I had heard this phrase in some of the writings of the saints or very holy people. The context of the phrase is that "someone died in the odor of sanctity."
I have always understood this to mean that there was something special about the way that they lived and died that seems to be so powerful that it can be sensed in a physical way. So their holiness/sanctity could be smelled in an odor.
Well yesterday I smelled the odor of sanctity.
Yesterday I was in Syracuse for a large gathering of Franciscan Friars to celebrate the jubilee of every friar who had a major anniversary of ordination or profession of vows this year. There were dozens of friars celebrating their anniversaries of ordination to the priesthood and profession of vows as Friars.
During mass I sat next to a Friar who was celebrating his 50th anniversary of ordination. I was about to celebrating my one month anniversary of ordination.
The truth is that I was very distracted during mass be cause the friar next to me had this powerful and peculiar odor coming from him. It was a mixture of Bengay, halitosis, and mothballs.
So I suppose for an elder Friar who has served others, prayed, and worked for love of God for over 50 years the odor of sanctity is not as mystical as I would have thought.
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