Theological teachings can often be baffling. Sainthood embraces all kinds of devotion and rituals, not least the acts of intercession that can be requested by praying to the relevant saint.
I came across ‘the odour of sanctity’ in a novel by Niamh Ni Mhaoilcoin Ordinary Saints. The general idea is that when a saint dies, they give off an aroma, typically of flowers. Over time, this notion was refined so that the saint’s state of grace exuded an ethereal glow as the soul departed.
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