In one sense such a phrase is rhetoric, not official recognition.
What lay in the Pope's mind as he wrote was perhaps the common tag
Sacerdos alter Christus (It is familiar to me but I do not know
where it comes from)
St Benedict says that the Abbot of a monastery `holds the place of
Christ' in the monastery, and monks have always recognised that as
trhue but an image (analogy), but with an edge of reality. In St
Francis there was a certain direct imitation of the Lord (Foxes
have holes, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head etc).
And there is a sense in which any saint is an alter Christus,
because she (sometimes even he) is a closer reflection of Christ
than the rest of us. So, if it comes to that, is (should be, so is
up to a point, any Christian, or one who in any way reflects the
model of Christ.
If your question requires specific texts, I have none to hand.
Somebody will, though.
Anselm Cramer OSB
[log in to unmask]
>I have a straightforward question that I hope someone on this wondrous list
>can answer. Francis of Assisi was designated alter Christus by Pius XI. Is
>he the only one to have received such official recognition?
>
>Thanks in advance - and thanks also for the Nick Cave reference. I wonder
>if the song resembles the melody which arose from deep within her!
>
>-Maeve
>
>
>
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