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We apologise in advance that the sound quality of this podcast is not up to our usual standards, but we hope you will still enjoy Glynn Cardy's look at a modern saint on All Saints' Day.\xa0 91 years old, Nelson Mandela remains and icon of forgiveness and reconciliation.\n"Most of the traditional saints, when viewed with historical-critical tools, are less than inspiring.\xa0By modern standards many would need the support of the mental health services.\xa0Unconstrained by religious convention however we can think about \u2018saints\u2019 more broadly as those who encourage and inspire us in our faith.\xa0\xa0\xa0 \n"Personally I find it hard to go past Nelson Mandela.\xa0He is a modern exemplar of perseverance, courage, humility, and reconciliation.\xa0He\u2019s also someone who would be appalled by the honorific of \u2018saint\u2019 being attached to his name.\xa0He has never walked the path of self-glorification that Brian Tamaki, and others before him, thinks is the route to spiritual wisdom."\n\nFull text and video links at www.stmatthews.org.nz.