A CALL TO HOLINESS

Communion of Saints- Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral- John Nava

I know I have written of this call to holiness in the past, but I believe we cannot hear it too often in our lives. Popes  (St.) John Paul II,  Benedict XVI and  Francis have canonized a total of 1,375 saints, a number that  far exceeds the combined total of saints canonized since 1588, the year the Congregation for the Causes of Saints was established.  Pope Francis alone has canonized 848 saints, more than any of his predecessors (his first canonization involved around 800 Italian martyrs).

St John Paul II began the call during his pontificate for more saints based on the teachings of Vatican II. His inspiration came specifically from Lumen Gentium  in  the chapter entitled, “The Universal Call of Holiness in the Church”, which tells us that all people are called to lead a holy life. Not only priests and religious but the laity as well.

In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history” (LG, 40).

While to many this seems an impossible way to live out their lives, we have only to look at so many in recent years who have shown us the way to holiness… doctors, lawyers, people in business, mothers, fathers, children, etc.

 

Communion of Saints-  Elise Ritter

St. John Paul II firmly believed that all people, especially the laity, should aspire to holiness and not be afraid to become a saint. He wrote in Novo Millenio Ineunte, ”this ideal of perfection must not be misunderstood as if it involved some kind of extraordinary existence, possible only for a few ‘uncommon heroes’ of holiness. The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each individual. I thank the Lord that in these years he has enabled me to beatify and canonize a large number of Christians, and among them many lay people who attained holiness in the most ordinary circumstances of life” (NM, 31).

Pope Francis has said: “Every state of life leads to holiness, always!  At home, on the streets, at work, at church, in the moment and with the state of life that you have, a door is opened on the road to sainthood. Do not be discouraged to travel this road. God gives you the grace to do so. And this is all that the Lord asks, is that we are in communion with Him and serve others.”