I always liked the response St. Teresa of Calcutta gave to a young sister who asked her, “Mother, what must I do to become a saint?” Her answer: “Die now, because Pope John Paul is canonizing everyone!”
The importance the Church places on the saints is shown when today’s Solemnity of All Saints supersedes the usual Sunday liturgy. Our celebration directs our thoughts and prayers to heaven as we honor not only those saints whom the Church has officially granted the title of saint, but all those, far more numerous, who after a faith-filled life on earth, now enjoy the glory, peace, and joy of being in the presence of God in heaven.
The question the young sister posed to Mother Teresa was important because the very goal of life is to become a saint. Our goal is heaven and holiness is the path to heaven.
The saints model holiness. The lives of faith should inspire us. What do we learn from reading the lives of the saints? One of the first things we discover is that saints come from every age, place, and condition. Popes, bishops, priests, deacons and sisters quickly come to mind, but many more saints are husbands and wives, mothers, and fathers, young and old, poor and wealthy, doctors, nurses, lawyers, athletes, teachers, students, shopkeepers, farmers, brewers, wine makers, architects, soldiers, scientists, kings and queens. Some were quiet and reserved, others excitable and noisy, …. Well, you get the idea!
Another discovery we make is that saints were not perfect. Like you and I, they were flesh and blood. They were tempted; they struggled with sin; they were impatient. They lost their temper. A few were cranky and complaining. Some suffered from addictions of alcohol and gambling. So many were misunderstood, they were often mocked and bullied.
In the end what made them worthy of heaven, what made them saints was the fact that they were convinced that God’s grace would help them overcome their struggles, give them to the strength to pick themselves up after a fall and try again. They did not lose their hope. How many people today lose hope, despair because they cannot see any light in dark times; they cannot imagine that they could be strong enough to carry on. The saints give us that hope.
On this feast day, we might say, they are saying to us, “If holiness and heaven are possible for me, they are possible for you.” The program is challenging but not complicated:
Loving the Mass, appreciating the gift of regular confession, daily prayer, reading the Gospels, living the Beatitudes, practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Today let’s resolve to make it a practice to turn frequently to these heroes and heroines of the Christian life. Let’s resolve to get to know them better. They should not be strangers but friends to whom we can turn in our struggles and needs. They stand before God’s throne and they lend strength to our feeble prayers. Carry the saints in your heart and to that you never lose heart, never become discouraged but be always hope-filled.
