Saints, Saints, and More Saints!

For the last couple of weeks, I've been putting together the calendar that we send out to folks. It's tedious work, but since I'm a detail person, it's not that bad. Besides, it's fascinating to type all those saints names.

They are all so familiar to us, almost like members of our family. Each time I typed the name of a saint, my mind would quickly and quietly reflect on that man or woman. Some I knew well, because I have read their writings. Others, such as many of the Popes, or groups such as the Korean martyrs (Sept 20), find me with only sketchy knowledge.

There are still others on the liturgical calendar whom I do not know at all. They are the newcomers to the ranks of the canonized saints, made so by John Paul II. So I was able to meet St. Vincent of Saragossa (Jan 22). A deacon in Valencia, Spain, he was martyred in 304 after much torture for refusing to reveal where certain sacred texts were hidden. What I found interesting was that the martyrdom occurred during Diocletian's reign. His "persecution complex" reached all the way to Spain!

St. Sharbel Makhluf was another newcomer (July 24). Now quick, is this saint male or female? He was the son of a mule driver, but was raised by an uncle who opposed the boy's youthful piety. At age 23 he snuck away to join the Baladite monastery of Saint Maron where he took the name Charbel in memory of a 2nd century martyr. He lived as a model monk, but dreamed of living like the ancient desert fathers. Finally his wish was granted, and he lived as a hermit from 1875 until his death 23 years later, living on the bare minimums of everything. He gained a reputation for holiness, and was much sought for counsel and blessing. He had a great personal devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and was known to levitate during his prayers.

There is such a varied range of personalities amongst the saints. They range from the ascetics like St. Sharbel, or rough-hewn foot-in-mouth types like Peter, all the way up to folks like St. Philip Neri, the "Laughing Saint," who said: "Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits." Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of people involved in air travel, since he could levitate and float around the room while in prayer. Benedict Joseph Labre is the patron saint of the homeless - he basically lived like a hobo.

Catherine of Siena was an early advocate of woman's ordination. She was also instrumental in getting the Papacy moved from Avignon back to Rome, basically telling Pope Gregory XI: "Be a man!!! Get back to Rome." Margaret of Scotland was inconsolable while her husband was away on the Crusades. The Little Flower was never at a loss for words and found it hard to keep the monastic silence. Theresa of Avila had a ferocious temper.

It's important to realize that the saints were very much human - just like you and me. They had all the human traits and foibles we have; in fact, they were often extraordinarily difficult to live with. What made them saints was that they did the ordinary extraordinarily well. They also had at the center of their lives a deep and passionate love for Jesus and his Father, a love which gave them the energy to be of service to their brothers and sisters.

There are male and female saints, not married, who had deep friendships with each other. Raymond of Capua and Catherine of Siena, Francis and Clare, Isidore and Marie, Francis deSales and Jane Chantal.

There are many saints who were married at one time, but very few married saints. The usual pattern for women saints who were married is that after they were widowed, they joined a convent, founded religious orders, or became hermits. The only two exceptions I could find were Margaret of Scotland and the recently-canonized Giana Molla. With the men, it's different. Thomas More, Edward the Confessor, and Stephen of Hungary were married men, with families.

Canonized married couples who were parents? Well, We do have Mary and Joseph, Joachim and Ann, Zachary and Elizabeth. The parents of the Little Flower are both beatified (one step short of canonization). In October of 2001 John Paul II beatified Luigi Quattrocchi and Marie Corsini, parents of four children, three of whom went into religious life.

Does this mean that marriage or parenthood is not conducive to sainthood? By no means. You and I both know married couples who live holy lives by loving each other deeply, raising beautiful families, serving the needs of others. The reason why the list of canonized saints is skewed so heavily towards clergy and religious is that dioceses and religious orders have the time and the money to move through the long and often difficult process of canonization. Martyrdom is also another entree into the ranks of the canonized, as is royalty and being Pope. Before the Roman Curia formalized the process of canonization, popular piety proclaimed many men and women as saints.

Oh, yes...single unmarried people? Not many, but there are some. I already mentioned Benedict Labre above. Zita served as house-keeper for 48 years to a rich weaver and his family. Emiliana lived as a hermit in her father's home. Flora was a cook in the Kildare, Ireland convent which St. Brigid founded. Syncletica renounced a vast personal fortune and lived in a tomb until she died at 84 of cancer.

It's fascinating stuff, isn't it? What a tremendous heritage we have. But there's more. Let's change focus.

I said above that popular piety proclaimed many men and women as saints. It's my firm belief that parishes, dioceses, and regions know who their holy people are. So do families.

I certainly know who would be in my personal list of saints. In Holy Cross, it is the Brothers I have known that are truly holy men....Protase, Ludger, Roderic, and James spring immediately to mind, as does the still-living and still active Clarence. These men manifest the same humble, behind-the scenes, prayerful, and generous lifestyle that characterized Blessed Brother Andre.

In my natural family, there is one person I think of as holy. But it's a funny thing about families: we don't often see the members of our family as holy people, as saints. We've grown up with each other, we're all too aware of human shortcomings, as well as the ways we've hurt each other over the years. It's almost like the reaction of the people of Nazareth to Jesus: "We know this guy - he's Joseph's son, no one who is particularly holy."

One nice thing about computers is I can come back and insert something without having to re-do the whole thing. Remember the old days of typewriters and carbon papers!!!! Anyway, we also could look at the people we work with kind of in the same way as family members. Carol came in as I was doing this and asked what the topic of the reflection was. I said: "The secret life of Carol Gromski." Her reply: "I knew you were gonna say that!" So then I said: "Saints, saints, and more saints." Her response was immediate: "Oh. So you ARE talking about me!" Yeah - she and Kim have been saints for putting up with me.

Having shared that little vignette, let's continue! The same thing goes for Holy Cross, and for my parish family described below. So many many good people ...wonderful people - each in their own way living lives that are holy, lives that are generous. It's just that there are a few who stand out because they have that certain "different" quality.

What of your local parish family? I served 11 years at St. Joseph's in South Bend, and so many people come to mind - Agatha Guendling, Martha Crimmins, Ed Dargis, Pat Goddard, Mary Jones, Frank Kuzmitz, John Griffin, Dave Sparks, and on and on. So many who are still living were holy men and women...I could easily name them, but want to avoid hurt feelings because inevitably I'd leave someone out. They all had that "extra something" that was a source of life to individuals and the parish.

What is that "different quality," that "extra something?" It's hard to put my finger on it .There's a gentleness, an openness, a lack of passing judgment and voicing criticism. They were comfortable in their own skin, and were always voicing their gratitude for life and for God's blessings. They called no attention to themselves, but humbly served in the background. It just now occurred to me: go over the Beatitudes and you have a good description of those folks!!

I could go on and on - teachers, priests, friends, neighbors, parishioners, children, oldsters, married people and single, -- all have touched my life and helped me to grow. Many are dead, many are living. Some I still remain in touch with, others not (but that does not lessen their influence in my life). Some I remember every day, others only periodically.

I know you feel the same way. I look at your prayer lists that arrive with the names of those you wish us to remember. These are more than just names to me. I know that they are important people to you, men and women, young and old, who have touched your life. They shaped you and formed you and were God's assistants in helping you become the person God wants you to be. Perhaps you were aware of their transformative touch immediately; perhaps time had to pass before you could look back and say, "Oh yeah - that's what Chris did for me."

I hope this reflection will help you to remember and cherish those who have touched your life, by word, example, writings and teachings, living with you. This is what the Communion of Saints is all about. In Jesus, we are one with all those who have gone before us, and with all who are still here with us. Peter and Teresa of Avila and Francis De Sales and Ignatius of Loyola are as real to me as Ed and Pat and the CSC, as real as my family and my friends. We are all one in the Heart of Jesus, and it is there what we keep in touch with each other.

Isn't it amazing when you think about it???!!!

Fr. Herb

Herbert C Yost, CSC
Fatima House
PO Box 929
Notre Dame IN 46556-0929