What we do in this life echoes in eternity.
That is the famous line of an all-time favorite movie character of mine, Maximus Decimus Meridius, from Gladiator. These words contain the simple, yet profound truth that the way we live our lives on earth has eternal implications. Either we seek a life of selfless virtue and holiness to gain eternal reward in heaven, or we choose self-fulfillment and earthly gratification to end up in hell. God does not will eternal punishment on anyone, but some people choose that path when they refuse to let God in to transform their hearts.
Growing up, I was always scared of hell. Rightfully so—eternal damnation should terrify us. While this fear was the initial motivation for following the ten commandments, the saints showed me that there’s so much more meaning in the life of holiness.
GROWING UP WITH THE SAINTS
Being from a devout Catholic family, I grew up reading children’s books on the saints. I was drawn to their lives of heroic virtue. I wanted to do cool things for Jesus such as fight battles like bad a$$ teenage warrior Joan of Arc, die to protect and uphold virtue like Maria Goretti, bilocate like Padre Pio, or have the audacity to say “turn me over, I’m done on this side” while being burned at the stake like St. Lawrence.
Captivated by the saints’ bold confidence and absolute fearlessness, I felt inspired to live for a similar purpose and die for a mission greater than myself. They didn’t follow the Lord simply out of fear of hell, but because they had a deep relationship with a God who loved them and they desperately longed to give Him everything in return. They encouraged me to do the same.
As I’ve grown into womanhood, the saints have been my best friends on my journey to holiness. Each step of the way, they have been there to encourage me in my fight. It has been comforting to know they have walked the same earth, breathed the same air, and fought the same battles. Their stories remind me not to do things the way the world tells me, but to live instead with heroic virtue.
LESSONS OF THE SAINTS
Inspired by All Saints Day that took place last Friday (November 1)—the day we celebrate all saints, known and unknown, already in heaven—we will be doing a “saint series” this month, diving deeper into saint stories that inspire us. To start it off, I’d like to begin by sharing some of the biggest lessons the saints have taught and continue to teach me in my life today.
- Nobody had it easy. Each saint had struggles and crosses to bear. Mother Teresa lived in spiritual darkness; John Vianney was not smart enough to pass the seminary exams to be a priest; Therese of Lisieux struggled with scrupulosity; Chiara Corbello Petrillo lost two children shortly after their birth; St. Monica was tormented by the life of her wayward son (who became St. Augustine); and St. Germaine was abandoned by her parents because she was unattractive. Every saint’s story is beautiful because every saint lived a life with real struggles and real crosses—just like you and me.
- We can’t give our lives for Someone we don’t know. St. Thomas Acquinas said, “To love God is something greater than to know Him.” But knowing is the first step to loving. The saints lived radical lives because they were in love with the Lord and gave their lives completely to Him. This didn’t happen overnight. They invested in their relationship with Him through daily prayer and silence. I recently read a biography on St. John Paul the Great and learned he would wake up at 5 a.m. every day, after only 6 hours of sleep, to start his day with an hour of prayer. He drew His strength from Our Lord, and sometimes this relationship (like every relationship) required great sacrifice on his part.
- Sainthood is for everyone. Pope Francis said, “Sainthood is not a privilege for the few, but a vocation for everyone.” I think we often elevate the saints in our minds as these people who reached an unattainable level of holiness, when in fact, all they truly did was respond wholeheartedly to the invitation Christ extends to each of us. Do you desire heaven? Then say yes to Him in every action of every day, and you too, will be a saint.
- Being a saint doesn’t have to be boring. Many people think saints are these supremely pious individuals who only thought of God, constantly prayed Rosaries, and spent all day in Church—aka that they didn’t do anything “fun.” Let’s be honest, true holiness is anything but boring. St. Phillip Neri, the patron saint of joy, would often wear his clothes inside out to make the children on the streets of Rome laugh. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian man who died at the age of 24, is known for living a vibrant life—He went mountain climbing with his friends, attended operas and plays, frequented museums, and enjoyed the beauty of literature, music, art, and outdoor recreation. God desires our greatest good and will fashion us into the saint most reflective of our personality.
- Eternal Life is a long dang time. Eternity. Forever. Just let those words sink in. Life can be hard. Following Christ and saying no to cultural norms that are against Church teaching can be annoying and difficult. But we are not promised ultimate fulfillment here on earth, only in Heaven. This life is our training ground, purifying our hearts for eternal joy with Jesus. So we must make use of this time. We can’t get lazy or complacent. As Muhammed Ali said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” I would echo that and say, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a saint.” Ya’ll—WE CAN DO THIS!
- The dead are never really dead. Because we believe our souls live forever, those who die are never really dead. Yes they aren’t physically in their bodies on earth, but we are always united to those in Heaven through the Communion of Saints. Get to know their stories. Read about their struggles and triumphs. Form relationships with your favorite saints—talk to them and ask them for prayers. They are our friends and want to help. I like to imagine myself in Heaven one day (through God’s grace) having a big ol’ party—complete with Mexican food, coconut cake, and all my favorite things—with St. Therese, Sts. Louis and Zelie, St. John Paul the Great, St. Joseph, St. Mother Teresa, and the rest of my “saint squad.” A girl can dream, right? 😉
Be a saint. All else is secondary.
From the depths of my soul,
