"Saint. A dead sinner revised and edited."

- Ambrose Bierce (1842-1913) American Author, Editor, Journalist

Our recent trip really confirmed a thought I have held for a long time - that there is nothing more disruptive than to be declared a Saint. Despite the fact that to be Sainted means that you will be remembered and revered, the truth is that you can never have a real rest because it is the practice to chop off parts and store them in churches all over the world. To me this is just not that attractive a prospect. This was brought home to me in particular when we were in Siena, where St Catherine's preserved head looks out at you from a niche. The spotlighted face is fortunately about twenty feet from the visitor, so it does have a bit of mystery about it. It is not until walking away, where in a small glass case to the side is a reliquary displaying her preserved finger that the reality of the situation strikes home - it is just standing there upright in its case inches away, and all too real. I actually am not sure what the significance of this dismembered digit might be - but personally I would think that Catherine would have preferred to be all in one place, not mounted like a deer.

Which brings me to my point, It just seems to me that to be remembered as a really swell person who did nice things for people would be far better than to be Sainted. Not only that but it is far easier to attain, and you don't have to worry that your haircut is good when you pass away. So for now at least, I am going to be doing my very best to avoid Canonization.