The Catechism of the Catholic Church says of the intercession of the saints: “Exactly as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself” (957).
Part of being a SAINT is accepting responsibility for our life, our choices, our attitude, our behavior, which we all know is not easy in this fast-paced, materialistic world. We are all called to live as saints, focusing on Jesus and the cross. We remember the saints who went before us, especially the more recent ones, whose gifts and faults- like our own- we more readily see due to modern technology. We can be inspired by their faithfulness and courage and learn from their frailties.
Honoring saints shows us that God inhabits mortal flesh, and dwells among us. Through saints – present and past – we can make special friends with those whose experience and conditions speak to our own situation and conditions. We can value their friendship for what they say to us, how they live and what they do. Saints bring a local accent to the people. They speak our language, understand our fears, speak and provide models for action and translation within our circumstances.
Saints show and remind us that Christianity is not a set of doctrines, but a living faith. It is a true and living way followed and explored by people. Saints are personal connectors to the divine and to the life beyond that which we see and know. Saints make faith seem alive and interesting. They give us a sense of human comfort, self worth, connection with others and personal meaning. Saints help us to listen to and affirm and celebrate values, bonds, ideas, and hopes that are important to us. Saints show us the way to the Lord, especially in this Advent season, which culminates in a great Birth.
Art: John Nava, Ojai, California - Los Angeles Cathedral Tapestries
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