Odour of Sanctity and Sainthood
The term "odour of sanctity" appears to have emerged in the Middle Ages, at a time when many saints were raised to that status by acclamation of the faithful. In the absence of carefully written records, either by or about the individual, evidence of a saintly life was attested to only by personal recollections of those around him or her. It appears that the odour of sanctity occurring at the person’s death carried some weight in convincing the local ecclesiastical authority to "canonize" the saint – to allow the faithful to venerate and pray to him or her.
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Famous quotes containing the words odour of, odour and/or sanctity:
“Odour of blood when Christ was slain
Made all Platonic tolerance vain
And vain all Doric discipline.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“Such fragrant flowers do give most odorous smell;
But her sweet odour did them all excel.”
—Edmund Spenser (1552?–1599)
“Oh, the holiness of always being the injured party. The historically oppressed can find not only sanctity but safety in the state of victimization. When access to a better life has been denied often enough, and successfully enough, one can use the rejection as an excuse to cease all efforts. After all, one reckons, “they” don’t want me, “they” accept their own mediocrity and refuse my best, “they” don’t deserve me.”
—Maya Angelou (b. 1928)