Let’s cut to the chase: today’s saint, Hermenegild, was imprisoned and killed by his own father, Levigild, because they disagreed about Christian doctrine.

It’s sick. It’s inexcusable. This happened in 586. Levigild was a king, and kings beat princes. You can refer to Butler’s works to get who believed what–that’s NOT what’s important (of course, inasmuch as Hermenegild is the saint, his views were the “orthodox” ones). What is instructive is that both of them believed that Christianity was about doctrine rather than love. Had their positions been reversed, I’ve little doubt that Hermenegild would have held out until his father either conceded or died (exiled, executed, or otherwise shunned).

Almost 1500 years later, we in America are not all that far removed from the relationship dynamics of Levigild and Hermenegild–we choose to focus on political, theological, and belief differences, and instead do not choose love, do not lead with love, do not follow-up with love, do not love instead of hate. We don’t believe that love will actually prevail, and we point to the hatefulness of others and organize their defeat.

What is the logical conclusion of such posturing? Remember reading about the Civil War? Brother killing brother? Families divided? The bloodiest conflict in America’s history?

What is the crown of glory for Hermenegild, today’s saint? He held onto his theological disagreement with his father at the cost of his life. And for this the Church made him a saint. What’s more, the Church would never have made Hermenegild a saint if, instead, he had found a way to say to his father, “We may disagree about doctrine, but surely we can love one another.” This would have meant to the Church that Hermenegild compromised his faith in order to get along.

Compromise is not a dirty word. Its etymology is rooted in “together-promise.” It’s not diminishing one’s values or denying one’s convictions…that’s making devil-deals as a means to an end. Compromise is about the together-promise that makes a Way where, before, there was none, and the choice of those making the promise to walk it together.