Br. Joseph Graziano, O.P., on the Saints as Superheroes

"Superheroes! Our culture seems obsessed with them. Witness the many adaptations of DC heroes like Batman and Superman, the 23 Marvel movies scheduled for release, and even the most recent animated Disney movie, Big Hero 6. Once superheroes were the subject of only occasional interest, relegated to the checkout aisle or to a small but thriving sub-culture; now superheroes are mainstream.

"Why this fascination with superheroes? First, good superheroes are relatable; we identify with them.  This is why many people find Marvel characters better than DC characters. Most people find Spiderman, the scrappy nerdy teenager, more relatable than the Martian Manhunter, a shape-shifting anthropoid from Mars. We find something of ourselves and our plight even in their superheroic struggles. Their plight reminds us of our plight, and their triumph gives us hope that we too may triumph, even if we don't often see heroes getting frustrated when their kids are not listening or angry when their car won’t start in the morning and they are already late. And be honest: sometimes the line at Dunkin' Donuts seems a lot like a robot army, and a boss or co-worker or disaffected-ex or parent seems like an alien trying to take over your world. . . .

So are there any real superheroes?  In addition to the many throughout the world who fight the good fight every day in small ways, there are those superheroes who have fought and won: the saints. All of these are heroic, though (whether we know it or not), only because they bear a likeness to the perfect model of virtue - namely, Jesus Christ."

In a recent commentary, Brother Joseph Graziano, O.P., reflected on the saints and why they may be regarded as superheroes.

To access Br. Joseph's complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: Like Superheroes? Try the Saints! (18 NOV 15)