catholic nudist saints
Return to DiscussionsCatholics actually have four saints they can consider as patron
saints of nudists, even though they aren't officially recognized as
being patron saints of nudists as of yet: Onuphrius, Peter of
Athos, Macarius of Egypt, and Paul the Hermit. They were 4th
century saints who lived naked as hermits.
And there is also St. Peter, though maybe he would be the patron saint of skinny dippers. In John's gospel we hear of the apostles being out on the Lake of Galilee after Christ's resurrection. After a night of not catching anything a man on the shore tells them to cast their nets over the side where upon they make a huge catch. When Peter realizes it is Christ on the shore he strips off his garments and jumps into the lake to swim ashore.
Dave
Another good one would be St Francis who stripped naked when he left his worldly ways and would often give his robe off his back to those less fortunate.
The moment that St. Francis changed his life, when he publicly started preaching the Gospel, he stripped naked in front of his community and his bishop. The lesson for me is the importance of nakedness, both metaphorical and otherwise, in spiritual awakening. I feel a bit of this when I'm by myself nude in the desert.
I don't usually get philosophical about my nudism. I enjoy nudity because, well, I enjoy nudity. Still, there is a spiritual aspect sometimes. I've watched friends of mine who I've brought to nudist places and how their faces change a little bit when they take off their clothes. There is something to it.
Ted.
Greetings everyone,
I'd like to mention on this topic - St. Mary Magdalene who tradition says after the Resurrection traveled north, became a hermit and lived nude.
Then there's St. Jerome of the Latin translation of the Bible fame who spent much time au natural.
Peace & Blessings
And there is also St. Peter, though maybe he would be the patron saint of skinny dippers. In John's gospel we hear of the apostles being out on the Lake of Galilee after Christ's resurrection. After a night of not catching anything a man on the shore tells them to cast their nets over the side where upon they make a huge catch. When Peter realizes it is Christ on the shore he strips off his garments and jumps into the lake to swim ashore.Dave
Actually he was working naked and put on his clothes and jumped in to swim ashore.
Another good one would be St Francis who stripped naked when he left his worldly ways and would often give his robe off his back to those less fortunate.The moment that St. Francis changed his life, when he publicly started preaching the Gospel, he stripped naked in front of his community and his bishop. The lesson for me is the importance of nakedness, both metaphorical and otherwise, in spiritual awakening. I feel a bit of this when I'm by myself nude in the desert.I don't usually get philosophical about my nudism. I enjoy nudity because, well, I enjoy nudity. Still, there is a spiritual aspect sometimes. I've watched friends of mine who I've brought to nudist places and how their faces change a little bit when they take off their clothes. There is something to it.Ted.
I thought he stripped because his father told him that if he was leaving he wasn't allowed to take anything with him.
I think St Onuphrius wins this hands down. He's the only saint I'm aware of who is almost always shown naked in icons (or just with a skirt of leaves sometimes). His impressive beard reached to the ground.
What about St Mary of Egypt too? She lived nude for years in the desert after her clothes wore out and only asked a priest for a covering when he happened to discover her because of her prior life before she became a hermit.