“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
MONDAY, April 26th Jn. 10: 1-10 Alleluia Verse: “I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.”
- Good sheep strive to obey and follow the Good Shepherd at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances. Such docility in obeying the Good Shepherd is called holy obedience and is what constitutes holiness or sanctity – that is, becoming a saint!
- In concrete, Saint Faustina once wrote in her diary, W – w… God’s Will, my will!
UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS: BE A SAINT! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
No doubt, the best way to transform the world into a better place is to strive to become a saint. Many will stare at you shocked if you tell them that they are called to become saints. “Me, a saint? That is not for me!”
The reason for this shock is that many do not know what God’s will is for us! God wants every one of us to become a saint even more than we want to become a saint. Many think that a saint must work extraordinary miracles while on earth. The saint should be able to bi-locate, heal the sick, raise the dead, and stop the course of the sun. Actually, none of these are necessary for one to become a saint. Though it is true, after death, miracles must be attributed to a holy person who is to become beatified and eventually canonized a saint.
Jesus commands us to become saints! Jesus spoke with utmost clarity on this topic of the universal call to holiness: “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) In the Sermon on the Mount, one of the Beatitudes reiterates the same theme: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be filled.” (Mt.5:6) Saint Paul in his Letter to the Thessalonians repeats the topic: “This is the will of your Heavenly Father, your sanctification.” (1 Thess. 4:30)
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed holiness in these concise but penetrating words: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.” Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (Founder of Opus Dei) lamented in these words: “The biggest crisis in the world is the lack of saints.” The French writer of the 1900’s, Leon Blois quipped: “The greatest tragedy in the world is to not become the saint that God calls us to be.”
One of the most authoritative documents in the modern world, from the Second Vatican Council, the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, focuses on one specific topic: The Universal Call to Holiness. In a word, the Council Fathers insist on the moral imperative and imperious obligation that all people, from all places, cultures, and backgrounds, must strive to become holy. All must do their part in trying to become saints.
Want heaven and holiness: become saints! In fact, all of those in Heaven have arrived at holiness; they are saints. Many, probably most in Heaven, might be termed anonymous saints. By this is meant that they were not canonized—that is, declared officially by the Church to be saints. Still, they are saints!
Therefore, taking into account this “Universal Call to Holiness”, we will proceed to highlight some practical guidelines or suggestions that can serve as a motivation or stimulus for us in striving to become the saint that God has called each of us to be. Indeed, without practical guidelines and a true spiritual GPS—or roadmap, the pursuit of holiness will prove very arduous. Athletes need coaches; writers, mentors; and artists, models. So it is with those pursuing holiness of life, guidelines and pointers—in the right direction of course—are indispensable!
1. GOD’S GRACE. First and foremost, we need God’s grace. In fact, without His grace we can accomplish nothing in the pursuit of holiness. We can sin abundantly, but trying to live a life of holiness without God’s grace is a pursuit in futility.
2. PRAYER. Normally God’s grace funnels and is communicated through the channel of prayer. Saints have spent long hours in prayer. Prayer is communing with God and He does the work of sanctification and transformation. Specifically, in prayer it is the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier who transforms us from sinner to saint.
3. WILL IT! On one occasion, the sister of the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, asked her brother how might she become a saint? Aquinas responded concisely with two words: WILL IT! Indeed, God’s grace precedes every good action. In the Theology of grace, this is termed Prevenient Grace. However, there must be our active collaboration with God’s grace. In other words, God will always do His part, but we must do ours!
4. AVOID OBSTACLES. On the part of the future saint, there must be a sincere, concerted effort to avoid the near occasions of sin. The saying is so true: “He who plays with fire, will be burnt; he who plays in danger, will perish in it.” Sin, indeed, is the major obstacle in the pursuit of holiness. Thus, sin should be avoided like the plague!
5. READ THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. Another great help in our pursuit of holiness is to get in the habit of good spiritual reading. Why not give ten minutes on a daily basis to reading the life of a saint or saints. By doing so, we start to form criteria on how the saints lived, acted, prayed, thought, and spoke, that is to say, how they arrived at this heroic degree of virtue. Reading their lives will stimulate us to imitate their actions and virtuous paths. Saint Ignatius of Loyola received many graces in his process of conversion by reading the lives of the saints. He made a determined determination to be like them! And it happened!
6. HOLY SPIRIT: THE SANCTIFIER. One of the many titles attributed to the Holy Spirit is The Sanctifier—meaning He who makes us holy. Pope Saint John XXIII stated: “The Saints are the Masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” Davinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Shakespeare —all were artistic or literary Masters in their prospective fields. The prospective field of the Holy Spirit is that of forming and molding men, women, and children into saints!
7. SACRAMENTAL LIFE. As members of the Mystical Body of Christ—the Church, the most efficacious channels for grace flow through the Sacraments. By definition, the Sacraments are exterior signs instituted by Christ to confer grace. By receiving frequently and fervently, with excellent disposition of heart, mind, and soul, the Sacraments of Confession, as well as the Holy Eucharist, graces rain down into our souls like a deluge. In Confession, Jesus heals us as the Divine Physician; in Communion, Jesus nourishes and strengthens our soul with His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
8. JOYFUL PRESENCE. A key quality in the lives of the saints is JOY!!! The person who lives with joy in their heart has wind in their sails in their spiritual journey! They will be able to overcome many obstacles climbing the mountain of holiness. The devil suffers mortal blows in the company of a joyful person! A joyful disciple of Jesus appeals and attracts others like a magnet! J.O.Y.—Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last!!!
9. HEAVEN: THE HOME OF THE SAINTS! An enormous stimulus or motivation on our highway to holiness is to have our goal constantly before our eyes—Heaven! God created us for one purpose: to be happy with Him forever in Heaven! Saint Paul exhorts us not to look to the earth, but to have our eyes fixed on the heavenly realm where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father. If we think more about Heaven—the joy of the Presence and Friendship of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with the angels and saints, and Mary as our Queen and Mother—our crosses will become easier to bear in anticipation of the glories to come!
10. MARY: QUEEN OF THE ANGELS AND SAINTS. Finally, Mary can be of enormous assistance in our pursuit of holiness, in our desire to become saints! Indeed, Mary is Queen of the angels and saints. Pray to Mary; love Mary, call on Mary; love and pray the Rosary. If you do this, Mary will be close to you all your life, and she will help you to arrive safe and sound to your Heavenly Home.
Conclusion. Let us all start right now and strive to live out the command of Jesus: “Be Holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” The only thing that really matters in life is to become a saint. May this be our goal, and may we attain it through the grace of God and the prayers of Mary, the full of grace and the Queen of the angels and saints!
