Hi, Bags —
After reviewing these web pages and talking with my colleagues, we came to the following consensus:
If you view the sidebar on the Wikipedia web page, you will note that he is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and (the Church of the East: also known as the Eastern Rite Catholic Church).
Under Church tradition it stated:
Church tradition
One Catholic tradition holds that he was consecrated as the first bishop of the current Archdiocese of Avignon. Another holds that he was martyred by crucifixion in 100 A.D., [though both these statements ask for more supporting references].
Simon of Cyrene is not included in the Old and Revised Roman Martyrology of the Catholic Church. |
So he is not venerated as a saint in the Roman Rite but is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Rite Catholic Church.
That said, whether he is venerated as a saint, or not, there is no reason why you shouldn't pray to Simon of Cyrene to help you carry your Earthly cross.
Since no man can pass ultimate judgment on any other man or woman, except the Man, Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5), who is one with the Father, there is no reason you can't pray to any Faithful Departed Loved one for help and aid.
I spiritually ask both my earthly father (Stephen) and earthly mother (Dorothy) — who passed to their particular judgments about 10 years ago — for their help on an array of issues on a regular basis.
This is what the Communion of Saints is all about.
It's not underminding the glory and saving power of Jesus; no, it is manifesting His Holy Power in his brothers and sisters: us, who partake in His Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4 RSV-CE)
Mike
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