, and butchers, and leather workers, and shoemakers, but neurologic diseases like M.S.? He is apparently called upon in times of demonic possessions, too. Perhaps we with neurologic diseases are possessed?
I’m calling on my Catholic readers here to help draw the correlation here for me and for our readers.
Countdown to Tysabri: Four More Days…
I’d not heard of this saint associated with MS before…only St. Lydwina of the Netherlands, the first(possibly) documented case of what appears to have been MS. She lived in the late 1300s and died decades after suffering a fall while ice skating. She was bedridden for most of the rest of her life, had great pain, and didn’t eat for the last several years before her death. Depending on the accounts you read, she may have had some paralysis off and on, too. She’s also the patron saint of skaters.
S.
In Greater Armenia it was typical for executions to include flaying, but I don’t think it is typical to remember the deceased without his skin. Maybe this image was associated with Bartholomew because on his initial meeting with Jesus, when Bartholomew openly recognized Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus recognized Bartholomew as “an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile!” In other words, Bartholomew had “nothing to hide” or you might say “you could see right through him.”
I would guess that he is pictured with the tanner’s knife to show that he is the master of it– by his faith he conquered death–and by extension he does not fear the blade that killed him. And maybe he can be thought to have empathy with an animal that is skinned this way; he might be an example to tanners to be compassionate and make sure their prey does not suffer before they are skinned.
His being the patron saint of neurological disorders might come from the fact that he was a doctor, and as a minister of Christ he cured paralysis and lunacy (a.k.a. demonic possession), both of which are associated with the brain and nervous system. Finally, this is probably a stretch, but don’t MS sufferers experience tingling sensations? Doesn’t that sort of feel like your skin is crawling?
Anyway, that’s my armchair analysis.
With 4 days leading up to a dose of Tysabri, I’d be looking up patron saints, too
I’m not religious, but either way I’m not sure I’d find comfort in the sight of the poor guy flayed and crucified.
Whenever I search for “campath blogs”, google leads me to you. I’m 3 months post-campath, the pneumonia was the worst of it. (besides the infusion reactions)
Waiting for my blood results to come back, so far, so good. Platelets are almost back to normal (people had bled to death before); lymphocytes still low but I haven’t had any infections in awhile. I have a little more energy, some good walking days. Some bad days, too, but no real relapses. Best of luck w/ Tysabri! Thanks for sharing.
kristin
http://saints.sqpn.com/stb06001.htm
This link shows Recognized Miraculous Cures @ Lourdes ‘
Scroll down the dates til you get to May 1950 (the first I see) and there are a pile of MS cured as recognized miraculous in the Church. I think the last one was 1987.
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There is a school of thought about the Apostles, …….and all of us. The Father in Heaven sent them to Christ.
Christ chose each, and the cumulative characteristics of the Apostles are a representation of the characteristics within each of us.
I recall the first time I read this in 1991 by Terry Helwig and it has been on my mind since. With twelve months and 12 disciples, Helwig took the first day of each month to explain the characteristics for each apostle. A simple glimpse into your own heart would then let you easily see what characteristic of each apostle resides within you.
Helwig maintains that the Twelve Disciples are in each of us.
For example, Andrew, the first Apostle was a Bringer.
—”And he brought him to Jesus”……
—John 1:42
Helwig wrote:
“It was Andrew, the first disciple, who brought his brother Simon Peter to meet Jesus. It was Andrew who brought the boy with loaves and fishes, which later fed 5,000. It was Andrew who brought to Jesus a group of Greeks. It seems Andrew was a bringer
My stepfather was a bringer too! From the time I was four
I called him “Daddy.” Daddy brought me to an overlook revealing the majestic, white-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Daddy brought me to the edge of the Pecos River in Texas, where we camped beneath falling stars. It was Daddy who woke me one night and walked me through the dew covered grass in the backyard and pointed to the sky. I looked up and saw a bright star almost resting on the tip of the crescent moon. “That’s Venus!”, he admired. “It won’t line up with the moon like this for many years.”
Daddy was a bringer. Perhaps that is why in my adult life I feel God’s Presence so keenly in nature. Daddy helped me to know and love the world God created.
The thread of Andrew, woven within me, seems to be the thread of bringing. Perhaps this month, we can all be bringers, bringing others closer to God. There are many ways we can do this: by expressing words of comfort, by inviting someone to our home or church, or by sharing something meaningful with one another.
I think I’ll share my appreciation of nature. Perhaps I’ll bring someone to the backyard and show them the fragrant blooms on the magnolia tree, or maybe I’ll show them the dip in the driveway that forms rainwater into a heart shaped puddle, or my secret hiding place in the woods where I love to pray: “Heavenly Father, today help me to bring at least one other person closer to You.
—-Terry Helwig
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My library is across the country; I miss my books and love to reread my favorites often. Terry Helwig was a favorite; for when I read her in 1991, it was a cataclysmic year in my life.
I suspect that each person who comes to Sunshine and Moonlight is familiar with cataclysmic events coming suddenly into their life, and altering their forever….forever.
She spoke of Bartholomew too. Indeed, all twelve in 12 months,…. and the thread in her life that runs from that apostle into her life. That’s why they were chosen! The Twelve are in all of us.
On June 11, 2008, I was at Villa in Erie, PA, and the huge booksale they have there with Friends of the Library raising money and BRINGING it to the library to help. I was walking through one section and…there was Terry Helwig. My book from 1991 and only available to me 3,000 miles from here, was available to me last Wednesday, St. Bartholomew the Apostle’s Day,….for 50 cents.
So I wrote about Helwig’s words on Andrew because he was first disciple. I am not one to ram religion down anyone’s throat. I prefer to simply speak about what I have learned and invite any who want to learn what I learned….or not. In the event that this post is in line with Sunlight and Moonlight, I would be happy to post (on this post) once each month and give all of you the gift Terry Helwig gave me when I needed it most.
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The first section above was simply off Google; the second was a gift from Terry Helwig. But I believe that we each need to go to the source and find what it is we need to know about the truth on any given topic. For me, that is my Bible and I will peruse St. Bartholomew specifically and see if there is anything to see……about his relationship to MS and neurological diseases. The Bible is clearly the best source for me to locate truth. but this post was a quest to hear from Catholics on their beliefs in Patron Saints and why they represent what they represent.
Locally, there is a fine resource available to do that, for all.
Father Larry Richards runs Bread of Life/ St. Joseph’s on 23rd and Sassafrass (or is it 24th?).
Richards writes on his blog at Reason For our Hope.
http://www.thereasonforourhope.org/
At the top center (in red), you will find “Links”.
These will take you to the Vatican directly (choose English under Holy See) and many others links. This will give you direct answers to questions on the Church and doctrine.
For reference to the Bible, I like Bible Gateway link.
You can choose a font you can actually read; find any version of the Bible in the world; come to any passage in moments or a phrase can be used (or topic). This is a great resource for anyone seeking info via the Bible.
Finally, in the second line at the top, Richards places “Prayer Request” near the center/right (yellow line).
In the chapel at Bread of Life, two people gather every hour to pray for any request from anyone on anything.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week forever, two people are in that chapel praying. If the replacement does not show at the top of the hour (for any reason), those who are praying STAY and continue….until another praying person appears. There are NEVER less than two at prayer.
That is Biblical; Christ sent the disciples out in two’s.
And, the names of anyone who takes the time to write at Sunshine and Moonlight as well as the author of the blog, are already in continuous prayer at this site.
St. Dymphna is a patron saint of nuerological diseases, mental illness and insanity. Why she is saint for both a disease and insanity is a bit like St. Bartholomew doing double duty for the demonically possesed and nuerological diseases. Although having to deal with M.S. does sometimes drive me to the brink of insanity. I wish that the Catholic church regarded M.S. with enough respect to garner its own saint, I mean there’s even a saint for the internet. I kid not its St. Isidore of Seville.
Well, I guess we can nominate Kim for patron saint of MS. She has a couple of miracles under her belt: her apple pie and her hostess skills. I am an eye witness.
I like the sound of it Gayle! St. Sunshine…
This is the first I’ve heard of a saint associated with MS, and he was a tanner?
I do love the smell of leather