Monday, April 2, 2007

Only in California: Save Me From The Fires of Hell, Mr. Attorney!

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Many devotions centering on the Apostles have declined since the Middle Ages, but veneration of St. Jude, surnamed “Thaddeus” (meaning “amiable” or “loving”) to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, has revived in recent years.

It was St. Jude’s intercession which was sought by Josefina Martin, who suffered severe burns to her ankles, legs, back, arms and hands on Oct. 16, 2005, while venerating a statue of the saint in a courtyard of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Pacoima.

St. Jude is called the Patron of Hopeless and Desperate Cases. Church employees said that at any one time, as many as 200 candles would be on the ground in front of the statue of St. Jude, who is often invoked to intercede for people who are in danger or who need protection. Martin said she had reached over the open flames to touch one foot of the St. Jude statue and closed her eyes to pray when she realized her clothing was afire.

Three months later, in January 2006, Martin and her husband, Salvador Martin, sued the archdiocese, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, Mary Immaculate Church, and the manufacturer of the skirt Josefina wore. [....snip] California Catholic Daily

One presumes that Mr. Martin is suing for "loss of consortium" when he should have just "offered it up."

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