Augustine Institute - Newly Accredited

Another Roman Catholic distance learning school has received its accreditation:

Accreditation affirms school's excellence

 

Good for them. Looks like a nice place for Roman Catholics.

Just curious. From their website: "We [were] inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization..." I haven't seen that phrasing before: "Saint Pope..." Is it traditional?

 

It is traditional for when a person is sainted by the Catholic Church. You'll also find "Pope Saint's" listed.

 

I have more commonly seen LearningAddict's construction than Augustine Insitute's. That is, "Pope Saint ___" seems to be normative (at least in English).

Perhaps, others have more insights into the matter?

 

I don't know... I never heard "Saint Pope Leo the Great" or "Saint Pope Gregory the Dialogist", or "Saint Pope Apostle Peter I", but I guess all of these are legitimate Catholic titles.

 

I just figured it had to be right, no matter how odd it sounded -- after all, how could an RA Catholic university get Catholic titles wrong? :smile:

I Googled - and sure enough, there are plenty of St. Pope John Paul II elementary schools, high schools etc. Lots of references to St. Pope John I and others, too. Also "Pope Saint" title in many places, too.

Oh, my! How did we ever learn about religious matters before the Internet? :jester:

J.

 

Brings up my favourite conspiracy theory - those sadly-mistaken folks who believe the Internet is only a couple of dozen years old. :smile:

J.

 

For starters, let me just say that I've heard of the Augustine Institute and kudos to them for receiving accreditation. If I recall correctly they considered an NA bid much earlier in their existence. But ATS, for what they do especially, is a solid fit.

Next, "Saint Pope" is not common in the vernacular but it is completely appropriate in the context of the Catholic Church. In Catholic theology, "Saint" described anyone who is in heaven. The canonized saints are simply those recognized by the Vatican as having made the cut. There are very few church granted titles that are as resilient as the title "Pope." Priests who are later canonized typically drop the "Father" in favor of "Saint." So, "Saint Maximilian Kolbe" rather than "Saint Father Maximilian Kolbe." A notable exception to this would be St. Padre Pio. Though, officially, I believe he was canonized as "Saint Pio."

It sounds a bit clunky. But I'd place it along the same lines as a British officer who also holds a knighthood (i.e. Colonel Sir David Stirling).

When I was in high school there was an academic award called the "Saint Pope Pius X Award." They gave it away for being awesome in religion classes, doing a lot of community service and some other stuff. I wasn't, and am not, Catholic so I wasn't even in the running. Oh, and the sins.

 

Interesting. In Eastern Orthodox (and I'm pretty sure Byzantine Catholic as well) there are classes of saints. Maximillian Kolbe would be Hieromartyr, "hiero" referring to him being a priest. A Confessor is one one who suffered for the faith, Equal-to Apostles is someone who brought large group of people to Christ (usually, a nation - so they are usually rulers, though St. Patrick would be one), Venerable is a monastic, Holy Unmercenary is a faith healer (who healed with the power of Holy Spirit and did not accept payment for healing), etc. It's a neat system.

I suppose it also serves to further identify the saint, as papal names are usually chosen in honor of a saint, and therefore there are several saints named St. Pius (including at least one other Pope).