The word Sainthood can be intimidating for anyone. We hold Saints in such high regard, and we have such a sense of wonder and amazement towards them. Saints are like these giant noble images of these glorious people who did these amazing things that changed the whole world, right?! Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Augustine…. some of the most well-known people in the world are saints! So you’re telling me I can be like them? You’re nuts!
Oh, but wait a moment! There are also the stories of thousands of saints were not at all perfect people or the most popular people who made the biggest changes. Sure, you had people found religious orders and begin a new tradition, but guess what? We can do that, too! It is never too late to start striving towards sainthood. Did you know that saint Augustine used to not be a Catholic? He even had children with a woman he wasn’t married to! These people were not perfect.
However, they were made perfect after their death by the grace of God.
In our everyday lives, no matter what we have going on, we can still continue to strive for sainthood. St. Therese of Lisieux was constantly sick and in and out of bed rest. Nevertheless, she marched on in her everyday life, loving others and holding true to her faith in God, to become a saint. She never shied away from the mission God gave to her, the calling he put on her heart. No amount of “no’s” or fear could keep her away from the convent!
Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine, prayed and prayed for years and years for her son to truly come back to the faith and have a change of heart. She is a perfect model of patience. For years it probably seemed hopeless, or like nothing was working. Maybe she thought God had given up on her, for all we know. In the end, her son did truly come to the faith with a full heart. He even went on to become one of the best, most well-known saints and a Doctor of the Church!
Striving for sainthood everyday means never giving up. It means when we fall short, we get back up on our feet and we continue marching on. Whenever we screw up, we go to confession and try again the next day. How are we treating people? Are we cultivating our relationships with our families and those around us? Are we taking care of our families and all of our duties for our season of life?
Some days, like Saint Monica must have felt, it seems like there’s not a single change. Like nothing will ever be different. Until it is.
Never give up striving to become a Saint! Sainthood is for everyone.
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