Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Today's Saint:

Sometimes even saints fail, as the story of St. Ansgar (b. 801) reminds us. The "apostle of the north" spent much of his life trying to bring the faith to Denmark and Sweden. Along the way, he faced harships with funding his missionary efforts, was captured by pirates, and saw his northern apostolate burned to the ground by invading Northmen. Meanwhile, Sweden returned to paganism after his death and did not embrace Christianity until two centuries later.

It's a sobering lesson for those of us who are trying, in our own little way, to change the church's teaching on homosexuality -- but also encouraging. It may sound corny to say it, but what matters is less the result we achieve than our willingness to stand up and fight the good fight. God will take care of the rest in his own time and his own way.

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