(no subject)

[thebitterguy]

Does anyone else find it indicative of the Catholic Church's sense of humour (at least during their third century glory days) that Saint Sebastian, the saint who was martyred by being shot full of arrows by a group of Roman soldiers* is the patron saint of archers?

Imagine getting to heaven and being handled THAT portfolio. "Hey, Seb! We've got some longbowmen going into battle today, and they're shooting you a lot of prayers. Maybe you can go give them a little divine puissance, eh?"

"Yeah, how about they go fuck themselves with their longbows sideways, instead?"

Isn't it a little ironic, though? A guy being designated the patron of the act that killed him? Especially if it wasn't, you know, his idea? Because I can totally see the guy who got blown apart by an explosion being the patron saint of demolitions teams.

* Although I read once that he survived the arrows so they beat him to death with clubs.

Comments

[bandersnitch.livejournal.com]

So if Sainthood was to carry today, would there be a Patron Saint of Careless Driving? Or the Patron Saint of "Hey Bubba, Watch this!"

Maybe more accurate to have a Patron Saint of I Didn't See That Coming.

[thebitterguy]

There probably is a patron Saint of pedestrians (who looked after all those guys on pilgrimages?).

[rentagurkha.livejournal.com]

You want Saint Barbara for your explosive-related sainthood needs. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Barbara)

[thebitterguy]

I suddenly see a bunch of SEAL team members with St. Barbara medals on.

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure which would be worse, if I were an archer... praying to a guy who was killed by arrows, or praying to a guy who managed to avoid being killed by arrows.

[thebitterguy]

That's Catholic irony for you.