I have been both astonished and moved by the tremendous outpouring of emotion over the death of Steve Jobs, at age 56. Mr. Jobs, as is known by anyone whose fingers ever touched a computer or held an iPhone, was a dazzlingly talented innovator who, as President Obama noted, will likely rank among the greatest of American inventors. (Father James Martin SJ,  The Huffington Post)

Still, there have been many other gifted public figures–political leaders, business tycoons, philanthropists, researchers, scientists, writers, entertainers and inventors of other sorts–whose deaths did not touch such a chord. Obituaries of Mr. Jobs have appeared in almost every newspaper, magazine and (of course) website; television news programs devoted hours to covering his legacy; Facebook was promptly filled with impromptu photos, collages and tributes; nearly everyone on Twitter had something to say; and the Apple store in New York City is taking on the look of a shrine.

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As someone who has written on the saints, I found that the coverage of his death, and the way his life is being retold, seemed oddly familiar. Why did people’s reactions–photos of candles posted on Facebook pages; cartoons with Mr. Jobs speaking to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates; flowers laid before Apple stores–remind me of what happens following the death of a saint?

Why did the coverage in most venues seem, for want of a better word, worshipful? A few reasons suggest themselves, and a few intersections between the life of Mr. Jobs and the lives of the saints seem apparent. And no, before we continue: I’m not suggesting that he was a saint. But consider… (Fr Martin’s seven points can be read by following the link below)

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St. Steve Jobs? Probably Not, But…. (The Huffington Post)

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