[JohnfAclambrJA]

"The saints suffer persecution... it seems that all those who experience this great grace are attacked as deluded at some point." "veneration by the people is not the main requisite, especially since a cult of veneration could be based on liking an elder rather than on revelation by the Holy Spirit." In a way isn't this persecution and questioning appropriate? If someone can get past all the barriers and still be cannonized then we can be sure that God was at work and not just human preference.

My concerning was defining the difference between idolizing an elder and venerating an elder. My concern is that people turn to an unknown elder before they turn to their parish priest, and I think this is wrong. I hope this makes sense. I don't see things getting out of hand here, but Olympiada has a point. There is a tendency in human nature to get obessed and possessive with spiritual goods as much as with material goods and our culture is deeply infected with it. All the New Age gurus selling spiritual and emotional health, so many being enamored with miracles etc. I don't think the church is free from this vice. There comes a certain amount of pride and satisfaction in saying - I met or talked to a saint. It is hard to fight against letting the honor due to the saint rub off on us and become a boasting point.