Does the Catholic faith believe that dragons existed? if not, why do you revere saints whose miracles included

Question

the slaying of dragons?

note - In order for the Catholic faith to recognize someone as a Saint they are supposed to preform three miracles and die a martyr's death. Mother Teresa only performed two and died of old age, why is she a saint?

Meg M

St. George for one

Answer 1

Saints are people in heaven or on their way to heaven. All Christians dead and alive are saints.

The Catholic Church selects some of the most extraordinary examples, does in-depth research, and canonizes them.

"By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors."

The Latin word for a dragon, draco (genitive: draconis), actually means snake or serpent, emphasizing the European association of dragons with snakes, not lizards or dinosaurs as they are commonly associated with today.

The Medieval Biblical interpretation of the Devil being associated with the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve, thus gave a snake-like dragon connotations of evil.

The demonic opponents of God, Christ, or good Christians have commonly been portrayed as reptilian or chimeric.

What Saint George actually killed we probably will never know this side of heaven. It may have been a 30 foot anaconda-like snake, a 20 foot crocodile, or a now extinct species about which we know nothing.

Does it really matter?

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Firstly the dragon is a symbol of the devil and Saints are considered holy because they have fought against him and led holy lives, secondly there has been no Catholic Saint who has worked a miracle as only God can do this, it is more proper to say that God performed a miracle through their petition and prayers.
Lastly I recommend that you read the life of Mother Teresa who gave up her comfortable lifestyle when young to minister to the poor and rejected in life, there are stories for example of her lifting new born babies out of refuse bins after they had been dumped by poor and starving Mothers who could not feed them and she cared for them, many times too she cleaned lepers and sick and dying human beings.
Now what harm is it to you if she is declared a Saint? and have you ever done as much for your fellow human beings?

Answer 3

Dragons are metaphorical symbols that represent the saint's ability to overcome chthonic powers. Many of the legendary stories of the saints are meant to be interpreted theologically rather than literally. They are theological narratives, not historical accounts. Further, the declaration of saints in accords with evidence from miracles is a fairly recent phenomena. It is not so much a legal inquiry, as much as it is a spiritual process that includes an attentiveness to and consideration of possible supernatural signs.

Answer 4

First of all, Mother Teresa is not a saint...yet. And she doesn't have to "perform miracles" someone has to be healed because of asking for her intercession.

And the requirement is only two miracles. And these have to be verified by the Vatican, by doctors and psychiatrists. If the person is healed of an illness it has to be for at least a year (or maybe two...I can't remember) and it has to be such that medicine cannot explain the healing. It is all documented and carefully administrated. It's not something done on a whim.

Answer 5

Saints are sinners who fall down and get back up again.They are saved by the blood of Jesus and not by works lest any man should boast.The catholic cult is of the Antichrist and needs be recognized as such.Recently the pope disagreed with one of their saints and if caused confusion within.Then it was decided that since it was the pope and he was sitting in the Apostle Peters old chair he had to be right and the saint wrong.go figure that one out.

And since I have gone this far mother Teresa done nothing that I am aware for the gospel of Christ.She was without a doubt the greatest humanitarian that ever lived.

Answer 6

Name me one CANONIZED saint whose OFFICIALLY recognized miracles include the slaying of a dragon, and include sources.

Answer 7

You are mis-informed. One does NOT needt o die a martyr's death. http://www.catholic-pages.com/saints/process.asp

Mother Teresa is not a saint yet---she is merely 'blessed'.