The Devil-s Advocate !!hot!! -

While the Advocatus Dei (God’s Advocate) presented evidence for the miracle-working, virtuous life of the potential saint, the Devil’s Advocate was tasked with digging up the dirt. They looked for character flaws, false miracles, political motives, and heretical leanings. Their job was to poke holes in the narrative so that only the strongest, most verified candidates could pass.

Don't hide behind the role. Be explicit that this is a hypothetical exercise. The Devil-s Advocate

When the Church considered someone for canonization (sainthood), the process wasn't just a celebration of their life. It was a legalistic inquiry. The Devil’s Advocate was the person tasked with finding the flaws. Their job was to argue against the candidate’s holiness, to suggest that supposed miracles had natural explanations, and to dig up any hidden skeletons. Don't hide behind the role

When we unfriend people for disagreeing with us, we lose the friction that sharpens our thinking. A healthy society requires the intellectual version of the Devil’s Advocate—the person who says, “Before we pass this law, let’s hear the counter-argument.” It was a legalistic inquiry