Severed head of genital disease saint for sale in Ireland

David_1 · #1 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2011

LOL Catholics.

Maybe some of you sinners need to pray for this Saint to help ya! (*wink Wink*)

Severed head of genital disease saint for sale in Ireland - Republic of Ireland, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

By Jerome Reilly
Monday, 23 May 2011

Quote:

A decapitated head, said to be that of St Vitalis of Assisi, the patron saint of genital diseases, will be sold at an auction in Co Meath next Sunday.

The macabre object, which is housed in a Queen Anne case, is being sold by an Anglo-Irish family based in Co Louth and has a guide price of between €800 and €1,200.

Saint Vitalis of Assisi (there are a number of saints with the name Vitalis) was an Italian hermit and monk who died in 1370.

He became a saint despite an early life marked by licentiousness and immorality.

However, in an attempt to atone he went on pilgrimages to various sanctuaries.

On his return to Umbria, he became a Benedictine monk at Subiaco and later lived as a hermit. He spent the rest of his life in the hermitage of Santa Maria di Viole, near Assisi, in utter poverty.

His reputation for holiness soon spread after his death. He was known as a patron against sicknesses and diseases affecting the genitals.

How what is believed to be the saint's decapitated head came to Ireland is unclear.

Auctioneer Damien Matthews, who will sell the saint's severed head at auction at Annesbrook House in Duleek, Co Meath, says the current owners believed it was brought here by an Anglo-Irish couple who had acquired it on the 'grand tour' of Europe which was a ritual for ascendancy types during the 19th century.

For many years the ornate case with the skull housed inside it behind glass, had pride of place in the entrance hall of the current owner's home but when children arrived was stored in an old outhouse for many years.

"That's where I came across it. It is strange and it is macabre but it is very interesting object," said Mr Matthews.

The auction is on in the house next Sunday, May 29, at 3pm -- but items will be on view on Friday and Saturday from 11am-6pm.

"It's a fine country estate about seven miles from Slane, off the N2 motorway from Dublin (R152). There are over 400 lots with estimates ranging in value from €100 up to €30,000," he said.

Meridoc · #2 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2011

I still love the fact that to become a "Saint" the deceased person must perform 3 miracles, while dead. That's a pretty amazing feat, especially since we perform no miracles only God does.

David_1 · #3 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meridoc

I still love the fact that to become a "Saint" the deceased person must perform 3 miracles, while dead. That's a pretty amazing feat, especially since we perform no miracles only God does.

The Saint never performs the miracle.

People pray to the saint, as in asking the saint to ask God for help. The holiness of the person means they are closer to God.

Catholics don't teach that the saint performs the miracle.

Dude653 · #4 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2011

huh????????????????????????

Meridoc · #5 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_1

The Saint never performs the miracle.

People pray to the saint, as in asking the saint to ask God for help. The holiness of the person means they are closer to God.

Catholics don't teach that the saint performs the miracle.

Ok, misunderstood that one as it often seems to be suggested that way. Just a question why are people praying to the "saints", they were just humans like us. Jesus died to bridge the gap between us and the Father. We should be praying to our Father in Heaven and noone else. Prayer is part of worship and is meant for God alone.

AnandaHya · #6 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_1

The Saint never performs the miracle.

People pray to the saint, as in asking the saint to ask God for help. The holiness of the person means they are closer to God.

Catholics don't teach that the saint performs the miracle.

sounds like satanic demonic worship of idols and what Jesus was talking about when He said:

2 Thessalonians 2
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

David_1 · #7 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2011

Well guys, it's part of the original church. the Orthodox Christian faith, and the Roman Catholic Church which splintered from the Orthodox.

Can I ask guys, have you ever asked a person to pray for you or a loved one?

We have a prayer request forum here.

The Orthodox and Catholics, ask their fellow members to pray for them while they are alive, and also when their fellow Christians are departed.

They are not worshiping the Holy Saint. They are asking the Holy Saint to assist them in petitioning God.

It is traditional.

The protestants stating rejecting this, as part of their split from the Catholic Church.

But yet you still ask for people who are alive to pray for you.

I am not Orthodox or Catholic. I was baptized by a Wesleyan Church. But I understand why they do it, and I don't see it as idolatry.