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> Phyllis Jestice wrote: I plan to give my wealth (what there is of it)
> to the
> poor after I die, but rather doubt anyone will try to canonize
> me Bill East wrote: You never know. I'm sure all the members of the
> list would promote your cause. "St Phyllis of the List" - I like it.

Respondeo:

Beneath all this badinage there is a serious point. Your chances of becoming a saint are greatly enhanced if you have a support group to promote your cause. That is why so many saints are members of religious orders: any moderately-holy Dominican, for example, has the entire Order or Preachers taking up the cudgels in his or her cause. We see this among the medieval masters of the sacred page. Thomas Aquinas, Albertus Magnus, and a score of other Dominicans; Bonaventure among the Franciscans. How many secular masters became saints? (No doubt some member of the list has done some work on this.)

So, Phyllis, if you have the entire med-rel list backing you, your cause is looking good.

The support-group principle is also important in another area which concerns us as medievalists: that of editions. Aquinas has been well served by the Dominicans, Bonaventure by the Franciscans. Again, how many fine editions do we have of the works of secular masters? Someone will know.

Bill.