UNCOVER THE SAINTS HIDDEN BY TIME
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In medio stat virtus
Stephen John Langton (1150 – 1228) – The Magna Carta Saint
Stephen John Langton was an English Cardinal and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1207 to1228, a key figure in the conflict between King John and Pope Innocent III, and a major forcebehind the drafting of the Magna Carta in 1215. The charter curbed King John's power andprotect the English Church 's rights, embodying ideals of limited government and freedom fromillegal imprisonment. Langton mediated between the king and rebellious barons, incorporatingthe Charter of Liberties and Old Testament principles of justice into the document, limitingroyal authority and establishing the rule of law ensuring fair treatment and justice for thepeople. He is also widely credited with dividing the Bible into the standard chapters used today,a development that made the text more accessible for study and citation. Langton alsopromoted the schola chant tradition and composed the famous hymn Veni SancteSpiritus. Learn more here…
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Relationship with King John
King John opposed Langton's selection as Archbishop by Pope Innocent III, leading to a political crisis, an Interdict (ban on church services), and Langton's inability to enterEngland until 1213.
Role with the Magna Carta
After his return, Langton aligned with English barons against theking, playing an instrumental role in forcing King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215. He alsoensured that the Charter of Liberties of Henry I was incorporated into John's coronation oath. Langton's actions significantly influenced the balance of power between the Church andthe monarchy and helped establish limitations on royal authority in England.
Inclusion of Past Charters
He inserted provisions from King Henry I’s Charter ofLiberties into the document, which established a voluntary limitation on royal powerand addressed abuses like excessive taxation.
Contributions to the Bible and Sacred Music
Chapter Divisions: Langton divided the Latin Vulgate Bible into chapters. Accessibility: This division was intended to make the Bible easier to read, study, andquote, laying the foundation for the chapter and verse system used in modern Bibles.Schola chant: He also composed the popular Latin hymn Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Biblical Basis
Langton drew on his deep knowledge of the Bible to support his ideas forjust rule, incorporating the concept that rulers should be subject to the law.
Commitment and Support for the Charter
Stephen Langton strongly supported the Magna Carta. He helped settle disputes between the king and the barons and even disobeyed the Pope’s order to excommunicate the rebels. During King Henry III’s early reign, he worked to keep the Charter alive and even used church power to defend it.
Limiting Royal Power
Langton was an outspoken critic of what he saw as oppressive kingship, and he promoted the idea that the king's power should be limited by the law, not above it. The charter included clauses that restricted the king's power by regulatingthe levying of fines, ensuring church rights, and protecting barons from illegalimprisonment.
Covenantal Kingships
Langton aimed to establish a & quot;covenant of liberties" where theking's rule was based on established law, mirroring biblical models of kingship, such asthe written laws of ancient Israel.
Rule of Law
The charter established the principle that no one, including the king, was above the law.
Protecting Rights and Due Process
Magna Carta protected fundamental rights, including the Church’s freedom, and guaranteed access to swift and impartial justice, freeing people from illegal imprisonment. Langton's work emphasized principles that would evolve into due process, guaranteeing swift and impartial justice and ensuring that punishments were fair and not overly punitive.
A Precursor to Modern Rights
While not intended as a document of universal rights forall people, the Magna Carta's foundational principle that even the ruler is subject tothe law—laid the groundwork for later human rights documents and the development of constitutional law.
CAMPAIGNS FOR CANONIZATION START HERE
STEPS TO SAINTHOOD
Servant of God
A formal request for canonization is made to consider a deceased person for sainthood. If the bishop believes there is enough evidence, he asks the Vatican for permission to open a tribunal and call witnesses. If the candidate passes, he or she is named a “Servant of God
Venerable
The bishop sends a formal report to Rome where it is reviewed by the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. Once a candidate has been determined to be virtuous and heroic in his or her faith, he or she is declared “Venerable.
Blessed
A candidate may be beatified and named “Blessed” if he or she was a martyr or a verified miracle was brought about through a person’s intercession of the candidate. At this point, he or she can be venerated in his or her city, diocese, region, or religious community.
Saint
If a second miracle is verified, the Prefect of the Congregation may send a cause for canonization to the pope who makes the final decision to officially declare the person a “Saint.
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REMEMBER! RESTORE! RENEW!.
At VENERABILIS, we seek to uncover those hidden lives of virtue and restore their voices, so that their example may inspire faith, hope, and charity.
WHO WE ARE
We work to gather public support, submit petitions to bishops, and ignite devotion, ensuring that forgotten witnesses of faith are remembered, honored, and imitated.
We are sustained by three enduring pillars:
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Faith that perseveres steadfast in truth and conviction.
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Hope that remembers keeping alive the voices history has overlooked.
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Charity that moves hearts inspiring love in action for God and neighbor.
