Learning to Speak with the Catechism

Another stray thought that occurred to me during yesterday's run and bike-ride, was how the Catechism guides our speaking.  In today's parlance, it's grown rather typical to speak casually of the saints:  "Oh, wait till I get to heaven and ask Paul about THAT!" is not an uncommon comment.  Certainly the Scriptures themselves so refer to Paul or to Peter or the evangelists.  And yet, in the Catechism we find a very different spirit than today's casual treatment of the saints (which casual treatment is perhaps reflective of the casual treatment accorded our blessed Lord whose servants they are!).  Just note:

"As St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three" (Part IV, Baptism)

"St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six" (Part IV, Baptism)

"This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty" (Part V, Office of the Keys)

"The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write:" (Part VI, Sacrament of the Altar)

"For St. Paul writes to the Galatians in chapter six" (Christian Questions and their Answers)

How good it would be for us to return to the humility of recognizing these wondrous God-bearing men, through whom the Holy Spirit gave to us the Sacred Scriptures, and so take up again in our common speech their titles:  "Saint..." "Holy Evangelist, Saint..."  Then we'd be done with the nonsense of:  "Oh, they're just like us."  Um, no sir, they are NOT.  For the Holy Spirit did not inspire YOU to write down the words by which we are saved.