To Be A Saint
Do you have a role model or mentor you look up to? Aspire to imitate? Someone who fires up your imagination, dreams and passion? Perhaps someone who uses gifts and virtues you want to develop (for me, that would be mindfulness, loving attentiveness!), or someone who is radically different, compelling and challenging, one who is fully alive in their own way.
What grabs your attention? Anyone want to share – would love to hear from you!
I just finished watching a video called "A Vast Company of Witnesses: The Communion of Saints" (Episode 8, Catholicism Word on
Fire film & study series), and was reminded of a desire of mine – to be a saint! Robert Barron, in his commentary during this episode, recounts how the sister of St. Thomas Aquinas asked him, "What must I do to be a saint?" He replied, "Will it!"
Yes, "will it!" We have been gifted with many diverse saints – both known / written about, as well as the many "unknown" (to the universal Church) who surround us day to day. Role models abound right in our midst, not to mention the many spiritual practices, traditions, writings, and God's persistence in calling us to fuller conversion and life.
This has reminded me of my need to be inspired, to continually seek out the spiritual writings or biographies of saints (both
recognized and unrecognized). The Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, by John Nelson, has always been one of my favorites, and one that I pick up again and again, and I've been wanting to pick up the writings of Edith Stein.
Would you care to share a book, film, story or experience which inspired you in faith, hope and love? Maybe a saint who is your favorite, and why? Let's get something started...





No need to compete...



Recently I was gifted with a day retreat, which was based on a rock that I had chosen (or had chosen me). This rock is very unusual, and reminded me of a cross between a skull and a beehive. During the retreat, I was invited to reflect on the positive and negative qualities of this rock, and then how these mirrored my own qualities. This reflection, in turn, helped me to hear God's call to me.
I have been blessed with a time of renewal at the General Mother House of our religious congregation – a real gift from God! With Sisters Angele and Sabine from Senegal, Carla and Marciana from Mozambique, as well as Rosalyn and Maricel from the Philippines, I am taking time to renew the fervor of my first love, in preparation for final vows.