Becoming a Saint, Becoming More of Yourself

Comics and cartoons usually portray the citizens of heaven in a way that's, frankly, boring. The image of white bedsheet robes, halos, and harps has sunk into our psyche to the extent that the very word "heavenly" conjours a cutsy, sickly sweet feel.  When we think of the saints, our heavenly helpers, we can see them through the lens of such images. Row upon row of haloed goody-two-shoes, they look irrelevant and uninteresting to those of an enlightened age.

Those who dwell in heaven, however, are not floating spirit clones but unique humans who vastly different earthly lives all had the same goal: living to glorify God so that in death they might do the same.  Each soul that finds his or her way home to God has a journey and a story of their own. They did not lose their particular background, history, or personality in their relationship with Christ, so that when they reached heaven they were indistinguishable. Rather, they become more like themselves as they grew closer to Him, as He polished their characters like diamonds.

The human facets of the saints, their traits and loves, are enlarged as they become subject to Christ and renewed by him.  The motherhood of Anne and Mary, the bravery of George, the patriotism of Joan, the rhetoric of John Chrysostom, the justice of Louis, the sisterly affection of Scholastica, the scholarly wisdom of Thomas Aquinas, the patient love of Rita, the generosity of Nicholas-- these are perfected in Christ.  Death does not separate the saints from who they are or what they love.  So that even in heaven we call them the patron of those things dear to them on earth, whether it be a career, a virtue, a relationship, or a place.

The church recognizes saints as both heroes and helpers with real connection to her members still living on this side of eternity.  Patrons saints help us toward heaven using earthly ties: our professions, talents, relationships, virtues, homes, and heritage.  There is a patron saint for everything and everyone, because Christ calls followers rom all ages, places, temperaments, and types. 

Once we take up our cross, we are asked to die to ourselves, that is, to our ego, our will, and our selfishness.  But when we are made new in Christ, we are made ourselves as He always meant us to be.  It is the Creator who made us who we are, so is it any wonder that delights in our differences and uses them to draw more souls to Himself?

So if the idea of becoming a saint has always seemed too dull or too difficult to you, I suggest you take a real look at the brothers and sisters in heaven. Don't be afraid of losing yourself in a crowd of droopy angels.  Instead, make friends with one of the members of the heavenly court whose vibrant personality, like your own, has been made to glorify the magnificent king of the universe like a unique gem set in his splendid crown.

Linking up with the Bright Maidens this month for their saint theme.

Today is: the Feast of St. Timothy
Finn is: really interested in being "in charge" right now
Gigi is : taking a couple steps, as long as it's for food.
Mama is reading: Don Camillo, His Little World and His Dilemma by Giovannio Guareschi ( HI-larious short stories by the way.)